No. 3 Alabama Basketball Eliminated By No. 6 Florida In SEC Tournament

The Florida Gators dominated the final 25 minutes on Friday night to eliminate the Alabama Crimson Tide.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Upsets were on the menu in the Music City as three higher seeds won at the SEC Tournament on quarterfinal Friday.

Top-seed Tennessee fell first to Mississippi State, Texas A&M knocked off second-seeded Kentucky and the evening culminated in third seed Alabama falling to Florida.

The Florida Gators defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide 102-88 to win the season series 2-1 and move on to semifinal Saturday in Bridgestone Arena.

The game started favorably for Alabama as the Crimson Tide jumped out to a quick 11-3 lead in the first three minutes. The Gators began to dig in on the defensive end and on the glass, forcing difficult shots and dominating on the inside.

Florida fought through the first half and ultimately took its first lead at 31-30 with just over five minutes remaining in the first frame.

The final 25 minutes were all Florida as the Gators stretched its lead to 24-points, mirroring the second regular season contest the teams played in Gainesville.

"Obviously, not the outcome we were expecting or hoping. You've got to give Florida a lot of credit. They've played us really well for two straight games. I thought we had a good start to the game. Things were rolling. They kind of took that timeout and got readjusted - I didn't feel like we had a killer's mentality to just put them away early. We could have, I thought, maybe buried them when we got them down 8-0. They kind of took the timeout and then they started making a comeback," said Alabama coach Nate Oats. 

"Our first, we kind of chart every four minutes with the media timeouts, we were a .56 and a .88 on defense in the first two. Then the next six straight four minute wars they were over a 1.4 in every one. They went 1.5, 1.6, 1.57, 1.4, 1.4, 1.44. Our defense just kind of, I don't know if it was coming too easy, the offense. For whatever reason our defense has been our achilles heel all year. We had a good start today and couldn't maintain it for 40 minutes. Disappointing, but we'll be in the NCAA Tournament. So we had a good enough regular season. We had quality wins, we've got a pretty good tournament resume. We'll see where they send us and then we've got to get rested. These guys have to decide how bad they want to win in the NCAA Tournament and how much we want to continue to play defense for 40 minutes. If we play defense for 40 minutes we can play with anyone in the country. If we take 24 minutes off from the defensive end, it's going to be hard to beat anybody in the NCAA Tournament."

Walter Clayton Jr. was once again a problem for the Alabama defense as he led the Gators offensively with 23 points. He made his hay at the free throw line, making all 11 of his attempts.

Alabama heads home after just one game in the SEC Tournament. The Crimson Tide will find out its next game on Selection Sunday when the NCAA Tournament selects its field.

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NASHVILLE, TENN- The nightcap in Nashville features two of the best offenses in the Southeastern Conference as the 3-seed Alabama Crimson Tide takes on the 6-seeded Florida Gators for the right to advance to semifinal Saturday. 

Alabama and Florida each won home games in their regular season matchups against the other. The Crimson Tide needed overtime to claim a win in Coleman Coliseum in February, while the Gators went to the free throw line 46 times to take a win in the Exactech Arena in March. 

The quarterfinal matchup will tip-off 25 minutes after the conclusion of No. 2 Kentucky's matchup against No. 7 Texas A&M on SEC Network. 

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Second Half: 

• :59 - The game is wrapping as Florida is nearing 100 points. 
• Florida 96-82
• 3:48 - The Alabama fan base that's still in Bridgestone Arena is vocally upset at the officials. Alabama trails by 15 as this nears its end. 
• 4:00 - Sam Walters makes a three point shot. 
• 4:50- A sign of the time. Nate Oats begs the team to press, no one responds. 
• 6:30 - Florida, shockingly, responds with a made 3-point. 
• 6:42 - Alabama is now on a 5-0 run. Don't call it a comeback. Florida 82-63.
• 7:43 - Latrell Wrightsell left the game and limped into the locker room a little bit ago. No sign of him yet. 
• 7:52 - Katie Windham wisely points out. There hasn't been two made baskets for Alabama with a defensive stop sandwiched in between. You can't cut a lead that way.
• Florida 80-58
• 8:02 - It certainly feels like we're just riding the time out on this game. Alabama hasn't been 
• 10:22 - Timeout Alabama. Florida leads 73-52. 
• Florida has outscored Alabama in the paint 42-30.
• Florida has dominated the free throw line, making 17 attempts to the Tide's 8. 
• 10:52 - Alex Condon makes another bucket for Florida as they continue to dominate the interior. 
• 14:38 - Media Review
• Florida leads 62-41.
• Tyrese Samuel leads all scorers with 14 points.
• Gators winning the glass 28-21.
• Crimson Tide just 3-15 from deep. 
• Florida eating inside, 36-28 scoring advantage in the paint. 
• 14:49 - Samuel is dominating inside now for Florida. He's up to 14 points and the Gators are leading 62-41. 
• 17:01 - Tyrese Samuel rolls down the lane for a huge dunk. There's 17 minutes remaining but that kind of felt like Florida slamming the door. Gators lead 58-37.
• 17:30 - Grant Nelson picks up his third foul of the game. He's leading Alabama in scoring tonight, but remember he fouled out in the Tide's loss in Gainesville.
• 17:46 - Nick Pringle gets to the line for Alabama. After not taking free throws until late in the first half it's good to get there early in the second. 
• 18:40 - Mark Sears gets on the board for Bama's first bucket of the half. It starts with one make. 
• 20:00 - Terrible start for Alabama. Nick Pringle misses at the rim and Florida answers with a make on the other end. The lead is now 17. 

Halftime: 

• After opening the game allowing the Gators a .556 points per possession, the Alabama defense ended up allowing 1.231 points per possession. 

First Half

• Halftime: Florida 48, Alabama 33
• 1:07 - Aaron Estrada ends the scoring drought for Alabama, can the Tide follow it up with a stop? No. Gators lead 46-33. 
• 1:21 - Jarin Stevenson turns the ball over. The Gators push and get to the free throw line as this trend continues. Walter Clayton Jr. makes them both and now Florida is leading 44-31. Clayton Jr. is up to 12 points. 
• 1:54 - Florida's run continues. The Gators are on a 17-2 run over the last 4:13 of play.
• 2:38 - Alabama shooting
• 0-4 from the free throw line
• 3-12 from the 3-point line
• 10-14 at the rim
• 2:39 - Mark Sears gets to the line for Alabama, he misses both, making the Crimson Tide 0-4 from the line. Brutal.
• 2:46 - This feels like danger territory for Alabama as the Tide is 0 for its last 5 from the field and hasn't scored in 2:54 minutes. What do you do when a historic offense goes cold? Gators lead now 39-31.
• 3:12 - Nick Pringle steps to the line for Alabama's first free throws of the game. He misses them both and the Tide still trails 37-31. 
• 3:40 - Florida just went on a 10-0 run forcing Nate Oats to call timeout. 
• Gators now lead 37-31.
• Alabama has missed its last four from the floor with two coming at the rim. The Crimson Tide has yet to take a free throw in this game. 
• After dominating the glass early. Florida has dug back and now its 16-16 on the boards. 
• 4:42 - Walter Clayton Jr. slices through the lane and gets a foul called. His two made free throws give Florida its first lead of the game. 32-31 Gators. 
• 5:21 - Walter Clayton Jr. makes a 3-pointer for Florida and the Gators are back within one point. 31-30 Alabama. 
• 7:12 - Aaron Estrada makes Alabama's third 3-point bucket and Alabama takes a 25-23 lead.
• 7:30 - Nick Pringle just pulled down his 6th rebound. He's been massive on the glass for the Crimson Tide so far. 
• 8:00 - Media Timeout
• Alabama leads 22-21
• Crimson Tide is 2-8 from beyond the arc.
• Alabama leading the rebounding 11-8.
• Grant Nelson - 8 points
• Alex Condon and Walter Clayton Jr. - 5 points.
• Alabama started the game off hot from the field, making at a 63-percent clip but the offense has been a bit cold since. The Crimson Tide is currently converting at 45-percent from the floor. 
• 9:15 - Riley Kugel cuts the Alabama lead to one and we now have the game we thought we would, at least in terms of competitiveness. Alabama 20-19.
• 10:41 - Grant Nelson just ended about a two-minute scoring drought with a huge two-handed slam. He's leading Alabama in scoring tonight as they're getting it done at the rim. 
• 11:26 - Media Timeout
• Alabama leads 15-12
• Alabama leading the rebounding 12-7
• Grant Nelson - 6 points
• Alex Condon - 5 points
• The Crimson Tide has yet to get to the free throw line
• 12:18 - Mark Sears commits his first foul, an offensive variety and that marks turnover number 4 for Alabama in the first half.
• 12:29 - Florida just took its first free throws of the game. The Gators took 46 in their win in Gainesville. 
• 12:40 - Grant Nelson makes a running sky hook in the lane. What an impressive, classic looking move. Tide steal leads 15-9.
• 13:37 - Alabama's hot start offensively has cooled as the Crimson Tide managing to make 50-percent from the floor now. It won't be an issue if the defensive intensity remains high. 
• 14:17 - Alabama leads 13-9 as the half is settling in. 
• 14:48 - Mark Sears makes his first bucket, of course it was a layup at the basket as he attacks the rim at such a high level. 
• 15:49 - Mark Sears draws an offensive foul on Florida. Alabama's defensive intensity and attitude early has been exciting. 
• 16:00 - MEDIA TIMEOUT
• Alabama leads 11-5.
• Crimson Tide shooting 63-percent from the floor.
• Florida currently mustering .556 points per possession. 
• Grant Nelson - 4 points.
• Will Richard - 3 points.
• 16:15 - Alabama's defense looks impressive early and the Crimson Tide is clearing the glass to a 7-3 advantage. 
• 16:44 - Latrell Wrightsell gets called for a push off offensively. Odd to see him go for that move as he was working for a mid-range jumper. It's the Tide's first personal foul of the game.
• 17:33 - Florida makes its first bucket. A 3-pointer from Will Richard. Aaron Estrada answers with a made 3-point shot of his own for Alabama's first make from deep. 11-3 Alabama. 
• 18:05 - Grant Nelson is 2 for his first 2. Alabama takes an 8-0 lead and Mike White calls a timeout for Florida. Alabama out-rebounding Florida early 4-1.
• Tide 4-5 from the floor. 
• Gators 0-4.
• 18:58 - Alabama is 2 for its first 3 from the rim, taking a 4-0 lead and only giving Florida one look on their offensive end. 
• 20:00 - Alabama wins the tip and we are underway for the final game in Nashville for the night. 

Pregame

Alabama Starting Lineup: 

• Mark Sears
• Latrell Wrightsell
• Aaron Estrada
• Grant Nelson
• Nick Pringle

Florida Starting Lineup:

• Zyon Pullin
• Walter Clayton Jr. 
• Will Richard
• Tyrese Samuel
• Micah Handlogten

Tonights's Officials: 

• Don Daily
• Joe Lindsay
• Vladamir Voyard-Tadal

• 7-seed Texas A&M upsets 2-seed Kentucky, 97-87. Alabama and Florida will tip off around 8:45.

• Crimson Tide guard Rylan Griffen will play tonight against the Florida Gators. Nate Oats indicated on his pregame radio show that the guard will be on a minutes restriction. This will be his first action since suffering a lower leg injury against the Gators 10 days ago.

• At 7:44 p.m. CT the Texas A&M Aggies hold a 12-point lead over the Kentucky Wildcats with 8:43 left to play. Looks like Alabama may tip-off on time?

• The Alabama Crimson Tide appear to be sporting its retro uniform for tonight's quarterfinal matchup. Alabama is 1-1 this season when wearing the alternate threads, defeating Texas A&M 100-75 in February, but lost to Tennessee 81-74 in March.

Notes You Need To Know

• The Crimson Tide is looking to win its third SEC Tournament title in the last four seasons under with each of the previous two coming in Nashville (2021, 2023)

• Since Oats arrived at Alabama in 2019-20, the Crimson Tide has won a league-best 62 SEC contests.

• Oats' record in the SEC Tournament is 6-1 with a winning percentage of .857, which is the second highest winning percentage since 1979, behind Rick Pitino (17-1, .944).

• For the first time since 1986-87, the Crimson Tide achieved back-to-back regular seasons with 13 SEC wins.

• was named to the Sporting News All-America Second Team, becoming the third UA player under Oats to earn Sporting News All-America honors, joining (Second Team, 2023 and Herbert Jones (Third Team, 2021).

• Sears, a 2024 Coaches and Associated Press First Team All-SEC selection, was named 1 of 5 finalists for the Bob Cousy Award, which annually recognizes the top point guard in Division I.

• Sears has scored 654 points this season, which ranks No. 3 in UA history for most points scored in a single season and 94 points from the program record set by Reggie King (747 points) in 1979.

• Sears is one of two Division I players and the only Power 5 player that has 650 points, 125 assists, 120 rebounds and 75 three-pointers this season.

• Sears has now scored 20-or-more points in 21 games this season, the most by an Alabama player since Reggie King's school record 23 games in 1978-79.

• Per OptaSTATS, Sears and Estrada are the first Division I duo since 1996-97 to both have at least 410 points, 125 assists, 120 rebounds, 50 three-pointers made and 40 steals during the regular season, surpassing St. Joseph's Jameer Nelson and Delonte West in 2003-04.

• Alabama is one of three schools (Purdue and Wright State) in the country that has two players on its current roster that has scored at least 1,800 points throughout their career in Sears (2,008 points) and Estrada (1,888 points).