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Nelson and Youngblood score 15 each and No. 3 Alabama holds off Arkansas 85-81

AP
Feb 08, 2025

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) Grant Nelson and Chris Youngblood each scored 15 points and No. 3 Alabama held off a late Arkansas run to deal the Razorbacks' NCAA Tournament hopes a serious blow with an 85-81 win on Saturday night.

Mouhamed Dioubate scored 14 and Mark Sears added 11 as the Crimson Tide (20-3, 9-1 Southeastern Conference) won their sixth in a row.

Zvonimir Ivisic scored 27 points, while Adou Thiero added 22 and Johnell Davis chipped in 13 to lead the Razorbacks (14-9, 3-7).

Alabama led by 18 with 6:29 left but Arkansas went on a 13-2 run that helped cut the lead to two with less than a minute to play. But Nelson hit a 3-pointer to restore the Tide’s two-possession lead.

Ivisic made one of two free throws to make it 83-81, but Youngblood hit a pair of free throws in the final four seconds.

Alabama may have stumbled in the waning minutes, but its balance and overall showing was more than enough to support the team’s place in the top five. With losses Saturday by No. 1 Auburn and No. 2 Duke, Alabama's road to the top is clear.

Arkansas had beaten Kentucky, coach John Calipari’s previous team, and Texas, the Razorbacks’ oldest rival, to claw onto the NCAA Tournament bubble before Saturday’s loss.

Alabama simply made shots at a higher clip, 55% to Arkansas’ 43%. The Tide also got 31 bench points to the Razorbacks’ 11.

Alabama travels to Texas on Tuesday night.

Arkansas hosts LSU on Wednesday night.

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1st Half
ALA
Crimson Tide
40
ARK
Razorbacks
34

Time		Play	Score
20:00		Chris Youngblood vs. Zvonimir Ivišić (Jarin Stevenson gains possession)
19:46		Mark Sears turnover (bad pass) (Zvonimir Ivišić steals)
19:25	+2	Zvonimir Ivišić makes two point jump shot (D.J. Wagner assists)	0-2
19:11	+2	Grant Nelson makes two point layup	2-2
18:46		Grant Nelson blocks Adou Thiero's two point layup
18:44		Grant Nelson defensive rebound
18:25		Adou Thiero shooting foul (Grant Nelson draws the foul)
18:25	+1	Grant Nelson makes regular free throw 1 of 2	3-2
18:25	+1	Grant Nelson makes regular free throw 2 of 2	4-2
18:04		Johnell Davis misses two point layup
18:02		Crimson Tide defensive rebound
17:47	+2	Chris Youngblood makes two point layup	6-2
17:24		Jarin Stevenson shooting foul (D.J. Wagner draws the foul)
17:24	+1	D.J. Wagner makes regular free throw 1 of 2	6-3
17:24	+1	D.J. Wagner makes regular free throw 2 of 2	6-4
17:14		Mark Sears turnover (lost ball) (D.J. Wagner steals)
17:07		Adou Thiero misses two point layup
17:05		Billy Richmond III offensive rebound
17:05		Jarin Stevenson blocks Billy Richmond III's two point layup
17:03		Billy Richmond III offensive rebound
17:03		Clifford Omoruyi personal foul
16:55		Zvonimir Ivišić misses two point jump shot
16:53		Jarin Stevenson defensive rebound
16:42		Jarin Stevenson misses three point jump shot
16:40		Crimson Tide offensive rebound
16:39	+2	Grant Nelson makes two point layup (Jarin Stevenson assists)	8-4
16:21		Zvonimir Ivišić misses two point jump shot
16:19		Zvonimir Ivišić offensive rebound
16:18	+2	Zvonimir Ivišić makes two point layup	8-6
16:01		Grant Nelson misses three point jump shot
15:59		Jarin Stevenson offensive rebound
15:52		Mark Sears misses three point jump shot
15:50		Trevon Brazile defensive rebound
15:29		Zvonimir Ivišić misses three point jump shot
15:27		Chris Youngblood defensive rebound
15:18		Zvonimir Ivišić shooting foul (Jarin Stevenson draws the foul)
15:18		TV timeout
15:18	+1	Jarin Stevenson makes regular free throw 1 of 2	9-6
15:18	+1	Jarin Stevenson makes regular free throw 2 of 2	10-6
14:59		Jonas Aidoo misses two point jump shot
14:57		Aden Holloway defensive rebound
14:42		Mouhamed Dioubate turnover (traveling)
14:28		Johnell Davis misses three point jump shot
14:26		Mouhamed Dioubate defensive rebound
14:19	+3	Mark Sears makes three point jump shot (Labaron Philon assists)	13-6
14:00		Jonas Aidoo misses two point jump shot
13:58		Grant Nelson defensive rebound
13:51	+2	Aden Holloway makes two point layup	15-6
13:48		Razorbacks 30 second timeout
13:34		Adou Thiero misses two point jump shot
13:32		Adou Thiero offensive rebound
13:32	+2	Adou Thiero makes two point dunk	15-8
13:15	+3	Aden Holloway makes three point jump shot	18-8
13:02		D.J. Wagner misses two point layup
13:00		Aiden Sherrell defensive rebound
12:49		Aiden Sherrell turnover (bad pass) (Zvonimir Ivišić steals)
12:42	+2	Johnell Davis makes two point layup (Karter Knox assists)	18-10
12:25	+2	Aiden Sherrell makes two point layup (Labaron Philon assists)	20-10
12:09	+3	Zvonimir Ivišić makes three point jump shot (D.J. Wagner assists)	20-13
11:49		Labaron Philon misses three point jump shot
11:47		Zvonimir Ivišić defensive rebound
11:30	+2	Zvonimir Ivišić makes two point layup	20-15
11:10	+2	Mark Sears makes two point layup	22-15
10:55	+3	Adou Thiero makes three point jump shot (D.J. Wagner assists)	22-18
10:40		Mouhamed Dioubate turnover (lost ball) (Adou Thiero steals)
10:40		TV timeout
10:28		Zvonimir Ivišić misses two point jump shot
10:26		Aden Holloway defensive rebound
10:13	+3	Chris Youngblood makes three point jump shot (Grant Nelson assists)	25-18
9:55		Clifford Omoruyi shooting foul (Adou Thiero draws the foul)
9:55	+1	Adou Thiero makes regular free throw 1 of 2	25-19
9:55	+1	Adou Thiero makes regular free throw 2 of 2	25-20
9:41	+2	Chris Youngblood makes two point jump shot (Aden Holloway assists)	27-20
9:15	+2	Adou Thiero makes two point dunk	27-22
9:06	+2	Aiden Sherrell makes two point dunk (Aden Holloway assists)	29-22
8:35	+2	D.J. Wagner makes two point jump shot (Zvonimir Ivišić assists)	29-24
8:01		Chris Youngblood turnover (bad pass) (Adou Thiero steals)
7:42	+3	Zvonimir Ivišić makes three point jump shot (D.J. Wagner assists)	29-27
7:32		Zvonimir Ivišić blocks Mouhamed Dioubate's two point layup
7:30		Mouhamed Dioubate offensive rebound
7:30	+2	Mouhamed Dioubate makes two point layup	31-27
7:13	+3	Zvonimir Ivišić makes three point jump shot (D.J. Wagner assists)	31-30
7:00	+2	Mouhamed Dioubate makes two point jump shot	33-30
6:30		TV timeout
6:27		Adou Thiero misses two point jump shot
6:25		Adou Thiero offensive rebound
6:25	+2	Adou Thiero makes two point layup	33-32
6:03		Trevon Brazile blocks Mark Sears's two point layup
6:01		Jonas Aidoo defensive rebound
6:01		Mouhamed Dioubate personal foul
5:50		Karter Knox turnover (lost ball) (Mark Sears steals)
5:48	+2	Mark Sears makes two point layup	35-32
5:27		Adou Thiero misses two point jump shot
5:25		Jarin Stevenson defensive rebound
5:15		Chris Youngblood misses three point jump shot
5:13		Karter Knox defensive rebound
4:48		Karter Knox misses two point jump shot
4:46		Mouhamed Dioubate defensive rebound
4:46		Adou Thiero personal foul
4:31		Mouhamed Dioubate turnover (lost ball) (Billy Richmond III steals)
4:09		Johnell Davis misses three point jump shot
4:07		Jarin Stevenson defensive rebound
3:41		Mark Sears turnover (lost ball) (Billy Richmond III steals)
3:41		TV timeout
3:41		Zvonimir Ivišić technical foul
3:41		Zvonimir Ivišić turnover (offensive foul)
3:41		Chris Youngblood technical foul
3:41		Chris Youngblood turnover (offensive foul)
3:14		Johnell Davis misses two point jump shot
3:12		Razorbacks offensive rebound
3:10		Razorbacks turnover (shot clock violation)
2:55		Johnell Davis personal foul
2:35	+2	Aiden Sherrell makes two point layup (Aden Holloway assists)	37-32
2:23		D.J. Wagner misses three point jump shot
2:21		Aden Holloway defensive rebound
2:14		Billy Richmond III blocks Aden Holloway's two point layup
2:12		Trevon Brazile defensive rebound
2:06		Johnell Davis misses two point layup
2:04		Crimson Tide defensive rebound
1:57		Johnell Davis personal foul
1:49		Jonas Aidoo shooting foul (Aiden Sherrell draws the foul)
1:49	+1	Aiden Sherrell makes regular free throw 1 of 2	38-32
1:49		Aiden Sherrell misses regular free throw 2 of 2
1:49		Trevon Brazile defensive rebound
1:34		D.J. Wagner misses three point jump shot
1:32		Crimson Tide defensive rebound
1:19		Jonas Aidoo blocks Mark Sears's two point layup
1:17		Aiden Sherrell offensive rebound
1:15		Labaron Philon misses three point jump shot
1:13		Aiden Sherrell offensive rebound
1:11		Aiden Sherrell misses two point layup
1:09		Razorbacks defensive rebound
0:47		Jonas Aidoo misses two point jump shot
0:45		Karter Knox offensive rebound
0:45		Mouhamed Dioubate personal foul
0:34		Karter Knox misses two point layup
0:32		Karter Knox offensive rebound
0:32		Karter Knox misses two point layup
0:30		Trevon Brazile offensive rebound
0:30	+2	Trevon Brazile makes two point dunk	38-34
0:20		Crimson Tide 30 second timeout
0:03	+2	Mouhamed Dioubate makes two point jump shot (Grant Nelson assists)	40-34
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
ALA
Crimson Tide
45
ARK
Razorbacks
47

Time		Play	Score
19:37		Johnell Davis misses two point jump shot
19:35		Chris Youngblood defensive rebound
19:27		Chris Youngblood misses three point jump shot
19:25		Adou Thiero defensive rebound
19:15	+2	Adou Thiero makes two point jump shot	40-36
18:56	+2	Grant Nelson makes two point layup (Mark Sears assists)	42-36
18:38		D.J. Wagner turnover (bad pass)
18:26	+2	Jarin Stevenson makes two point layup	44-36
18:26		Karter Knox shooting foul (Jarin Stevenson draws the foul)
18:26		Jarin Stevenson misses regular free throw 1 of 1
18:26		Johnell Davis defensive rebound
18:26		Grant Nelson personal foul
18:15		D.J. Wagner turnover (bad pass) (Jarin Stevenson steals)
18:02	+2	Clifford Omoruyi makes two point dunk (Mark Sears assists)	46-36
17:54		Razorbacks 30 second timeout
17:54		TV timeout
17:43	+2	Adou Thiero makes two point jump shot (Billy Richmond III assists)	46-38
17:27		Jump ball. (Razorbacks gains possession)
17:21		Billy Richmond III personal foul (Mark Sears draws the foul)
17:16		Billy Richmond III shooting foul (Grant Nelson draws the foul)
17:16	+1	Grant Nelson makes regular free throw 1 of 2	47-38
17:16		Grant Nelson misses regular free throw 2 of 2
17:16		Zvonimir Ivišić defensive rebound
17:03	+2	Billy Richmond III makes two point layup	47-40
16:52		Mark Sears turnover (traveling)
16:43		Adou Thiero offensive foul
16:43		Adou Thiero turnover (offensive foul)
16:33	+2	Mark Sears makes two point layup	49-40
16:04		Billy Richmond III misses three point jump shot
16:02		Mark Sears defensive rebound
15:55		Mark Sears misses three point jump shot
15:53		Chris Youngblood offensive rebound
15:50	+2	Chris Youngblood makes two point layup	51-40
15:31		Zvonimir Ivišić misses two point jump shot
15:29		Mark Sears defensive rebound
15:15		Mark Sears misses three point jump shot
15:13		Zvonimir Ivišić defensive rebound
15:03		Johnell Davis misses three point jump shot
15:01		Trevon Brazile offensive rebound
14:55		Karter Knox misses two point layup
14:53		Jarin Stevenson defensive rebound
14:53		Billy Richmond III personal foul
14:53		TV timeout
14:39	+3	Aden Holloway makes three point jump shot (Mouhamed Dioubate assists)	54-40
14:23		Adou Thiero turnover (lost ball) (Mouhamed Dioubate steals)
14:11		Adou Thiero personal foul (Mouhamed Dioubate draws the foul)
14:08		Labaron Philon misses two point layup
13:50	+3	Zvonimir Ivišić makes three point jump shot (D.J. Wagner assists)	54-43
13:38	+3	Chris Youngblood makes three point jump shot (Mouhamed Dioubate assists)	57-43
13:38		Johnell Davis shooting foul (Chris Youngblood draws the foul)
13:38	+1	Chris Youngblood makes regular free throw 1 of 1	58-43
13:28		Zvonimir Ivišić misses three point jump shot
13:26		Labaron Philon defensive rebound
13:16	+2	Grant Nelson makes two point layup (Aden Holloway assists)	60-43
13:02		Mouhamed Dioubate shooting foul (Zvonimir Ivišić draws the foul)
13:02		Zvonimir Ivišić misses regular free throw 1 of 2
13:02	+1	Zvonimir Ivišić makes regular free throw 2 of 2	60-44
12:52		Clifford Omoruyi misses two point layup
12:50		Zvonimir Ivišić defensive rebound
12:42		Zvonimir Ivišić misses three point jump shot
12:40		Grant Nelson defensive rebound
12:30		Zvonimir Ivišić blocks Aden Holloway's two point layup
12:28		Trevon Brazile defensive rebound
12:25		Billy Richmond III turnover (bad pass) (Labaron Philon steals)
12:17	+2	Clifford Omoruyi makes two point dunk (Labaron Philon assists)	62-44
11:57		Zvonimir Ivišić misses three point jump shot
11:55		Aden Holloway defensive rebound
11:51		Aden Holloway misses three point jump shot
11:49		Razorbacks defensive rebound
11:49		TV timeout
11:36	+2	Johnell Davis makes two point layup	62-46
11:15		Clifford Omoruyi turnover (bad pass)
10:59		Jarin Stevenson shooting foul (Johnell Davis draws the foul)
10:59	+1	Johnell Davis makes regular free throw 1 of 2	62-47
10:59	+1	Johnell Davis makes regular free throw 2 of 2	62-48
10:31		Mark Sears turnover (out of bounds)
10:19		Johnell Davis misses two point jump shot
10:17		Aden Holloway defensive rebound
10:04	+2	Labaron Philon makes two point layup	64-48
9:54		Johnell Davis turnover (bad pass) (Aden Holloway steals)
9:46		Labaron Philon misses three point jump shot
9:44		Clifford Omoruyi offensive rebound
9:44		Trevon Brazile blocks Clifford Omoruyi's two point layup
9:42		Clifford Omoruyi offensive rebound
9:42		Karter Knox shooting foul (Clifford Omoruyi draws the foul)
9:42	+1	Clifford Omoruyi makes regular free throw 1 of 2	65-48
9:42		Clifford Omoruyi misses regular free throw 2 of 2
9:42		Adou Thiero defensive rebound
9:27	+2	Billy Richmond III makes two point jump shot (D.J. Wagner assists)	65-50
9:13		Mark Sears misses two point layup
9:11		Mouhamed Dioubate offensive rebound
9:07	+2	Mouhamed Dioubate makes two point layup	67-50
8:55	+2	Billy Richmond III makes two point jump shot (D.J. Wagner assists)	67-52
8:55		Labaron Philon shooting foul (Billy Richmond III draws the foul)
8:55	+1	Billy Richmond III makes regular free throw 1 of 1	67-53
8:33	+2	Mouhamed Dioubate makes two point layup	69-53
8:18		Billy Richmond III turnover (out of bounds)
8:03	+2	Mouhamed Dioubate makes two point layup (Chris Youngblood assists)	71-53
7:42	+2	Adou Thiero makes two point jump shot (D.J. Wagner assists)	71-55
7:27		Mouhamed Dioubate misses two point layup
7:25		Billy Richmond III defensive rebound
7:19		D.J. Wagner misses three point jump shot
7:17		Mark Sears defensive rebound
7:08	+2	Clifford Omoruyi makes two point dunk (Mark Sears assists)	73-55
7:05		TV timeout
6:50	+2	Adou Thiero makes two point jump shot	73-57
6:31	+2	Mouhamed Dioubate makes two point layup	75-57
6:16	+2	Johnell Davis makes two point layup (Adou Thiero assists)	75-59
6:04		Labaron Philon misses two point layup
6:02		Johnell Davis defensive rebound
5:56	+3	Johnell Davis makes three point jump shot	75-62
5:53		Crimson Tide 30 second timeout
5:42	+2	Clifford Omoruyi makes two point dunk (Grant Nelson assists)	77-62
5:20		Aden Holloway shooting foul (D.J. Wagner draws the foul)
5:20	+1	D.J. Wagner makes regular free throw 1 of 2	77-63
5:20	+1	D.J. Wagner makes regular free throw 2 of 2	77-64
5:00		Billy Richmond III shooting foul (Grant Nelson draws the foul)
5:00	+1	Grant Nelson makes regular free throw 1 of 2	78-64
5:00	+1	Grant Nelson makes regular free throw 2 of 2	79-64
4:47		Grant Nelson shooting foul (Adou Thiero draws the foul)
4:47	+1	Adou Thiero makes regular free throw 1 of 2	79-65
4:47		Adou Thiero misses regular free throw 2 of 2
4:47		Zvonimir Ivišić offensive rebound
4:45	+2	Zvonimir Ivišić makes two point layup	79-67
4:31		Mouhamed Dioubate turnover (bad pass) (Johnell Davis steals)
4:29		Mouhamed Dioubate shooting foul (Johnell Davis draws the foul)
4:29	+1	Johnell Davis makes regular free throw 1 of 2	79-68
4:29	+1	Johnell Davis makes regular free throw 2 of 2	79-69
4:03		Zvonimir Ivišić blocks Mark Sears's two point layup
4:01		Billy Richmond III defensive rebound
3:57		Grant Nelson shooting foul (Adou Thiero draws the foul)
3:57		TV timeout
3:57	+1	Adou Thiero makes regular free throw 1 of 2	79-70
3:57	+1	Adou Thiero makes regular free throw 2 of 2	79-71
3:31		Mark Sears turnover (bad pass) (Zvonimir Ivišić steals)
3:24	+2	Billy Richmond III makes two point dunk (Zvonimir Ivišić assists)	79-73
3:11		Grant Nelson misses two point layup
3:09		Zvonimir Ivišić defensive rebound
2:58	+3	Zvonimir Ivišić makes three point jump shot (Adou Thiero assists)	79-76
2:28	+2	Mark Sears makes two point layup	81-76
2:08		D.J. Wagner misses three point jump shot
2:06		Clifford Omoruyi defensive rebound
1:52		Chris Youngblood misses three point jump shot
1:50		Adou Thiero defensive rebound
1:44		Razorbacks 60 second timeout
1:36		Johnell Davis misses three point jump shot
1:34		Adou Thiero offensive rebound
1:30		Grant Nelson blocks Adou Thiero's two point layup
1:28		Johnell Davis offensive rebound
1:17		Clifford Omoruyi shooting foul (D.J. Wagner draws the foul)
1:17	+1	D.J. Wagner makes regular free throw 1 of 2	81-77
1:17	+1	D.J. Wagner makes regular free throw 2 of 2	81-78
1:01		Chris Youngblood misses three point jump shot
0:59		Grant Nelson offensive rebound
0:59	+2	Grant Nelson makes two point layup	83-78
0:38	+2	Zvonimir Ivišić makes two point layup	83-80
0:38		Crimson Tide 30 second timeout
0:12		Aden Holloway misses three point jump shot
0:11		Razorbacks defensive rebound
0:07		Razorbacks 30 second timeout
0:05		Mark Sears shooting foul (Zvonimir Ivišić draws the foul)
0:05		Zvonimir Ivišić misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:05	+1	Zvonimir Ivišić makes regular free throw 2 of 2	83-81
0:04		Johnell Davis shooting foul (Chris Youngblood draws the foul)
0:04	+1	Chris Youngblood makes regular free throw 1 of 2	84-81
0:04		Chris Youngblood misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:04		Crimson Tide offensive rebound
0:01		Zvonimir Ivišić shooting foul (Chris Youngblood draws the foul)
0:01		Chris Youngblood misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:01	+1	Chris Youngblood makes regular free throw 2 of 2	85-81
0:01		Adou Thiero turnover (bad pass)
0:00		End of period

Adou Thiero turnover (bad pass)