Indiana State loses to Alabama in their historic first meeting.
Orry Cantrell, Writer in Staff
11 November 2023
Aaron Estrada, a basketball player for Alabama, dribbles the ball down the court against Indiana State on November 10 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. CW/ Elijah McWhorter
On November 10, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, basketball player Aaron Estrada (#55) of Alabama dribbles the ball down the court against Indiana State.
In back-to-back men’s basketball games, the Crimson Tide scored 100 points for the first time since the 1964–1965 campaign.
In the first-ever meeting between the two programs, the Crimson Tide defeated Indiana State Sycamores 102-80 on Friday night, moving their record against them to 1-0 all-time.
The Crimson Tide had a difficult start to the game, going 0–4 from the field to start, which gave the Sycamores a 9–0 run.
Guard Aaron Estrada led the Crimson Tide offense as Alabama quickly answered with an 18-2 run of their own.
During the first half, Estrada was leading the Crimson Tide’s offensive. In the first 11 minutes of the game, the Hofstra transfer scored 16 points, 12 of which came from long range. He had 22 points at the half’s conclusion.
With the exception of a massive nkputback du, forward Grant Nelson scored just two points in the first half. Just before halftime, he walked into the locker room with a towel covering his face. Before the intermission, he reappeared wearing a bandage over his right eye.
A shootout broke out at the end of the first half as both teams alternated long-range shots. Alabama led the Sycamores 48–37 going into the locker room.
The game became much more physical in the paint as both teams’ long-range shooting faded in the second half. Nelson took over the Alabama offense, attacking the rim with his 6-foot-11-inch frame.
18 of Nelson’s 20 points came in the second half, and he was able to get six points from the free-throw line once more by consistently drawing contact down low.
In the second half, guard Mark Sears also found his scoring groove, scoring 17 of his 24 points during that time.
Regarding his team’s capacity for scoring, Estrada remarked, “It’s scary for the other team.”
Alabama had four players in double figures overall at the end. Jarin Stevenson, a forward, scored ten points.
The Crimson Tide is demonstrating that it has a number of players who are capable of scoring over 20 points on any given night, which gives the offense more adaptability.
Alabama head coach Nate Oats stated, “[Estrada and Sears] are capable of going for 20 in a half, easy.” In the backcourt, you have both of them, so it’s difficult to concentrate on just one. After Aaron starts cooking, you place your best defender on him. Then, you place your second-best defender on Sears, which will also cause issues.
Alabama outrebounded the Sycamores 23-9 in the second half and 40-25 overall, putting on another clinic of rebounding.
Oats declared, “It’s a quality win.” That team is excellent and very well-coached. I felt our guys did a pretty good job of bouncing back and staying locked in considering they started out nine to zero.
Tuesday at 7 p.m., the Crimson Tide will get ready to play South Alabama at home. SEC Network+ will telecast the game.
