Mark Sears scores 22 points, No. 5 Alabama beats South Carolina 88-68 for 7th straight win
Mark Sears scores 22 points, No. 5 Alabama beats South Carolina 88-68 for 7th straight win
Alabama guard Aden Holloway (2) celebrates with guard Mark Sears (1) against South Carolina during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
Alabama guard Aden Holloway (2) celebrates during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against the South Carolina on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
South Carolina guard Jamarii Thomas (6) dunks during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against the Alabama on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
Alabama guard Mark Sears (1) goes for a layup against the South Carolina during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
South Carolina guard Jacobi Wright (1) blocks a shot from Alabama guard Mark Sears (1) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
South Carolina forward Collin Murray-Boyles (30) goes for a rebound against Alabama forward Derrion Reid (35) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
South Carolina guard Jacobi Wright (1) reacts during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against the Alabama on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
South Carolina guard Jamarii Thomas (6) reacts after fouling out against the Alabama during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
South Carolina forward Nick Pringle (5) goes for a layup against the South Carolina during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
South Carolina guard Morris Ugusuk (15) drives on Alabama guard Mark Sears (1) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
South Carolina head coach Lamont Paris watches his team against the Alabama during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
Alabama head coach Nate Oats watches his team against South Carolina during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
Alabama guard Mark Sears brings the ball up court against the South Carolina during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
Alabama guard Aden Holloway (2) celebrates with guard Mark Sears (1) against South Carolina during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
Alabama guard Aden Holloway (2) celebrates with guard Mark Sears (1) against South Carolina during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
Alabama guard Aden Holloway (2) celebrates during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against the South Carolina on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
Alabama guard Aden Holloway (2) celebrates during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against the South Carolina on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
South Carolina guard Jamarii Thomas (6) dunks during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against the Alabama on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
South Carolina guard Jamarii Thomas (6) dunks during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against the Alabama on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
Alabama guard Mark Sears (1) goes for a layup against the South Carolina during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
Alabama guard Mark Sears (1) goes for a layup against the South Carolina during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
South Carolina guard Jacobi Wright (1) blocks a shot from Alabama guard Mark Sears (1) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
South Carolina guard Jacobi Wright (1) blocks a shot from Alabama guard Mark Sears (1) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
South Carolina forward Collin Murray-Boyles (30) goes for a rebound against Alabama forward Derrion Reid (35) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
South Carolina forward Collin Murray-Boyles (30) goes for a rebound against Alabama forward Derrion Reid (35) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
South Carolina guard Jacobi Wright (1) reacts during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against the Alabama on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
South Carolina guard Jacobi Wright (1) reacts during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against the Alabama on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
South Carolina guard Jamarii Thomas (6) reacts after fouling out against the Alabama during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
South Carolina guard Jamarii Thomas (6) reacts after fouling out against the Alabama during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
South Carolina forward Nick Pringle (5) goes for a layup against the South Carolina during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
South Carolina forward Nick Pringle (5) goes for a layup against the South Carolina during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
South Carolina guard Morris Ugusuk (15) drives on Alabama guard Mark Sears (1) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
South Carolina guard Morris Ugusuk (15) drives on Alabama guard Mark Sears (1) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
South Carolina head coach Lamont Paris watches his team against the Alabama during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
South Carolina head coach Lamont Paris watches his team against the Alabama during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
Alabama head coach Nate Oats watches his team against South Carolina during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
Alabama head coach Nate Oats watches his team against South Carolina during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
Alabama guard Mark Sears brings the ball up court against the South Carolina during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
Alabama guard Mark Sears brings the ball up court against the South Carolina during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Mark Sears scored 22 points — hitting of 4 of 6 3-pointers — to help No. 5 Alabama beat South Carolina 88-68 on Wednesday night for its seventh straight victory.
Aden Holloway added 13 points for the Crimson Tide (13-2, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) in their 10th straight victory over the Gamecocks (10-5, 0-2).
Sears scored or assisted on 17 of Alabama’s first 25 points. He finished with six assists and joined Brian Williams as the only players in Alabama history with 1,500 points, 200 3-pointers and 300 assists.
Clifford Omoruyi added 10 points and five rebounds.
Jacobi Wright led South Carolina (10-5, 0-2) with 20 points. Jamarii Thomas added 15.
Takeaways
Alabama: Alabama has won by 20 or more points in each of its last three victories. ... The Crimson Tide led 45-28 in the half. ... Holloway scored 11 of his 13 points in the second half.
South Carolina: Former Alabama forward Nick Pringle had 13 points and six rebounds.
Key stat
Alabama was 8 of 19 from 3-point range and shot 55% overall. South Carolina was 3 of 14 on 3s.
Up next
Alabama: At No. 10 Texas A&M on Saturday night.
South Carolina: Hosts Auburn on Saturday.
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