In a thrilling upset, the Alabama men’s basketball team defeated top-seeded North Carolina with a score of 89-87 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The victory marks Alabama’s first appearance in the Elite Eight since 2004, thanks in large part to the dominant performance of Grant Nelson.
Nelson, who struggled in the first two tournament games, came alive down the stretch against North Carolina’s formidable frontcourt. His 24 points, including a crucial 7-0 run and a game-changing 3-pointer, were instrumental in securing the win for Alabama. Head coach Nate Oats commended Nelson’s performance and praised his ability to take on North Carolina’s bigs.
The game got off to a fast-paced start, with both teams shooting over 50% from the field in the first half and combining for more than 10 3-pointers. Despite North Carolina taking an eight-point lead into halftime, they faltered at the beginning of the second half, allowing Alabama to claw their way back into the game.
In addition to Nelson’s heroics, Aaron Estrada and Rylan Griffen contributed 19 points each in the win. On the losing side, North Carolina’s Armando Bacot led his team with 19 points and 12 rebounds.
Alabama will now advance to the Elite Eight to face Clemson, who pulled off their own upset earlier in the evening by defeating No. 2 seed Arizona. Nelson acknowledged the significance of reaching this stage of the tournament but emphasized that the team’s ultimate goal is beyond just making it this far.
With their eyes set on even greater accomplishments, Alabama will look to continue their impressive postseason run and make a push for the Final Four. Fans can expect more thrilling performances from Nelson and the rest of the team as they pursue college basketball glory.
