Mark Sears scored 24 points to will No. 9 Alabama to an overtime win over a ranked foe.
Dylan Harper put on a dazzling performance with 36 points to help Rutgers rebound from a disappointing loss that knocked the Scarlet Knights out of the top 25.
Coming off overtime thrillers, Sears and the Crimson Tide face Harper and the Scarlet Knights Wednesday night in the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas with a trip to the championship game on the line.
Alabama (5-1) and Rutgers (5-1) are attempting to advance into a matchup with the top team in the Power Group. Before the Crimson Tide and Scarlet Knights needed 45 minutes to settle matters against No. 6 Houston and Notre Dame respectively, Oregon and San Diego State earned wins by knocking off ranked opponents.
Sears scored his most points all season after going scoreless in 21 minutes in Alabama’s 100-87 win over Illinois last Wednesday. Sears did all of his scoring from either the 3-point line (4-for-8) or free-throw line (12-for-14).
“My teammates really uplifted me,” Sears said. “And I can’t do it without them because they gave me all the confidence tonight.”
Sears also was part of a defense that held Houston without a point for the final 3:17 of overtime when the guard started the extra period with a 3-pointer. His big game was supplemented by a big showing on the glass by the Crimson Tide, highlighted by Mouhamed Dioubate’s 16 rebounds.
“It really showed when we went to overtime,” Sears said. “We had so much depth in the game. We were able to really push the pace and they really kind of couldn’t handle it.”
Rutgers rebounded from shooting 39.4 percent in Sunday’s 79-77 loss at Kennesaw State by Harper’s masterful showing in its 85-84 win over Notre Dame. Harper made 12 of 22 shots from the field, sank 10 free throws and also contributed six rebounds and six assists while constantly attacking the rim.
Harper’s game was his fifth with at least 20 points.
“He just showed the kind of player that he is,” Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell said on his postgame radio interview. “His best days are ahead of him but proud of our guys. They played so hard the whole night.”
Rutgers also bounced back after Pikiell tweaked the starting lineup by replacing Jordan Derkack and Zach Martini with Jeremiah Williams and PJ Hayes IV. Derkack added 16 points while Williams joined Ace Bailey in scoring 10.
“We play a monster team, Alabama,” Harper said on his postgame radio interview. “The bounce back was a key thing for us and we did that perfectly.”
The schools are meeting for the first time since Dec. 27, 1969 but an added storyline is Clifford Omoruyi facing Rutgers for the first time since transferring following four seasons. Omoruyi might be among the few rested players since he played 17 minutes against Houston due to Dioubate’s strong performance.
“Hopefully (it’s) Cliff’s night,” Alabama coach Nate Oats said. “Who knows, but he should have fresh legs.”
–Field Level Media
