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General

Troy knocks off Arkansas State 71-70, moves into first-place tie in Sun Belt

Jackson Fields scored a career-high 20 points — including five 3-pointers — as Troy knocked off Arkansas State 71-70 on Saturday in Jonesboro and moved into a tie for first place in the Sun Belt Conference.

The Trojans improve to 17-9 overall and 10-4 in the Sun Belt, tied with the Red Wolves, South Alabama and James Madison for first place with four regular-season games remaining. The loss was the first at home all season and first in a span of 15 games dating to last year for Arkansas State, which falls to 19-8, 10-4.

“This was a tough, gritty win for us,” Fields said in his post-game interview on the Troy Radio Network. “The guys just came in and we stuck to what we know, what we learned every day in practice — defend and be tough. We came out here and got the job done, did what we had to do.”

Troy trailed by as many as nine points in the first half and 34-30 at halftime before taking its first lead of the second half on Thomas Dowd’s 3-pointer with 13:57 to play. The teams traded the lead back and forth until Fields’ fifth 3-pointer gave the Trojans the lead for good at 63-62 with 2:01 to play.

Victor Valdes then made four straight free throws to extend Troy’s lead to 67-62 entering the final 80 seconds. Arkansas State’s Taryn Todd hit a 3-pointer with 29 seconds remaining to cut the Trojans’ lead to 69-67, but the Trojans’ Marcus Rigsby and Dowd each made a free throw to make it a four-point game before Terrance Ford’s harmless 3-pointer for the Red Wolves at the buzzer.

Troy earned a season split with Arkansas State, which won 84-78 at Trojan Arena on Jan. 11, a game in which the Trojans blew a 9-point halftime lead. Before Saturday, the Red Wolves had not lost at home in more than a calendar year, since James Madison pulled off a 77-73 victory in Jonesboro on Feb. 7, 2024.

“It validates what we’ve done, the work that we put in,” Troy coach Scott Cross said. “Now (Troy’s players) know this is what we have to do so we can win a championship and we can go to the NCAA tournament. ‘Cause we ain’t playing anybody tougher than these guys. They’re the best outside of us, in my opinion, in the league.

“And so we went on the road and we took it to them. Honestly, we beat their butts for 36 minutes at our place as well. We just didn’t finish it. … But this is a huge one for the program.”

Ford led Arkansas State with 18 points, while Todd added 14 and Izaiyah Nelson had a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds. However, the Trojans held Kobe Julien and Joseph Pinion — two of the Red Wolves’ top three scorers — to a combined 12 points on 4-for-17 shooting.

Dowd and Tayton Conerway both added 13 for Troy, while Myles Rigsby had nine points and eight rebounds. But the difference-maker was Fields, who was just 3-for-28 on 3-pointers this season before going 5-for-7 beyond the arc on Saturday.

“Jackson Fields was amazing,” Cross said. “The guy’s been in the gym working on his shot. He hadn’t had a lot of success from the 3-point line, but … you see his shot. It’s beautiful. And so we got it at the right time.”

Troy has a favorable schedule down the stretch, with home games vs. Louisiana on Thursday and Coastal Carolina next Saturday before finishing up on the road at Texas State Feb. 25 and at Southern Miss Feb. 28. All four of the Trojans’ remaining opponents currently have a losing a record in-conference.

Tip-off for Troy vs. Louisiana is set for 6 p.m. Thursday at Trojan Arena.

General

Altercation, shooting during party at Tuscaloosa home leaves 1 dead, 1 wounded, 1 jailed

An altercation during a party at a Tuscaloosa home left one man dead and another jailed.

Tuscaloosa police were dispatched at 1:30 a.m. Saturday a residence in the 2200 block of Herman Avenue.

Officers arrived to find two people shot. Both were taken to DCH Regional Medical Center.

Jordan Davis, 28, died from his wound. The second victim, age 45, suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit Capt. Jack Kennedy said investigators interviewed multiple people.

The investigation led them to charge 28-year-old Weslie Darnell Tinker with murder.

Tinker remains held in the Tuscaloosa County Jail on no bond under Aniah’s Law.

General

CNN’s Kaitlan Collins criticized for sharing Luigi Mangione defense fund in now deleted post

CNN’s Kaitlan Collins posted then deleted a post sharing a link to a defense fund for alleged UnitedHealthcare CEO killer Luigi Mangione.

Collins, in a post on “X,” included a link to a site launched by defense lawyers for Mangione, who faces charges of first-degree murder, stalking and other state and federal charges for allegedly gunning down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan on Dec. 4.

Reaction was swift on social media, including from The Spectator contributing editor Stephen L. Miller.

“Real bottom of the barrel stuff. Even for @kaitlancollins,” Miller posted Friday on X.

Miller also called Collins out for deleting the post with “no explanation,” saying, “guess it wasn’t White House correspondent related.”

WMAL host Larry O’Connor commented, per Fox News, on the situation, stating Collins “used her considerable platform to promote a link for the defense fund of a cold-blooded killer.”

“She has not yet apologized nor has she posted anything else in 24 hours,” he said.

The defense fund had posted a “Valentine’s Day Message” on the website from Mangione.

“I am overwhelmed by – and grateful for – everyone who has written me to share their stories and express their support. Powerfully, this support has transcended political, racial, and even class divisions, as mail has flooded MDC from across the country, and around the globe.“

Check out the reaction on social media to Collins’ post:

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.

General

Where’s Auburn’s Johni Broome in the NPOY race after performance vs Alabama?

Hobbling up and down the court still nursing his ankle injury, Auburn leading scorer Johni Broome proved to the world how tough he actually is.

From draining 3-point baskets to turnaround fadeaways, Alabama had no answer for the Tigers leading scorer as Broome finished with 19 points and 14 rebounds.

“I just came in being aggressive. I came in trying to be aggressive, and I was kind of feeling it a little bit. I just made some plays,” Johni Broome said postgame.

Alabama had Clifford Omoruyi guarding Broome to start the game. However, that matchup quickly changed to Mouhamed Dioubate after Broome scored six of the Tigers first 10 points.

When breaking down the scouting report for Alabama, Auburn coach Bruce Pearl knew Alabama wouldn’t send help defense when guarding Broome.

“We didn’t do anything too terribly fancy. We just gave him the ball, and they don’t double,” Pearl said. “They thought they could play him one-on-one, and they did a pretty good job on him. He missed nine shots; he made seven or eight. He had his double-double, and it was enough to get it done.”

Pearl added on the grit Broome displayed playing injured and stepping up when Dylan Cardwell fouled out in the second half.

“He sucked it up, he really did. He was tired early in the second half. You could tell he was dragging a little bit. I was worried we were going to run out of gas, especially with Dylan in foul trouble,” Pearl said. “But again, found a way, sucked it up, made history. Big win in here. But look, however many we’ve got left in the regular season, it’s just too early to talk about anything other than Arkansas on Wednesday.”

Since injuring his ankle in the South Carolina game, Broome has scored 15 or more points in six straight games. In the Tigers last three games against Alabama he’s averaging 23 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks.

Broome is now up to 75 career double-doubles and it’s the second most among active Division I players. Playing in a league with 13 projected teams to make the NCAA tournament, it would be hard not give him the honor.

Jerry Humphrey III covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @Jerryhump3 or email him at [email protected].

General

Update: Tornado watch issued for South Alabama until early Sunday morning

On Saturday at 9:49 p.m. the National Weather Service issued an updated tornado watch in effect until Sunday at 4 a.m. for Baldwin, Butler, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Escambia, Mobile, Monroe, Washington and Wilcox counties.

Tornado watches and warnings: Your safety guide

When it comes to tornadoes, understanding the distinction between a Tornado watch and a Tornado warning can be a matter of life and death. Here’s a breakdown:

Tornado watch: Be prepared!

A Tornado watch serves as an early warning that conditions are conducive to tornado formation.
It’s your cue to review and discuss your emergency plans, check your supplies, and locate your safe room.
While it doesn’t indicate an imminent tornado, it’s a heads-up to be prepared to take swift action if a Tornado warning is issued or if you suspect a tornado is approaching.
Tornado Watches are issued by the Storm Prediction Center and often encompass a broad area, potentially spanning multiple counties or even states.

Tornado warning: Take action!

A Tornado warning means a tornado has been spotted or detected by weather radar.
This is the real deal – there’s an immediate threat to life and property.
Your response should be quick: seek shelter in an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building, away from windows.
If you’re in a mobile home, a vehicle, or caught outdoors, find the nearest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris.
Warnings are issued by your local forecast office and pinpoint a much smaller area, typically the size of a city or a small county, where a tornado has been identified, either by radar or by trained spotters and law enforcement.

Knowing the distinction between these two alerts is paramount for staying safe during tornado season. Stay informed, have a plan, and act promptly when danger looms.

Prepare for a tornado

Be weather-ready:

Keep an eye on the weather forecast to stay informed about tornado risks. Tune in to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio for updates on tornado watches and warnings

Sign up for notifications:

Familiarize yourself with your community’s warning systems. Some places have outdoor sirens, while others rely on media and smartphone alerts for severe storm notifications.

Create a communication plan:

Create a family emergency plan that includes a designated meeting place and important contact information. If your home lacks a basement, identify a nearby safe building, like a church or a relative’s house, that you can reach quickly.

Choose a secure shelter:

Pick a safe room within your home, such as a basement, storm cellar, or an interior room on the lowest floor without windows.

Practice your plan:

Conduct a family severe thunderstorm drill regularly so everyone knows what to do if a tornado is approaching. Make sure all members of your family know to go there when tornado warnings are issued. Don’t forget pets if time allows.

Secure your home:

Consider having your safe room reinforced. You can find plans for reinforcing an interior room to provide better protection on the Federal Emergency Management Agency website.

Help your neighbor:

Encourage your neighbors and loved ones to prepare for possible tornadoes. Consider taking CPR training to be of assistance in case of injuries.

Staying safe during a tornado: Quick actions to take

When a tornado strikes, taking swift action is crucial to ensuring your safety and minimizing potential harm. Follow these guidelines from the weather service:

Stay informed:

Stay vigilant and stay informed by tuning in to local news broadcasts or using a NOAA Weather Radio to receive updates on tornado watches and warnings.

At home:

If you find yourself under a tornado warning while at home, head to your basement, a designated safe room, or an interior space away from windows. Ensure your pets are safe if time permits.

At work or school:

If you are at your workplace or school, adhere to tornado drill procedures. Move promptly and calmly to your designated tornado shelter, avoiding large open areas like cafeterias, gymnasiums, or auditoriums, and steer clear of windows.

Outdoors:

When you are outdoors and a tornado is approaching, seek immediate refuge inside a sturdy building. Remember that sheds, storage facilities, mobile homes, and tents are not safe options. If there is sufficient time, make your way to a secure structure.

In a vehicle:

It is not safe to be in a vehicle during a tornado. The recommended action is to drive to the nearest shelter. If reaching a safe shelter is not possible, either crouch down in your car and cover your head, or leave your vehicle and seek refuge in a low-lying area like a ditch or ravine.

Remember, acting swiftly and following safety protocols are essential for your well-being when a tornado is imminent.

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.

General

Alabama under a tornado watch until early Sunday morning

The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch at 9:11 p.m. on Saturday in effect until Sunday at 4 a.m. for Autauga, Bibb, Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Chilton, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Dallas, Elmore, Etowah, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Jefferson, Lamar, Lowndes, Marengo, Marion, Montgomery, Perry, Pickens, Randolph, St. Clair, Shelby, Sumter, Talladega, Tallapoosa, Tuscaloosa, Walker and Winston counties.

Tornado watches and warnings: What you need to know

When it comes to tornadoes, understanding the difference between a Tornado watch and a Tornado warning can be a matter of life and death. Let’s break it down:

Tornado watch: Be prepared!

A Tornado watch serves as an early warning that conditions are conducive to tornado formation.
It’s your cue to review and discuss your emergency plans, check your supplies, and locate your safe room.
While it doesn’t mean a tornado is imminent, it’s a heads-up that you should be ready to act quickly if a Tornado warning is issued or if you suspect a tornado is approaching.
Tornado Watches are issued by the Storm Prediction Center and often encompass a broad area, potentially spanning multiple counties or even states.

Tornado warning: Take action!

A Tornado warning means a tornado has been spotted or detected by weather radar.
This is the real deal – there’s an immediate danger to life and property.
Your response should be quick: seek shelter in an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building, away from windows.
If you’re in a mobile home, a vehicle, or caught outdoors, find the nearest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris.
Warnings are issued by your local forecast office and pinpoint a much smaller area, typically the size of a city or a small county, where a tornado has been identified, either by radar or through reports from trained spotters and law enforcement.

Knowing the distinction between these two alerts is paramount for staying safe during tornado season. Stay informed, have a plan, and act promptly when danger looms.

Get ready for tornadoes

Stay weather-ready:

Check the forecast regularly to see if you’re at risk for tornadoes. Listen to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio to stay informed about tornado watches and warnings.

Sign up for alerts:

Familiarize yourself with your community’s warning systems. Some places have outdoor sirens, while others rely on media and smartphone alerts for severe storm notifications.

Establish a communication plan:

Choose a secure shelter:

Pick a safe room within your home, such as a basement, storm cellar, or an interior room on the lowest floor without windows.

Practice your plan:

Prepare your home:

Consider having your safe room reinforced. You can find plans for reinforcing an interior room to provide better protection on the Federal Emergency Management Agency website.

Extend a helping hand:

Encourage your neighbors and loved ones to prepare for possible tornadoes. Consider taking CPR training to be of assistance in case of injuries.

What to do when a tornado strikes

When a tornado strikes, taking swift action is crucial to ensuring your safety and minimizing potential harm. Follow these guidelines from the weather service:

Stay informed:

Stay vigilant and stay informed by tuning in to local news broadcasts or using a NOAA Weather Radio to receive updates on tornado watches and warnings.

At home:

If you find yourself under a tornado warning, immediately seek refuge in your basement, safe room, or an interior room without windows. If there’s enough time, bring your pets with you.

At work or school:

Outdoors:

In a vehicle:

Being in a vehicle during a tornado is highly unsafe. Your best option is to drive to the nearest shelter. If reaching shelter is not possible, either stay inside your car, covering your head, or abandon the vehicle and seek refuge in a low-lying area like a ditch or ravine.

Always keep in mind that taking swift action and following established safety procedures are crucial for your well-being when a tornado threat is imminent.

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.

General

Tornado watch issued for North Alabama until early Sunday morning

The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch at 9:12 p.m. on Saturday in effect until Sunday at 4 a.m. for Colbert, Cullman, DeKalb, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marshall and Morgan counties.

Tornado watch vs. Tornado warning: Know the difference

When it comes to tornadoes, understanding the distinction between a Tornado watch and a Tornado warning can be a matter of life and death. Here’s a breakdown:

Tornado watch: Be prepared!

A Tornado watch is your advance warning that conditions are ripe for tornado formation.
It’s your signal to review your emergency plans, ensure your supplies are in order, and identify your safe room.
While it doesn’t mean a tornado is imminent, it’s a heads-up that you should be ready to act quickly if a Tornado warning is issued or if you suspect a tornado is approaching.
Tornado Watches are issued by the Storm Prediction Center and often encompass a broad area, potentially spanning multiple counties or even states.

Tornado warning: Take action!

A Tornado warning means a tornado has been spotted or detected by weather radar.
This is the real deal – there’s an immediate danger to life and property.
Your response should be quick: seek shelter in an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building, away from windows.
If you’re in a mobile home, a vehicle, or caught outdoors, seek the nearest substantial shelter and shield yourself from flying debris.
Warnings are issued by your local forecast office and pinpoint a much smaller area, typically the size of a city or a small county, where a tornado has been identified, either by radar or by trained spotters and law enforcement.

Knowing the difference between these two alerts is essential in staying safe during tornado season. Stay informed, have a plan, and act promptly when danger approaches.

Prepare for a tornado

Stay weather-ready:

Keep an eye on the weather forecast to stay informed about tornado risks. Tune in to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio for updates on tornado watches and warnings

Sign up for notifications:

Know how your community sends warnings. Some communities have outdoor sirens. Others depend on media and smartphones to alert residents of severe storms capable of producing tornadoes.

Create a communication plan:

Choose a secure shelter:

Pick a safe room in your home, such as a basement, storm cellar, or an interior room on the lowest floor with no windows.

Establish a communication plan:

Prepare your home:

Consider having your safe room reinforced. You can find plans for reinforcing an interior room to provide better protection on the Federal Emergency Management Agency website.

Extend a helping hand:

Encourage your loved ones to prepare for the possibility of tornadoes. Take CPR training so you can help if someone is hurt.

Tornado safety: What to do when the twister hits

When a tornado strikes, taking swift action is crucial to ensuring your safety and minimizing potential harm. Follow these guidelines from the weather service:

Stay informed:

Stay vigilant and stay informed by tuning in to local news broadcasts or using a NOAA Weather Radio to receive updates on tornado watches and warnings.

At home:

If you find yourself under a tornado warning, immediately seek refuge in your basement, safe room, or an interior room without windows. If there’s enough time, bring your pets with you.

At work or school:

In the workplace or at school, adhere to tornado drill procedures and proceed promptly and calmly to your designated tornado shelter. Avoid areas with large, open spaces like cafeterias, gymnasiums, or auditoriums, and stay away from windows.

Outdoors:

In a vehicle:

Being inside a vehicle during a tornado is highly unsafe. Your best course of action is to drive to the nearest shelter. If reaching shelter is not possible, either stay inside your car while covering your head, or abandon the vehicle and seek safety in a low-lying area such as a ditch or ravine.

Remember, acting swiftly and following safety protocols are essential for your well-being when a tornado is imminent.

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.

General

Rock star sells Tesla and gives money to NPR, ‘which is under threat by President Musk’

Sheryl Crow had once been a proud Tesla owner, even interfacing with Elon Musk on social media about her car. But whatever support the environmentally minded singer formerly had for the EVs has been superseded by her alarm at the rightward political turn taken by the man she now calls “President Musk,” and so she is saying: “So long Tesla.”

In a video posted to Instagram, Crow stands on the street as her Tesla is towed away. The caption says that she has sold the car and donated the money to NPR, “which is under threat by President Musk.”

Her statement begins: “My parents always said… you are who you hang out with. There comes a time when you have to decide who you are willing to align with. So long Tesla.”

Crow is part of a wave of liberally minded Tesla owners who have decided they can no longer drive cars so closely associated with the world’s richest man, now that he has been set up by President Donald Trump as seemingly his closest advisor. Earlier this week, Musk — who, as head of the unofficial government agency DOGE, is taking the lead on eliminating thousands of federal government jobs and cutting back agencies and services — stood literally as Trump’s right-hand man in a headline-making Oval Office news conference where he, not the president, did most of the talking.

Crow’s social media message continued: “Money donated to @npr, which is under threat by President Musk, in hopes that the truth will continue to find its way to those willing to know the truth.”

The singer’s message closed out by adding hashtags for #PresidentMusk as well as #PresidentTrump and #ProtectTheConstitution , plus the suggestion to call 202-224-3141, the switchboard for the U.S. Capitol.

It was a far cry from five years ago, when Crow retweeted Musk as he offered a solution for a problem she had tweeted out about the screen on her Tesla going black.

The immediate responses to Crow’s Tesla-farewell message fell along predictable lines, with many applauding her for the move, and some conservatives — who have long ridiculed the singer for her progressive stances — finding a fresh reason to slam her activism.

Some of Crow’s fellow Nashvillians were particularly supportive. Kacey Musgraves left no less than two messages of support for the artist she considers royalty, calling her both “Sheryl Queen” and “Sheryl CrowN.” Wrote Margo Price: “Love to see it.” And Alyssa Milano left an emoticon face with hearts in its eyes.

Among responses from the right, Instagram users posted messages like: “You realize Musk already got the money for that one right? If you like the car, you only hurt yourself.” … “So you support wasteful government spending, money that could’ve gone to support our veterans. Got it.” … “I so love it when wealthy liberals that tell the struggling rest of us how morally justified it is that the government must continue to waste our tax money.” … “You loved Elon when he donated to Dems. Now that he’s uncovering fraud and waste on a grand scale that is mind-boggling, you’re all full of virtue signaling. Oh, we’re so impressed.”

Some even claimed they were fine with her until this last straw, unlikely as that might be given her long history of taking positions on the environment, gun control and other issues. “Life long fan unfollowing your stupid liberal ass!” wrote one.

Crow was most recently seen as part of the all-star band opening the Grammys with a song in support of fire relief aid for Los Angeles. Her most recent album, “Evolution,” was released last year. In 2023, she was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

General

How Alabama basketball must move forward after losing to Auburn: ‘Real-life stuff’

Alabama basketball has a daunting task ahead of it. The Crimson Tide must pick up the pieces after Saturday’s game against Auburn, a 94-85 loss at Coleman Coliseum where Nate Oats’ team struggled defensively and couldn’t find offensive consistency.

The Tide will have to go through a rough slate to end the regular season on a high note. No teams outside of the top 25 appear on Alabama’s schedule to finish out.

“We got six tough games,” Oats said after the loss. “We gotta be ready for every last one of them. We talk a lot about adversity. Sometimes it makes you better.”

Alabama travels to Missouri Wednesday, before facing Kentucky at home Saturday. After that, home games against Mississippi State and Florida sandwich a road trip to Tennessee.

At the end of it all, another crack at Auburn. That one will be outside the confines of Coleman Coliseum, at Neville Arena.

Oats recalled a book, The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday, which he had read with the Crimson Tide staff in the past. The book describes a way to turn challenges into opportunities, inspired by principles of stoicism.

“No teams are any good that don’t face a little adversity,” Oat said. “Every goal that we’ve got remaining, is still in our control, and that’s gotta be the mindset. Nobody’s feeling good today. We just lost to our archrival. Had a chance in our own gym to do it. Brought (ESPN’s College) Gameday in here. It was a great environment. That’s why we play, love these games. But we came out with an L, so how do we respond?”

Alabama has problems to fix moving forward. Its defense has been inconsistent all season, and allowed 1.27 points per possession Saturday, which will hardly do the trick if the offense continues to struggle.

The Crimson Tide only shot 39% from the field against Auburn as well, and hit just five of its 26 threes. If Oats’ group is to finish well and achieve its postseason goals, things must be cleaned up quickly.

“I told them, this is real-life stuff,” Oats said. “Shots aren’t dropping. Something happens in life. (Are you a) frontrunner, where you’ve only got the right attitude when stuff’s going well? Or have you got enough character, enough intestinal fortitude to play just as hard when stuff’s (not) going well? Or you’re giving everything you’ve got to your job when stuff’s not going well at home. Whatever it is, these are life lessons that we’ve gotta learn.”

Alabama and Missouri are scheduled to tip off at 8 p.m. CT Wednesday in Columbia. The game will be aired on the SEC Network.

General

Mark Sears, Grant Nelson vs. Auburn: The good and the bad

With the world of college basketball watching, facing the nation’s No. 1 ranked team, Alabama men’s basketball needed its stars to rise to the occasion.

They didn’t.

Mark Sears and Grant Nelson, two players who are no strangers to heroics on big stages, made some plays but ultimately fell short on multiple occasions in a a 94-85 loss to Auburn on Saturday at Coleman Coliseum.

There was some good in their performances. Nelson had a double-double: 12 points and 12 rebounds. Sears scored 18 points, a team-high. Both players also responded to their coach Nate Oats’ challenge to stop turning the ball over so much. Sears tallied two and Nelson had one against Auburn. Both have averaged more in SEC play.

The problem was, in a game where every possession mattered, both players had bad moments. And there wasn’t room for bad against a team as elite as Auburn.

Sears shot 4 of 17 overall, 2 of 11 from deep and 2 of 6 at the rim, per Alabama. “Not good,” Oats said of Sears’ shooting at the rim. Meanwhile, Nelson went 5 of 11 overall and 0 of 1 from deep as well as 5 of 10 at the rim.

Seeing two of your best players go 9 of 28 (32%) on the day isn’t going to be good enough to beat the best team in the country. And it wasn’t.

“We sure aren’t going to be perfect as coaches or players,” Oats said. “There’s probably some misreads in there. I have to go back and look at them. It wasn’t one of (Sears’) better shooting nights. When he did get it going there kind of in the middle of the second half, I thought his defensive intensity picked up. That’s when we made the run and tied it up. We’ve got to be able to play hard even when shots aren’t going. I think that’s a sign of high character guys. How hard do you play when shots aren’t dropping? Can you keep moving the ball?”

Ball movement was a problem the entire Crimson Tide offense had against the Tigers (23-2, 11-1 SEC). That wasn’t just a Sears problem. In fact, his two assists led the team on a day when Alabama (21-4, 10-2) had only eight.

Sears and Nelson’s struggles at the rim also weren’t just their problems. The entire team struggled with layups, finishing 14 of 30.

“We missed a lot of reads,” Oats said. “We’ve got to be better. We’ve got to move the ball better. We’ve got to be a little more unselfish moving forward.”

Sears and Nelson won’t be defined by one game. They have the track record to prove they can be two of the best players on any night. See Sears on the run to the Final Four, and Nelson dominating No. 1 seed UNC in the NCAA Tournament.

But now both fifth-year seniors must respond to performances that left much to be desired against Auburn. A gauntlet remains, and Alabama needs Sears and Nelson to play at a high level to make another deep run into March and early April.

“What we have right now is a chance to play again on Wednesday,” Oats said. “We’ve got to answer the bell”

Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for AL.com and the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X and Instagram.