Transfer Grant Nelson had 22 points, eight rebounds, and a season-high six blocks as Alabama secured a 98-93 overtime win over Florida to maintain a one game lead in the SEC standings.
‘Bama has now won 16 straight SEC home games and is 11-2 in conference play and 19-7 overall this season. An ugly 2-5 stretch of basketball in November notwithstanding, this Nate Oats led team has been among the most prolific teams in the entire country and their odds of winning the SEC in wire-to-wire fashion continue to grow.
It wasn’t easy on Tuesday night though, as ‘Bama went one for their first 17 from the perimeter and needed a clutch offensive rebound and bucket from Aaron Estrada to secure the victory over a Gators team that, lately, has looked like not only an NCAA Tournament team, but a potential Sweet 16 caliber squad.
The loss pushes the Gators into sixth place in the SEC, although it likely won’t have a major impact on their at-large hopes. Golden’s team has two games left against Vanderbilt (2-10) and one against Missouri (0-13), which should pad the W-L record, but they also take on South Carolina on the road and have a home game left against Alabama.
A win in that one would go a long way toward putting this team on the six line (or higher) in the Big Dance, assuming they take care of business elsewhere.