Mark Sears returned to the starting lineup and helped lead the No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide to an 88-84 win at No. 14 Mississippi State on Wednesday night, following a recent benching during the second half of the game against LSU. Sears recorded 17 points and nine assists while shooting 6 out of 11 from the field, playing 35 minutes in the match.

Although Sears had a total of seven turnovers during the game, the playing time signified his restored favor with Coach Nate Oats. Sears had been visibly upset during the previous game and expressed his emotions during the benching. Oats explained his decision during a Wednesday appearance, stating, “Sometimes you need somebody to push you a little bit.” He emphasized that the motivation behind his decision was to encourage Sears to elevate his performance.

Sears’ Game Highlight

Sears has previously played a critical role in Alabama’s success, averaging 21.5 points during their Final Four run last season, and with his current performance, expectations remain high.

“He can also really guard when he puts his mind to it,” Oats stated.