No. 9 Alabama outlasts No. 6 Houston 85-80 in overtime at the Players Era Festival

Alabama forward Mouhamed Dioubate (10) and Houston forward Joseph Tugler (11) fight for a rebound during the first half of an NCAA basketball game Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ian Maule)

By WG RAMIREZ Associated Press

Mark Sears scored 24 points and No. 9 Alabama beat No. 6 Houston 85-80 in overtime Tuesday night in the opener of the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas.

After blowing an eight-point lead with 8:53 to play and allowing Houston to force overtime, Alabama outscored the Cougars 7-2 in the extra frame to secure the win.

Houston’s LJ Cryer, who led all scorers with a career-high 30 points, had a chance to win the game but missed a midfield baseline jumper with two seconds left.

Grant Nelson had 13 points and 10 rebounds and Mouhamed Dioubate had 10 points and 16 rebounds for Alabama.

Emanuel Sharp finished the game with 14 points while J’Wan Roberts added 11 for the Cougars.

The game was the Tide’s third consecutive game against a top-25 team. After losing to then-No. 13 Purdue 87-78, they beat then-No. 25 Illinois 100-87 on a neutral court in Birmingham.

With 24 seconds left in overtime and the Tide leading 84-80, Houston’s Joseph Tugler drove the lane but was blocked by Alabama’s Derrion Reid. Roberts then fouled Reid, who made one of two free throws to extend the lead to five and seal the win.

Alabama attempted 41 free throws and made 30 of them, while Houston had five players commit four or five fouls. Both Sharp and Milos Uzan were fouled out of the game for the Cougars.

Alabama will face Rutgers on Wednesday in the second round of the event.

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