ONE OF the most intriguing clashes in the NCAAM basketball schedule for Thursday was a matchup between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the North Carolina Tar Heels.

The Crimson Tide were ranked lower but ended up claiming a 15-point win off the back of a balanced team performance. Alabama controlled the first half to lead by nine points at the main break, before recording 51 points in the final 20 minutes of play to walk out with a 94-79 win.

With that in mind, Rookie Me Central will be casting our eye over some of the top performers in the match.

Alabama

#0 Labaron Philon

Another strong contributor for the Crimson Tide, Philon was one of several starters to do some damage on the scoring front. The Freshman guard poured in 15 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals in a stat-stuffing display. His ability to put pressure on the basket and time his cuts well helped him find his rhythm and keep Alabama’s score ticking over. A talented defender who maintains active hands at all times, he created plenty of transition scoring opportunities for the Crimson Tide and allowed his team to keep North Carolina at arm’s length.

#1 Mark Sears

The standout performer for Alabama in the win, Sears was firing on the offensive end and led the way with a team-high 20 points and seven assists. The guard had already posted 11 points in the first 10 minutes of play, helping ‘Bama to a seven-point lead in seemingly no time at all. He was looking to score in a variety of ways, and was expertly picking holes in North Carolina’s defence. The second half saw Sears look to get his teammates involved more, and the Crimson Tide’s willingness to share the ball was key in getting them on top, and the guard orchestrated the offence to perfection.

#2 Aden Holloway

A sharpshooting performance off the bench, Holloway provided some crucial buckets and was important in allowing the Crimson Tide to get to a match-winning score. He knocked down four triples in the first half to be the most influential scorer on the floor for Alabama, adding another in the final 20 minutes to finish with five three-pointers and 15 points for the match. He maintained his depth around the arc and was a reliable option for a dish-out pass when his teammates looked to drive and kick.

North Carolina

#4 RJ Davis

Although the shots were not falling at a consistent rate for Davis, his desire to keep trying on the offensive end was a positive for the Tar Heels. Just one of his 11 three-point attempts fell on a tough shooting night, but Davis fought through his shooting slump to still finish with 18 points for North Carolina. He also made life difficult for the Crimson Tide defensively with four steals as he looked to drag his side back into the contest.

#11 Ian Jackson

A standout for the Tar Heels, Jackson delivered some important minutes off the bench and was the most influential offensive player for North Carolina. In 28 minutes, he produced a season-best 23 points and five rebounds in a starring performance for his team, generating some much-needed offence on a tough night for the Tar Heels. He kept his team within striking distance with some strong drives and finishes at the basket in the first half, and chimed in for a personal scoring run in the second half to keep North Carolina a mathematical chance in the second half. There is no doubt that Jackson kept his team in the contest and he was the standout in a tough loss.