By Adeniyi Precious 
Alabama’s Clifford Omoruyi Shows Toughness After Injury in Win Over Texas
Alabama’s basketball team, ranked No. 5, fought hard and pulled out a close win over No. 10 Texas A&M, 94-88, keeping their perfect SEC record intact. The game was intense, with plenty of physical play from both sides.
The drama started early in the second half when Alabama center Clifford Omoruyi seemed to twist his ankle while grabbing a rebound. He was in obvious pain and had to be helped off the court. But, after a quick trip to the locker room, Omoruyi surprised everyone by coming back to the game less than 10 minutes later. Despite the injury, he was still effective on the court, grabbing 10 rebounds and helping Alabama dominate the glass.
Coach Nate Oats was full of praise for Omoruyi, saying it took a lot of guts to return after that ankle roll. “A lot of guys would’ve just sat out after rolling their ankle like he did, but he manned up and played through it. He ended up grabbing a huge chunk of our rebounds, and we won the rebounding battle because of him.”
Omoruyi ended the game with 7 points, 10 rebounds, and 1 block, contributing massively in just 16 minutes of play. The win moves Alabama to 14-2 overall and 3-0 in SEC play as they get ready for a home matchup against No. 23 Ole Miss on January 14.
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Chris Youngblood Steps Up Big in Alabama’s Win Over Texas A&M
In the same game, Alabama guard Chris Youngblood had his best game of the season. Coming off the bench, he scored 14 points, grabbed 5 rebounds, and even added an assist and a steal. Youngblood had been working his way back from ankle surgery, but he seemed to find his groove against the Aggies, hitting 3 of 6 from behind the arc.
Coach Oats praised Youngblood for stepping up when the team needed him, saying, “He’s a competitor, and he showed it tonight. We knew he could shoot, and after getting back from surgery, we’re starting to see him get back to form.”
Youngblood’s shooting, especially his 3-pointers, helped Alabama extend their lead during key moments of the game. Despite some foul trouble, he kept battling and played a crucial role in the win. After a slow start to the season due to injury, this game was a big confidence boost for the transfer from South Florida.