EKY

BAMA

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Griffin scores career-high 19, hits 5 of Alabama's 19 3s in 111-67 win over E. Kentucky

AP
Dec 24, 2023

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) Rylen Griffin scored a career-high 19 points and hit five of Alabama's 19 3-pointers, Grant Nelson made 7 of 9 from the field and also scored 19 points Saturday to help the Crimson Tide beat Eastern Kentucky 111-67 in a battle between two of the nation's top offenses.

Alabama (6-5), which went into the game ranked No. 5 nationally is scoring (90.5 per game) and No. 11 in made 3s per game (10.5), scored its most points since a 115-82 win over Georgia on Feb. 13, 2021 and hit 19 3s for the second time this season. The Crimson Tide, who have topped the 100-point plateau four times, scored at least 98 points for the sixth time this season.

Mark Sears hit a 3-pointer 16 seconds into the game and Alabama never trailed. Michael Moreno tied it with a 3 about a minute later but Mohamed Wague answered with a layup before Nelson followed with another layup and a 3-pointer to make it 10-3. Sam Walters hit from behind the arc with 14:27 left in the half to push the lead into double figures for good and spark a 14-2 run that made it 34-13 about four minutes later.

Aaron Estrada had 12 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and three steals for Alabama. Davin Cosby Jr. hit 4 of 6 from 3-point range and finished with 12 points and Walters also scored 12 points. Sears, who went into the game No. 15 in the nation in scoring (20.4 ppg), scored a season-low 11 with five assists.

Leland Walker led Eastern Kentucky (4-7) with 20 points and six assists but shot 7 of 21 from the field, 2 of 8 from 3-point range. Isaiah Cozart had 19 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks and Michael Moreno added 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting - all 3-pointers. The rest of the Colonels made 2 of 20 (10%) from behind the arc.

Cozart, a 6-foot-7 fifth-year senior who set EKU single-season records for total blocks (94) and blocks per game (2.54), has 54 blocks in 11 games this season. Cozart played three years at Western Kentucky and had 21 blocks in 48 appearances - all off the bench.

EKU was held nearly-20 points below its season average (86.3 per game, No. 16 nationally). The Colonels shot 34% (24 of 71) from the field, hit 8 of 29 (28%) and made 11 of 17 (65%) from the free-throw line.

Alabama has a week off before taking on Liberty at the C.M. Newton Classic in Birmingham, Alabama. Eastern Kentucky wraps up its nonconference slate, and a three-game road trip, at Purdue on Friday.

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1st Half
EKY
Colonels
32
ALA
Crimson Tide
61

Time		Play	Score
20:00		(Crimson Tide gains possession)
19:44	+3	Mark Sears makes three point jump shot (Aaron Estrada assists)	0-3
19:26		Leland Walker misses two point jump shot
19:24		Mohamed Wague defensive rebound
19:02		Isaiah Cozart blocks Grant Nelson's two point jump shot
19:00		Collin Cooper defensive rebound
18:46	+3	Michael Moreno makes three point jump shot (Leland Walker assists)	3-3
18:28	+2	Mohamed Wague makes two point layup (Mark Sears assists)	3-5
18:18		Collin Cooper misses three point jump shot
18:16		Mohamed Wague defensive rebound
18:02	+2	Grant Nelson makes two point layup	3-7
17:51		Michael Moreno misses three point jump shot
17:49		Aaron Estrada defensive rebound
17:33	+3	Grant Nelson makes three point jump shot (Mark Sears assists)	3-10
17:21		Devontae Blanton misses two point jump shot
17:19		Isaiah Cozart offensive rebound
17:16	+2	Isaiah Cozart makes two point layup	5-10
17:16		Mohamed Wague shooting foul (Isaiah Cozart draws the foul)
17:16		Isaiah Cozart misses regular free throw 1 of 1
17:16		Nick Pringle defensive rebound
17:07		Mark Sears misses three point jump shot
17:05		Michael Moreno defensive rebound
16:56	+2	Leland Walker makes two point layup	7-10
16:45	+3	Rylan Griffen makes three point jump shot (Aaron Estrada assists)	7-13
16:28		Isaiah Cozart misses two point jump shot
16:26		Nick Pringle defensive rebound
16:24		Michael Moreno personal foul
16:13	+2	Rylan Griffen makes two point jump shot	7-15
16:01		Mark Sears personal foul
15:59		Latrell Wrightsell Jr. personal foul (Collin Cooper draws the foul)
15:59		TV timeout
15:59	+1	Collin Cooper makes regular free throw 1 of 2	8-15
15:59	+1	Collin Cooper makes regular free throw 2 of 2	9-15
15:52		Isaiah Cozart blocks Jarin Stevenson's two point layup
15:50		Nick Pringle offensive rebound
15:44	+2	Nick Pringle makes two point layup	9-17
15:33		Tayshawn Comer misses three point jump shot
15:31		Aaron Estrada defensive rebound
15:26	+3	Aaron Estrada makes three point jump shot	9-20
15:03		Collin Cooper misses three point jump shot
15:01		Nick Pringle defensive rebound
14:53		Jarin Stevenson misses two point jump shot
14:51		Michael Moreno defensive rebound
14:46	+2	Devontae Blanton makes two point jump shot	11-20
14:27	+3	Sam Walters makes three point jump shot (Jarin Stevenson assists)	11-23
14:06		Isaiah Cozart misses two point jump shot
14:04		Nick Pringle defensive rebound
13:57	+2	Nick Pringle makes two point layup (Aaron Estrada assists)	11-25
13:30		Isaiah Cozart misses two point layup
13:28		Crimson Tide defensive rebound
13:16		Davin Cosby Jr. misses two point layup
13:14		Isaiah Cozart defensive rebound
13:11		Leland Walker turnover (bad pass) (Nick Pringle steals)
13:06	+2	Sam Walters makes two point layup (Mark Sears assists)	11-27
12:49		Leland Walker misses two point layup
12:47		Sam Walters defensive rebound
12:31		Mark Sears misses three point jump shot
12:29		John Ukomadu defensive rebound
12:18	+2	Isaiah Cozart makes two point layup	13-27
12:05	+2	Mark Sears makes two point layup	13-29
11:47		Devontae Blanton misses three point jump shot
11:45		Crimson Tide defensive rebound
11:45		TV timeout
11:36		Rylan Griffen misses three point jump shot
11:34		Isaiah Cozart defensive rebound
11:27		Tayshawn Comer misses three point jump shot
11:25		Rylan Griffen defensive rebound
11:21		Tayshawn Comer personal foul
11:04	+3	Grant Nelson makes three point jump shot (Rylan Griffen assists)	13-32
10:39		Davin Cosby Jr. blocks Montavious Myrick's two point jump shot
10:37		Colonels offensive rebound
10:34		Leland Walker misses three point jump shot
10:32		Montavious Myrick offensive rebound
10:29		Montavious Myrick turnover (lost ball)
10:17	+2	Mark Sears makes two point layup	13-34
10:03	+3	Leland Walker makes three point jump shot	16-34
9:53		Collin Cooper shooting foul (Mark Sears draws the foul)
9:53	+1	Mark Sears makes regular free throw 1 of 2	16-35
9:53		Mark Sears misses regular free throw 2 of 2
9:53		John Ukomadu defensive rebound
9:27		Mohamed Wague shooting foul (Leland Walker draws the foul)
9:27	+1	Leland Walker makes regular free throw 1 of 2	17-35
9:27	+1	Leland Walker makes regular free throw 2 of 2	18-35
9:06	+3	Rylan Griffen makes three point jump shot (Grant Nelson assists)	18-38
8:44		Michael Moreno misses three point jump shot
8:42		Mark Sears defensive rebound
8:34		Nick Pringle turnover (lost ball) (Michael Moreno steals)
8:25		Leland Walker misses three point jump shot
8:23		Aaron Estrada defensive rebound
8:20	+3	Rylan Griffen makes three point jump shot (Grant Nelson assists)	18-41
8:19		Colonels 30 second timeout
8:19		TV timeout
8:08	+2	Leland Walker makes two point jump shot	20-41
7:57		Collin Cooper personal foul
7:49		Aaron Estrada misses three point jump shot
7:47		Nick Pringle offensive rebound
7:46		Latrell Wrightsell Jr. misses three point jump shot
7:44		Isaiah Cozart defensive rebound
7:33		Leland Walker misses two point jump shot
7:31		Nick Pringle defensive rebound
7:20	+3	Rylan Griffen makes three point jump shot (Aaron Estrada assists)	20-44
6:50	+2	Isaiah Cozart makes two point layup	22-44
6:35		Isaiah Cozart shooting foul (Nick Pringle draws the foul)
6:35	+1	Nick Pringle makes regular free throw 1 of 2	22-45
6:35		Nick Pringle misses regular free throw 2 of 2
6:35		Leland Walker defensive rebound
6:15		Collin Cooper misses three point jump shot
6:13		Rylan Griffen defensive rebound
6:10		Aaron Estrada misses three point jump shot
6:08		Devontae Blanton defensive rebound
5:56		John Ukomadu misses two point jump shot
5:54		Colonels offensive rebound
5:50		Devontae Blanton turnover (bad pass) (Rylan Griffen steals)
5:48		Devontae Blanton personal foul
5:36		Latrell Wrightsell Jr. turnover (lost ball) (John Ukomadu steals)
5:32		Sam Walters shooting foul (John Ukomadu draws the foul)
5:32		John Ukomadu misses regular free throw 1 of 2
5:32	+1	John Ukomadu makes regular free throw 2 of 2	23-45
5:24		Latrell Wrightsell Jr. turnover (lost ball) (Collin Cooper steals)
5:09		Devontae Blanton misses two point jump shot
5:07		Rylan Griffen defensive rebound
5:04		Rylan Griffen turnover (traveling)
4:44		Nick Pringle blocks John Ukomadu's two point jump shot
4:42		Latrell Wrightsell Jr. defensive rebound
4:27		Devontae Blanton shooting foul (Mark Sears draws the foul)
4:27	+1	Mark Sears makes regular free throw 1 of 2	23-46
4:27		Mark Sears misses regular free throw 2 of 2
4:27		Isaiah Cozart defensive rebound
4:07		Tayshawn Comer misses two point layup
4:05		Isaiah Cozart offensive rebound
4:02	+2	Isaiah Cozart makes two point layup	25-46
3:52		Grant Nelson turnover (lost ball) (John Ukomadu steals)
3:49		John Ukomadu misses two point layup
3:47		Davin Cosby Jr. defensive rebound
3:42	+3	Latrell Wrightsell Jr. makes three point jump shot (Mark Sears assists)	25-49
3:42		TV timeout
3:27	+2	Isaiah Cozart makes two point layup	27-49
3:14	+3	Sam Walters makes three point jump shot (Latrell Wrightsell Jr. assists)	27-52
3:13		Colonels 30 second timeout
2:58		Leland Walker misses two point jump shot
2:56		Aaron Estrada defensive rebound
2:48	+2	Grant Nelson makes two point layup	27-54
2:32		John Ukomadu turnover (lost ball)
2:14		Davin Cosby Jr. misses three point jump shot
2:12		John Ukomadu defensive rebound
2:05		Leland Walker misses two point jump shot
2:03		Sam Walters defensive rebound
1:56	+2	Aaron Estrada makes two point layup (Sam Walters assists)	27-56
1:32	+3	Leland Walker makes three point jump shot (Tayshawn Comer assists)	30-56
1:17	+3	Latrell Wrightsell Jr. makes three point jump shot (Sam Walters assists)	30-59
0:54		Isaiah Cozart turnover (bad pass) (Davin Cosby Jr. steals)
0:46		Latrell Wrightsell Jr. misses three point jump shot
0:44		Leland Walker defensive rebound
0:38		John Ukomadu turnover (lost ball) (Aaron Estrada steals)
0:32	+2	Grant Nelson makes two point layup (Sam Walters assists)	30-61
0:03		Leland Walker misses three point jump shot
0:01		Isaiah Cozart offensive rebound
0:01		Davin Cosby Jr. personal foul (Isaiah Cozart draws the foul)
0:01	+1	Isaiah Cozart makes regular free throw 1 of 2	31-61
0:01	+1	Isaiah Cozart makes regular free throw 2 of 2	32-61
0:01		Grant Nelson misses three point jump shot
0:00		Colonels defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
EKY
Colonels
35
ALA
Crimson Tide
50

Time		Play	Score
19:47		Rylan Griffen misses three point jump shot
19:45		Aaron Estrada offensive rebound
19:43		Aaron Estrada turnover (bad pass)
19:29	+2	Leland Walker makes two point jump shot	34-61
19:08		Aaron Estrada misses three point jump shot
19:06		Isaiah Cozart defensive rebound
19:03		Crimson Tide technical foul
19:03		Collin Cooper misses technical free throw 1 of 2
19:03	+1	Collin Cooper makes technical free throw 2 of 2	35-61
18:52		Michael Moreno misses three point jump shot
18:51		Aaron Estrada defensive rebound
18:51		Mohamed Wague turnover (lost ball) (Collin Cooper steals)
18:44	+2	Isaiah Cozart makes two point layup (Leland Walker assists)	37-61
18:22		Mark Sears misses two point layup
18:20		Isaiah Cozart defensive rebound
18:12	+3	Michael Moreno makes three point jump shot (Leland Walker assists)	40-61
18:10		Crimson Tide 30 second timeout
18:10		TV timeout
17:44		Jarin Stevenson misses three point jump shot
17:42		Michael Moreno defensive rebound
17:34	+3	Michael Moreno makes three point jump shot (Leland Walker assists)	43-61
17:24		Davin Cosby Jr. misses three point jump shot
17:22		Isaiah Cozart defensive rebound
17:07		Latrell Wrightsell Jr. shooting foul (Leland Walker draws the foul)
17:07	+1	Leland Walker makes regular free throw 1 of 2	44-61
17:07	+1	Leland Walker makes regular free throw 2 of 2	45-61
16:47		Isaiah Cozart blocks Mouhamed Dioubate's two point jump shot
16:45		Mouhamed Dioubate offensive rebound
16:38		Mouhamed Dioubate misses three point jump shot
16:36		Michael Moreno defensive rebound
16:15		Isaiah Cozart misses two point jump shot
16:13		Nick Pringle defensive rebound
15:59		Collin Cooper shooting foul (Sam Walters draws the foul)
15:59		TV timeout
15:59	+1	Sam Walters makes regular free throw 1 of 2	45-62
15:59	+1	Sam Walters makes regular free throw 2 of 2	45-63
15:44	+2	Devontae Blanton makes two point layup	47-63
15:29	+2	Mohamed Wague makes two point layup (Grant Nelson assists)	47-65
15:14	+3	Michael Moreno makes three point jump shot (Leland Walker assists)	50-65
15:01	+3	Rylan Griffen makes three point jump shot (Aaron Estrada assists)	50-68
14:51		Devontae Blanton misses three point jump shot
14:49		Mohamed Wague defensive rebound
14:43		Mark Sears misses two point layup
14:41		Mohamed Wague offensive rebound
14:39		Isaiah Cozart blocks Mohamed Wague's two point layup
14:37		Rylan Griffen offensive rebound
14:36	+2	Mohamed Wague makes two point layup (Rylan Griffen assists)	50-70
14:36		Collin Cooper shooting foul (Mohamed Wague draws the foul)
14:36	+1	Mohamed Wague makes regular free throw 1 of 1	50-71
14:17		Devontae Blanton turnover (lost ball) (Aaron Estrada steals)
14:12	+2	Mohamed Wague makes two point layup (Rylan Griffen assists)	50-73
14:00		Leland Walker turnover (lost ball) (Aaron Estrada steals)
13:53		Mark Sears misses two point layup
13:51		Turner Buttry defensive rebound
13:35	+3	Michael Moreno makes three point jump shot (Tayshawn Comer assists)	53-73
13:23	+2	Mark Sears makes two point layup (Aaron Estrada assists)	53-75
13:01		Devontae Blanton misses two point jump shot
12:59		Grant Nelson defensive rebound
12:51	+2	Grant Nelson makes two point layup	53-77
12:51		Isaiah Cozart shooting foul (Grant Nelson draws the foul)
12:51	+1	Grant Nelson makes regular free throw 1 of 1	53-78
12:32		Leland Walker misses three point jump shot
12:30		Rylan Griffen defensive rebound
12:24		Rylan Griffen turnover (lost ball) (Isaiah Cozart steals)
12:16	+3	Michael Moreno makes three point jump shot (Leland Walker assists)	56-78
11:58		Mark Sears misses three point jump shot
11:56		Sam Walters offensive rebound
11:52		Rylan Griffen misses three point jump shot
11:50		John Ukomadu defensive rebound
11:50		John Ukomadu turnover (lost ball)
11:50		TV timeout
11:47		Rylan Griffen misses three point jump shot
11:45		John Ukomadu defensive rebound
11:45		Leland Walker offensive foul
11:45		Leland Walker turnover (offensive foul)
11:28		Aaron Estrada turnover (lost ball) (John Ukomadu steals)
11:22		Tayshawn Comer misses two point layup
11:20		Nick Pringle defensive rebound
11:17		Turner Buttry shooting foul (Nick Pringle draws the foul)
11:17	+1	Nick Pringle makes regular free throw 1 of 2	56-79
11:17		Nick Pringle misses regular free throw 2 of 2
11:17		John Ukomadu defensive rebound
11:06		Leland Walker misses two point jump shot
11:04		Turner Buttry offensive rebound
10:51		Tayshawn Comer misses two point jump shot
10:49		John Ukomadu offensive rebound
10:36		Turner Buttry misses three point jump shot
10:34		Aaron Estrada defensive rebound
10:17		Isaiah Cozart blocks Aaron Estrada's two point layup
10:15		Turner Buttry defensive rebound
10:05		Leland Walker misses two point jump shot
10:03		Aaron Estrada defensive rebound
9:57		Sam Walters misses three point jump shot
9:55		Rylan Griffen offensive rebound
9:52	+2	Rylan Griffen makes two point layup	56-81
9:33	+2	Isaiah Cozart makes two point layup	58-81
9:16	+3	Aaron Estrada makes three point jump shot (Latrell Wrightsell Jr. assists)	58-84
9:05		Nick Pringle blocks Leland Walker's two point layup
9:03		Leland Walker offensive rebound
8:59	+2	Leland Walker makes two point layup	60-84
8:49		John Ukomadu personal foul
8:47		Isaiah Cozart shooting foul (Grant Nelson draws the foul)
8:47	+1	Grant Nelson makes regular free throw 1 of 2	60-85
8:47	+1	Grant Nelson makes regular free throw 2 of 2	60-86
8:36		Collin Cooper misses three point jump shot
8:34		Sam Walters defensive rebound
8:21	+2	Grant Nelson makes two point jump shot	60-88
7:55		Devontae Blanton misses two point jump shot
7:53		Mark Sears defensive rebound
7:41	+3	Davin Cosby Jr. makes three point jump shot (Grant Nelson assists)	60-91
7:12		Collin Cooper turnover (lost ball) (Sam Walters steals)
7:05		Latrell Wrightsell Jr. misses three point jump shot
7:03		Grant Nelson offensive rebound
6:54	+3	Davin Cosby Jr. makes three point jump shot (Grant Nelson assists)	60-94
6:51		Colonels 30 second timeout
6:51		TV timeout
6:35		Devontae Blanton misses two point jump shot
6:33		Isaiah Cozart offensive rebound
6:29	+2	Isaiah Cozart makes two point layup	62-94
6:24	+3	Latrell Wrightsell Jr. makes three point jump shot (Mark Sears assists)	62-97
5:56		Grant Nelson shooting foul (Isaiah Cozart draws the foul)
5:56	+1	Isaiah Cozart makes regular free throw 1 of 2	63-97
5:56		Isaiah Cozart misses regular free throw 2 of 2
5:56		Sam Walters defensive rebound
5:39		Turner Buttry shooting foul (Mark Sears draws the foul)
5:39		Mark Sears misses regular free throw 1 of 2
5:39		Mark Sears misses regular free throw 2 of 2
5:39		Michael Moreno defensive rebound
5:19	+2	Leland Walker makes two point jump shot	65-97
4:59		Mohamed Wague turnover (bad pass)
4:48		Leland Walker misses three point jump shot
4:46		Isaiah Cozart offensive rebound
4:46		Mohamed Wague personal foul (Isaiah Cozart draws the foul)
4:40		Isaiah Cozart misses two point jump shot
4:38		Sam Walters defensive rebound
4:26	+2	Sam Walters makes two point layup	65-99
3:52		Collin Cooper misses two point layup
3:50		Latrell Wrightsell Jr. defensive rebound
3:45	+3	Davin Cosby Jr. makes three point jump shot (Latrell Wrightsell Jr. assists)	65-102
3:21		Leland Walker turnover
3:21		TV timeout
3:02		Leland Walker personal foul (Aaron Estrada draws the foul)
3:02	+1	Aaron Estrada makes regular free throw 1 of 2	65-103
3:02	+1	Aaron Estrada makes regular free throw 2 of 2	65-104
2:50		Leland Walker turnover (lost ball) (Mouhamed Dioubate steals)
2:46	+2	Aaron Estrada makes two point layup (Mouhamed Dioubate assists)	65-106
2:09		Leland Walker misses three point jump shot
2:07		Nick Pringle defensive rebound
2:01	+3	Davin Cosby Jr. makes three point jump shot (Aaron Estrada assists)	65-109
1:44		David Onanina misses three point jump shot
1:42		David Onanina offensive rebound
1:33		Turner Buttry misses three point jump shot
1:31		Latrell Wrightsell Jr. defensive rebound
1:17		David Onanina shooting foul (Mouhamed Dioubate draws the foul)
1:17		Mouhamed Dioubate misses regular free throw 1 of 2
1:17		Mouhamed Dioubate misses regular free throw 2 of 2
1:17		John Ukomadu defensive rebound
0:56		Pierce Thomas misses three point jump shot
0:54		David Onanina offensive rebound
0:50		Max Scharnowski personal foul (John Ukomadu draws the foul)
0:50		John Ukomadu misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:50		John Ukomadu misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:50		Crimson Tide defensive rebound
0:32	+2	Kai Spears makes two point layup (Davin Cosby Jr. assists)	65-111
0:21	+2	Turner Buttry makes two point layup	67-111
0:00		End of period

+ 2

Turner Buttry makes two point layup