3 takeaways from Alabama surpassing Rutgers in Players Era Festival bracket

Another night in Vegas, another battle for Alabama men’s basketball.

And most importantly, another win.

The Crimson Tide picked up another victory in the Players Era Festival, defeating Rutgers 95-90 on Wednesday. Rutgers freshman Dylan Harper scored 37 points, but Alabama still found a way to win.

Now, the Crimson Tide (6-1) will play Oregon in the championship on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. CT.

In the first game of the Players Era Festival, Alabama beat Houston in overtime on Tuesday.

Here are the takeaways from the match between no. 9 Alabama and Rutgers on Wednesday in Las Vegas.

Alabama overcomes turnover problem

For most of the first half, the Crimson Tide turned the ball over on nearly every other possession.

With 7:51 left before halftime, Alabama had 10 turnovers on 26 possessions.

The Crimson Tide was finding ways to derail its possessions and the offense suffered as a result. The Crimson Tide slowed the turnover machine at the end of the half with 11 at halftime. But it was still one of the most glaring statistics for an offense that couldn’t take over the game.

The turnover slowed Alabama from playing at its pace. Alabama had just two fast break points before the break. For a team that wants to play fast, that’s not the number the Crimson Tide wants.

Despite the turnovers and the less-than-great result at the free throw line, Alabama was tied with Rutgers 41-41 at halftime. The Crimson Tide shot 55% (16-for-29) before the break.

Then, just when it looked like Alabama was settling down turning the ball over, they came back late and allowed Rutgers to make it a game in the final minutes. Alabama had an eight-point lead late, then a few turnovers later and it quickly became a one-possession game.

Alabama finished the game with 20 turnovers, and Rutgers scored 23 points off those giveaways.

Mark Sears is cooking out of the break

Sears played 18 minutes before halftime, but he didn’t make much of an impact on the stat sheet as a goalscorer. Two made buckets, two made free throws. A pedestrian six points.

After that, the player who emerged from the locker room in the second half looked the part of a preseason All-American.

In the first five minutes of the second half, Sears scored 13 points. He made three triples and four total shots. His efforts on the offensive end helped the Crimson Tide begin to build a lead.

Sears surpassed the 20-point mark again just over halfway through the second frame. But then he got his fourth foul soon after. So he had to sit out a bit, really the only thing that slowed him down a lot in the second half.

Sears finished the game with 24 points, two rebounds, five assists, two steals and five turnovers.

Reliable Mo Dioubate

Close game? Match? Do you need to grind out all the belongings?

Just call Mo Dioubate.

The most active player on the roster continued his efforts from the first game against Houston. Dioubate struggled again and delivered hard, physical minutes in a close game.

He scored, grabbed rebounds, secured steals, blocks, assists, you name it. He did it. That included a key defensive rebound with 22 seconds left as Alabama clung to a two-point lead. Dioubate didn’t miss a shot either, going 4-for-4

Dioubate had 10 points, nine rebounds, two blocked shots and two steals.

His reliability proved crucial throughout, but especially in the second half. With Sears, Clifford Omoruyi and others springing fouls, Alabama needed someone to step up and fight. Dioubate was again that player.

Nick Kelly is a beat writer from Alabama AL.com and Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X and Instagram.