Holloway, No. 5 Alabama overwhelm South Dakota State with 19 3-pointers in 105-82 victory
Alabama guard Labaron Philon cheers for his team after a score against South Dakota State during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Credit: AP/Vasha Hunt
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Aden Holloway made eight 3-pointers and scored 26 points off the bench, and No. 5 Alabama overwhelmed South Dakota State with 19 made 3-pointers in a 105-82 victory on Sunday.
Labaron Philon added 21 points, six assists and two steals for Alabama (11-2), while Mark Sears had 20 points and five assists. Grant Nelson scored 17 points.
Oscar Cluff scored 21 points and Isaac Lindsey had 11 for South Dakota State (9-6).
Takeaways
South Dakota State: Cluff entered Sunday averaging 16.6 points and 10.8 rebounds, but had failed to hit double digits in either category in either of his last two games before returning to form Sunday with 21 points and 15 rebounds.
Alabama: Holloway’s 8-for-19 performance was a welcome sight after making four of his 15 attempts in his previous three games. Holloway, in his first season at Alabama after transferring from Auburn, saw his scoring average dip under 9 points per game before 13 points in the previous game and 26 on Sunday.
Key moment
Sears and Holloway hit 3-pointers less than 30 seconds apart just past the midway point of the first half, completing a 17-0 run and putting Alabama up by 23 points. The Jackrabbits never got the deficit lower than 14 after that.
Key stat
Alabama committed six turnovers, after having committed at least 14 in six of its last seven games.
Alabama forward Grant Nelson (4) battles South Dakota State forward Matthew Mors, right, for position during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Credit: AP/Vasha Hunt
Up next
Alabama begins Southeastern Conference play at home against Oklahoma on Saturday; South Dakota State beings Summit League play on Thursday at home against Denver.
