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Alabama

Grant Nelson reveals Mark Sears' unique, selfless decision amid off night vs. Illinois

ns_headshot_2024-clearby: Nick Schultz11/21/24NickSchultz_7
Alabama guard Mark Sears
Mark Sears (Cheryl Evans / USA TODAY Sports)

As Alabama put together a 100-point performance in Wednesday’s win over Illinois, one Crimson Tide player was notably scoreless. Mark Sears didn’t make a single basket in the effort – but Grant Nelson said he made an impact as a leader.

After the game, Nelson revealed Sears subbed himself out of the game. He saw how well the other Alabama players were playing and wanted to give them an opportunity.

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It was a selfless decision from the SEC Preseason Player of the Year. But Nelson said it points to the type of player Sears is and how he operates in the locker room.

“I think it showed a lot of Mark’s leadership tonight in the huddle,” Nelson said, via BOL’s Blake Byler. “He subbed himself out because he saw other guys were playing well.”

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Sears went 0-for-5 on the night, with four misses coming from three-point territory – two of which came on a possession on which Alabama got three offensive rebounds. But when Nate Oats went to put him in the game with about 11 minutes to play, Sears waved him off.

“He was great on the bench,” Oats said. “He was struggling. There’s a lot of pressure on him, obviously. … I tried to put him back in and he said look, they’re playing well.”

Mark Sears entered Wednesday’s game as Alabama’s top scorer, averaging 17.3 points to go with 3.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists. Through the first four games of the year, he also shot 44.2% from the floor and 35% from downtown.

Although Sears had a quiet night, the rest of the Crimson Tide offense was firing on all cylinders. Alabama shot 52% from the floor as a group, led by 23 points from Nelson. He went 9-of-15 overall, including a 4-for-9 effort from outside. Aden Holloway wasn’t far behind him with 18 points and Labaron Philon dropped 16.

It was quite the bounce-back game for Alabama, fresh off a loss to Purdue at Mackey Arena. Now 4-1, the Crimson Tide will look to keep it rolling against another ranked opponent. No. 7 Houston awaits Nov. 26 in the first-ever Players Era Festival in Las Vegas.