North Dakota failed to spoil Alabama senior forward Grant Nelson's homecoming Wednesday night, as the Crimson Tide rallied for a 97-90 victory behind Nelson's double-double of 23 points and 10 rebounds.

The Crimson Tide began this game sloppy, with 13 turnovers in the first half, and despite finishing with three more rebounds than North Dakota, the Tide allowed several second-chance points, resulting in North Dakota leading the Tide for the majority of the first half, with the Fighting Hawks' largest lead in the first half being nine points at 27-18 with 8:08 left in the half.

Nate Oats' team cut the deficit and took the lead with 3:32 left in the first half thanks to a strong first-half performance by the North Dakotan Grant Nelson, who recorded 8 points to go along with four offensive rebounds, and Crimson Tide Senior guard Mark Sears, who shot 3 for 5 to give Sears Eight points to go along with his two rebounds. This was Alabama's second lead of the half, following its first at 17:23.

This lead did not last long, as North Dakota's Junior Guard Treysen Eaglestaff, who scored 40 points in Wednesday's loss to Alabama, made a driving layup to put the Fighting Hawks up by one. North Dakota ended the half with a 3-point lead, 38-35, heading into the second half, thanks to Eaglestaff's 14 first-half points.

Alabama found its stride in the second half, putting the Tide up by 11 points, their largest lead of the game, thanks to an 11-0 Alabama run that included a smothering defense that held North Dakota scoreless for more than four minutes in the second half and crashing the boards, with Alabama picking up multiple offensive rebounds that led to second-chance points for the Tide.

Thanks to a strong offensive performance that saw four Tide players score in double digits, the Tide defense slowed down in the middle of the second half, with Eaglestaff dominating with a barrage of threes to lead North Dakota back and tie the game at 78 with 4:23 left in regulation.

Alabama responded with a put-back layup by Crimson Tide guard Houston Mallettee, putting the Tide back ahead by two with 4:02 remaining in the game.

North Dakota tied the game again on a three-pointer by Fighting Hawks player Eli King, tying the game at 85 with 2:15 left.

Alabama went on to win despite Eaglestaff and the Fighting Hawks' late comeback attempt, with a jumper by Grant Nelson and strong free-throw shooting sealing the victory with a 97-90 final score.