Alabama star Grant Nelson delivers honest message after strong homecoming performance against North Dakota
Alabama basketball won its third straight game, improving to 9-2 on the season with a 97-90 win over North Dakota. It was a particularly special night for Bama senior Grant Nelson, who grew up in North Dakota and played three years of college ball at North Dakota State University.
With plenty of friends and family in attendance, Nelson put on a show. He tied fellow senior Mark Sears for a team-high 23 points. Nelson also grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds while shooting an impressive 9/14 from the field.
Despite his electric homecoming performance, Nelson was brutally honest about Alabama’s overall play.
“We played awful, pretty much the whole game,” Nelson said, per Hunter De Siver of Sports Illustrated. “We came in, we didn’t take these guys seriously. I was telling them, this is a big game on their home court. We’ve got to take these guys serious. They’re playing for a lot…Can’t sleep on those North Dakota boys, they can really hoop.”
Up against a mid-major opponent with a 4-9 record, Bama trailed at halftime and wrestled with the lead the entire night. The Crimson Tide were all tied up with less than two minutes to go but found a way to win behind six Nelson points in crunch time.
Crimson Tide head coach Nate Oats scheduled the game for Grant Nelson
Alabama head coach Nate Oats scheduled the game specifically for Nelson. He even gave the senior a web link to invite many more friends and family than usual, per De Siver.
“I just felt so much love,” Nelson said. “It’s great to play in front of these people who have supported me and I’m just super grateful for this experience, for the coaching staff scheduling this game and just giving these guys a show tonight.”
Oats, who has coached Bama for almost six years now, seemed pleased to help Nelson get a performance like this under his belt.
“I thought all in all, Grant played pretty well coming back home,” Oats said. “He shot pretty well, except from three … I’m glad Grant had family and friends at the game I’m glad we (scheduled) it.”
Oats also called Nelson a “steady influence.” Nelson has been a true model of consistency, grabbing seven or more rebounds in nine straight games. His scoring has been more erratic, but he has still posted double-digit points in all but three games this season.
With the Crimson Tide on a small winning streak, Nelson and his teammates will look to capture their fourth victory in a row on Dec. 22 against Kent State.