Basketball

No. 5 Alabama visits the South Carolina Gamecocks after Mark Sears scored 22 points in the Crimson Tide's 107-79 victory against the Oklahoma Sooners. The teams play Wednesday for the first time this season. South Carolina is 0-1 against the SEC, and Alabama is 1-0 against conference opponents.

Tennessee remained No. 1 for the second consecutive week, though Auburn has closed the gap at No. 2. The top five were unchanged in the AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll. The second-ranked Tigers picked up nine first-place votes from last week. Iowa State, Duke and Kentucky round out the top five.

The North Alabama Lions host the Alabama A&M Bulldogs in a non-conference matchup. The teams square off Tuesday for the first time this season. North Alabama is 2-1 at home, and Alabama A&M is 4-0 on the road.

No. 19 Alabama visits the California Golden Bears after Zaay Green scored 22 points in the Crimson Tide's 98-49 win over the Georgia State Panthers. Thursday's meeting is the first of the season between the two teams. Cal is 4-0 at home, and Alabama is 2-0 on the road.

The No. 20 North Carolina Tar Heels face the No. 10 Alabama Crimson Tide. The teams meet Wednesday for the first time this season. North Carolina is 2-0 at home, and Alabama is 0-1 on the road.

The No. 19/20 Alabama women's basketball team moves to 9-0 on the season after defeating Georgia State on Monday at Coleman Coliseum. The Crimson Tide outrebounded the Panthers 65 to 22 for the win while also scoring 40 points in the paint.

The AP Top 25 national schedule features No. 2 Auburn's visit to No. 9 Duke and No. 10 Alabama's visit to No. 20 North Carolina in a doubleheader played on the same night and a short drive apart. Those games will offer tests for teams that have made cross-country trips in the past two weeks for tournaments or made-for-TV matchups.

No. 23 Alabama is looking to extend its eight-game win streak with a victory against Georgia State. The teams match up on Monday afternoon for the first time this season. The game will take place at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa. Alabama is 4-0 at home, and Georgia State is 1-2 on the road.

Mark Sears scored 24 points and No. 9 Alabama beat No. 6 Houston 85-80 in overtime in the opener of the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas. After squandering an eight-point lead with 8:53 left in the game, and allowing Houston to force overtime, Alabama outscored the Cougars 7-2 in the extra frame for the win.

Zaay Green had 17 points and six assists, Essence Cody added 15 points and nine rebounds, and No. 23 Alabama beat Clemson 73-39 to claim the Emerald Coast Classic’s Bay Bracket. Alabama scored the opening four points against Clemson and led throughout.