Alabama, Grant Nelson clamp down, stop No. 1 seed North Carolina when it mattered most to make Elite Eight

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LOS ANGELES — Alabama’s 345th-ranked scoring defense needed one stop to record a breakthrough win for the program. With North Carolina trailing by two points with 25 seconds remaining, RJ Davis went right, and just like he had been all night, Crimson Tide star Grant Nelson was there to meet him. That UNC offensive possession resulted in a shot clock violation, and Nelson hit two free throws seconds later and No. 4 seed Alabama sealed an 89-87 upset victory vs. No. 1 seed North Carolina in a West Regional Semifinal on Thursday.

Nelson, a transfer in his first season with the Crimson Tide, is one game away from history as Alabama clinched its second trip to the Elite Eight and will face No. 6 seed Clemson on Saturday as both schools try to make the Final Four for the first time.

“It’s a weight lifted off your shoulders,” Nelson told CBS Sports. “We locked in for the end. We did what we had to do to win. … We proved a lot of people wrong, especially with this game. People said we couldn’t guard, but it showed a little bit against GCU and Charleston, but people still doubted a little bit. Then coming here and beating UNC, I think that takes it to another level. The better we can get on defense, the farther (we can go).”

Nelson finished with 24 points, 12 rebounds, and five blocks and became the first player with at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, and four blocks in a Sweet 16 game or later since UCLA’s Kevin Love in 2008. He is the first SEC player to record those numbers since Florida’s Joakim Noah did it in 2006 en route to a national championship.

Nelson’s All-American teammate, Mark Sears, summed up his outing perfectly.

“His performance was legendary,” Sears said. “He showed up big time when we needed him and he won us this game.”

Nelson was a late addition to the Crimson Tide roster via the transfer portal. Nelson committed to the school days after former Alabama stars Brandon Miller and…

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Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/alabama-grant-nelson-clamp-down-stop-no-1-seed-north-carolina-when-it-mattered-most-to-make-elite-eight/

Author : Cameron Salerno

Publish date : 2024-03-29 06:23:35

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