Alabama basketball broke out to a big first-half lead over Creighton, leading by as many as 17 points through the game's first 12 minutes. Cold shooting over the final eight minutes allowed the Bluejays to climb back into the game and cut the Crimson Tide's lead to just six points at halftime.
Alabama pulled ahead by double-digits several times in the second half, but they could never quite put Creighton away. You have to credit Greg McDermott's teams for continuing to fight despite the deficit and they made for some tense moments in the final two minutes of the game, though Alabama was always able to hold a two-possession lead at all times.
Mark Sears led the way with 27 points. Freshmen Labaron Philon and Derrion Reid also finished in double figures and made big plays to assist Sears in helping the Crimson Tide pull out the win.
The Tide earned its first-ever win over the Bluejays in four tries. This was revenge for last season's road loss in Omaha. Even more so, it was revenge for the 2012 NCAA Tournament. That win was for Trevor Releford. If you know you know.
3 Takeaways from Alabama's win over Creighton:
3. Alabama's three-point shooting continues to be a concern
Alabama came into the game shooting just 33% from three-point range on the season. It didn't get any better as the Tide hit just 6-of-20 (20%) from three in the win over Creighton. With Latrell Wrightsell out for the season, Alabama suffered a big blow to its three-point shooting as Wrightsell led the team at 42% on the season.
Sears was 4-of-7 and his stroke looks better after struggling in the early parts of the season. But take away his numbers and Alabama was 2-of-23 from downtown.
Alabama is certainly not a team that lives and dies by the three, contrary to the national perception. The Tide lives and dies by the defensive end of the court. But if Alabama wants to reach its goals and have a legitimate shot at winning a national title, it has to shoot better from deep than it has been.
2. Welcome back Mark Sears
It hasn't been the start to the season that Sears hoped for. The preseason National Player of the Year has been in a funk. He's still averaged 16.4 points per game but on shooting splits of 37/29/81. The field goal percentage and free throw percentage would both be career-worst. The three-point shooting would be the worst since his freshman season at Ohio.
Oats talked about getting Sears more in-rhythm looks from deep where he can actually set his feet and not be off-balanced. He looked much better tonight, scoring 27 points on 8-of-15 from the field and 4-of-7 from deep.
The break in action probably helped as Alabama had 10 days in between games since it last took the floor in Chapel Hill. Playing in Coleman was also a welcomed sight. This was the first game since November 11th that Alabama played in Tuscaloosa.
Sears was always going to figure it out. He's too talented and works too hard to be in a funk for too long. His ability to play to his ability raises the ceiling for this team. On a night when everyone else was struggling from the field, Alabama needed its star to step up and put the team on his back.
He did, and Alabama got a win over a good team as a result.
1. Alabama's defense was championship-level
Last time out against North Carolina was probably Alabama's best defensive performance of the season to date. I think they played even better on that end of the floor on Saturday night.
Alabama held Creighton to 0.86% points-per-possession in the first half and just 1.00 for the entire game The Bluejas hit some tough contested looks down the stretch to inflate that ending number a bit, too.
Alabam held Creighton to under 30% from three and dominated the glass, outrebounding the Bluejays 46-32 for the game. Alabama forced 13 turnovers and had eight steals.
That level of defense can take this team a long way. That level of defense can win you games on nights your shot abandons you.
Alabama is now 9-2 and finished a brutal eight game stretch with an impressive 6-2 record. The Tide should handle its final three out-of-conference games before heading into the gauntlet of the SEC schedule.