No. 2 Alabama Holds Off Second Half Comeback To Top McNeese State

TUSCALOOSA, AL — No. 2 Alabama improved to 3-0 on the young season with a 72-64 nonconference win over a talented McNeese State squad Monday night in Coleman Coliseum.

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Senior Grant Nelson made his first start of the 2024-25 campaign after seeing his minutes limited due to a minor injury and made the most of his time on the floor. Nelson paced the offense for much of the first half and led the Crimson Tide in scoring with 16 points and four rebounds.

All-American Mark Sears also logged 10 points in the first half before going to on score 15 on the night, while Nelson finished the win with 20 points and 7 rebounds.

Latrell Wrightsell Jr. also came off the bench to contribute 15 points in the win.

As a team, Alabama went 13-27 from the field in the first half and 6-19 from three-point range to go into the locker room at halftime up 41-30.

The scrappy Cowboys wouldn't tap out easy, though, and capitalized on subpar shooting by the Crimson Tide in the second half to claw back and close the distance to 65-59 with just over four minutes left in the game.

It would be a back-and-forth for the final minutes but Alabama managed to match McNeese State's offensive surge to thwart a potential comeback.

Alabama finished the evening 21-48 from the field and 11-33 from three-point range.

No. 2 Alabama (3-0, 0-0 SEC) will return to action Friday for the Crimson Tide's first Top 25 test as the team travels to West Lafayette, Indiana, to take on No. 13 Purdue (2-0, 0-0 Big Ten).

Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. with Peacock carrying the broadcast.

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