Mark Sears uses NIL money to surprise Alabama basketball with gifts before North Dakota

Posted by author December 19, 2024 Basketball

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Alabama basketball‘s Grant Nelson told his teammates to bring a coat for the trip to North Dakota on Wednesday.

Mark Sears delivered. Not just for himself, but everyone on the team.

Well, almost everyone.

Before Alabama’s first-ever game against UND, coach Nate Oats told the Crimson Tide Sports Network that Sears used some of his NIL money to buy teammates white puffer jackets for the trip.

“Was a little disappointed he didn’t get the coach one,” Oats laughed.

Given a whopping — and dropping — temperature of 2 degrees Fahrenheit before tipoff, UA’s coaching staff could’ve used it. Fortunately, Oats hails from Wisconsin, so he knew to bundle up before the near 1,400-mile trip north to Grand Forks.

Entering the matchup against the Fighting Hawks, Sears leads the Crimson Tide with 17.5 points per game, shooting 39% from the field and 31.8% of shots from 3-point range.

There’s still time for Alabama’s offense to heat up before conference play begins in January, though.

Coleman Coliseum will host Kent State and South Dakota State for the last two games of the nonconference slate, starting with the Golden Flashes at noon Sunday.

Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.