Here are three takeaways from the tournament game between No. 9 Alabama basketball and Rutgers as part of the Players Era Festival bracket.

Mark Sears scored 24 points and No. 9 Alabama defeated Rutgers 95-90 on Wednesday night in the Players Era Festival at MGM Grand Garden.

Crimson Tide guard Mark Sears led the way with 24 points on the evening, but his 18-point second-half effort with three-made 3-point shots kept Alabama alive for the Player's Era