Another night in Vegas, another battle for Alabama men’s basketball.

And above all, another victory.

The Crimson Tide picked up another victory at the Players Era Festival, defeating Rutgers 95-90 on Wednesday. Rutgers freshman Dylan Harper scored 37 points, but Alabama still found a way to win.

Now the Crimson Tide (6-1) will play Oregon in the championship on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. CT.

In the first game of the Players Era Festival, Alabama defeated Houston in overtime on Tuesday.

Here are takeaways from Wednesday’s game between No. 9 Alabama and Rutgers in Las Vegas.

Alabama overcomes turnover problem

For much of the first half, the Crimson Tide turned the ball over on almost every other possession.

With 7:51 left before halftime, Alabama had 10 turnovers on 26 possessions.

The Crimson Tide looked for ways to derail their possessions and the offense suffered as a result. The Crimson Tide slowed the turnover machine until the end of the half with 11 players at halftime. But it was still one of the most glaring statistics for an offense that couldn’t dominate the game.

The turnovers prevented Alabama from playing at its pace. Alabama only had two fast break points before halftime. For a team that wants to play fast, that’s not the number the Crimson Tide wants.

Despite the turnovers and the poor performance at the free throw line, Alabama was tied with Rutgers at halftime at 41-41. The Crimson Tide shot 55% (16 for 29) before halftime.

Then, just when it looked like Alabama was resigned to turning the ball over, they showed up again late and allowed Rutgers to make one more play in the final minutes. Alabama had an eight-point lead late, a few turnovers later, and it quickly became a one-possession game.

Alabama finished the game with 20 turnovers and Rutgers scored 23 points on those giveaways.

Mark Sears is cooking from the break

Sears played 18 minutes before halftime but didn’t have much of an impact on the statistics as a scorer. Two basket shots, two free throws. A pedestrian six points.

Then the player who came out of the locker room in the second half looked like a preseason All-American.

Sears scored 13 points in the first five minutes of the second half. He made three three-pointers and four total shots. His efforts on offense helped the Crimson Tide gain a lead.

A little more than halfway through the second frame, Sears topped the 20-point mark again. But shortly afterwards he received his fourth foul. That’s why he had to miss something, the only thing that really slowed him down in the second half.

Sears finished the game with 24 points, two rebounds, five assists, two steals and five turnovers.

Reliable Mo Dioubate

Close game? Battle? Do you need to clear out every possession?

Just call Mo Dioubate.

The hardest-working player on the roster continued his efforts from the first game against Houston. Dioubate battled again, providing strong, physical minutes in a close game.

He scored, grabbed rebounds, grabbed steals, blocked, assisted, you name it. He did it. That included a key defensive rebound with 22 seconds left as Alabama defended its two-point lead. Dioubate didn’t miss anything either and took the lead 4-4

Dioubate scored 10 points, nine rebounds, blocked two shots and grabbed two steals.

His reliability proved crucial at all times, but especially in the second half. With Sears, Clifford Omoruyi and others committing fouls, Alabama needed someone to step up and fight. Dioubate was that player again.

Nick Kelly is a beat writer from Alabama AL.com and Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X And Instagram.