Nate Oats is one day removed from a contract extension that will keep him at Alabama through the 2027 season, and he decided to celebrate with a win on his home court.
The No. 8 Crimson Tide took down the Vanderbilt Commodores with a final score of 78-82, a game many thought would have a larger margin of victory for Alabama.
Sophomore guard Jaden Shackelford led Alabama in scoring with 27 points, while Keon Ellis led the team in rebounds with nine.
Graduate transfer forward Jordan Bruner returned from injury after missing a substantial amount of time, his presence was felt in his first game back.
The Crimson Tide’s defense allowed 78 points, which is high for one of the nation’s top-ranked defenses.
With this win, Alabama’s overall record improves to 18-5, with an SEC record of 13-1.
Three games remain for the Crimson Tide’s regular season, with the next contest coming Wednesday, Feb. 24 against Arkansas on the road.