Grant Nelson Feeling Good After Providing Alabama Spark

Cleveland, Ohio. - Alabama was struggling with the Robert Morris Colonials, allowing the 15-seed Horizon League Champions to take a one-point lead for 30 seconds. Before then, Alabama head coach Nate Oats saw Grant Nelson stand up at the end of the bench and say "Put me in."

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Nelson entered the game with 8:47 left, with Alabama only up by two on its first-round NCAA tournament opponent. Alabama would finish the game out-rebounding Robert Morris 13-8 and took its largest lead of the game (12 points) thanks to Nelson and Sears at the free-throw line.

Postgame, a sore Grant Nelson talked about coming in and providing the spark needed off the bench for Alabama.

"I'm not gonna let this be the last game of our season," Nelson said in the postgame locker room. "I feel like we have such a high potential. Me and [Nate] Oats, we made eye contact and I said 'I'm good,' and he sent me in."

Nelson played only seven minutes for Alabama, notching five points and three rebounds in the victory, including a dunk that he held onto the rim for maybe a bit too long.

"[My leg] is definitely sore. I'm not trying to rush it or anything, I just felt the time came tonight..." Nelson said. "Once I started running, it felt a little better. I probably shouldn't have dunked that one off one leg."

Nelson will have two days to rest and prepare for the next opponent on the Alabama men's basketball schedule in the round of 32.

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Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.