The Alabama basketball program welcomed fans back to Coleman Coliseum for the first time in 33 days as they greeted a niche rival in the Creighton Bluejays. The Crimson Tide's defensive efforts carried the team through a first-half shooting slump and saw Alabama claim the program's first win over Creighton 83-75.

Creighton’s Jackson McAndrew scored 13 of his 16 points in the last six minutes, keeping the Bluejays (7-4) withing striking distance for most of the final minutes. Steven Ashworth led Creighton with 20 points and Ryan Kalkbrenner had 18 points and seven rebounds.

Mark Sears recorded 27 points and six rebounds to help No. 7 Alabama notch an 83-75 victory over Creighton on Saturday night at Tuscaloosa, Ala.