When Alabama basketball came out for the second half of Saturday’s win over LSU, regular starting point guard Mark Sears wasn’t on the floor. The Muscle Shoals native did not appear in the entire second half, during which the Crimson Tide pulled off a 80-73 victory after the game was tied at 40 entering halftime.

UA head coach Nate Oats avoided addressing a reason for the absence. When he was asked what led to Sears sitting, Oats was short.

“We just played the guys we thought gave us the best chance to win that second half,” Oats said.

Sears finished the game with 17 minutes, all in the first half. He went 0-for-5 from the field, and finished -1.

After the game, Oats began his press conference by alluding to a desire for more defensive effort.

“We went with the guys in the second half (who) we thought gave us the best chance to win this game,” Oats said. “And we won the game and our defense was significantly better than the first half. And we haven’t done that very often this year, so that’s all I’m going to say about that stuff.”

Oats went on to praise UA center Cliff Omoruyi, who he said drastically improved in the second half. Oats said Omoruyi’s effort after the break earned him the team’s “Hard Hat” award, despite the Rutgers transfer not starting the second half.

Alabama’s coach was asked what he wanted to see from Sears moving forward, with a trip to Mississippi State coming Wednesday.

“Same response Cliff gave us in the second half,” Oats said. “Be all about doing the stuff we need to win basketball games.”

The Crimson Tide moved to 17-3 on the season with the LSU win, 6-1 in SEC play. Alabama and Mississippi State are scheduled to tip off at 8 p.m. CT Wednesday in Starkville, with the game aired on the SEC Network.