No. 6 Alabama will make a rare road trip to a mid-major opponent tonight as the Crimson Tide will face North Dakota in a homecoming game for Grant Nelson.
Nelson, Alabama’s second-leading scorer, is originally from Devils Lake, North Dakota and spent his first three seasons of college basketball playing for North Dakota State. North Dakota was his only other offer out of high school.
Alabama head coach Nate Oats scheduled the game for Nelson after he announced his return for his final year of eligibility. Now Nelson will be able to play in front of his family and friends back home, being just an hour and a half from his hometown.
The game is part of a 2-for-1 series, with North Dakota set to play Alabama in Tuscaloosa during the 2025-26 and 2027-28 seasons.
Alabama has started the season 8-2 while playing one of the toughest schedules in the country. North Dakota on the other hand has had a rough start to the 2024-25 season, currently sitting with a 4-8 record and ranking outside the top-300 in KenPom entering tonight’s game.
The game will tip off at 8 p.m. CT and will air on CBS Sports Network.
How to watch, listen and other key information
Opponent: North Dakota Fighting Hawks (4-8)
Date: Wednesday, Dec. 18
Tipoff time: 8 p.m. CT
Location: Grand Forks, N.D.
Venue: Betty Englestad Sioux Center
Capacity: 3,140
Television: CBS Sports Network
– Play-by-play: Alex Heinert
– Analyst: Shon Morris
Streaming link: WATCH
Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network
– Play-by-play: Chris Stewart
– Analyst: Bryan Passink
Satellite radio: CTSN on Sirius / XM 134 or 201
Varsity Network link: LISTEN
Series record: First meeting
Point spread: Alabama -25.5
Alabama Statistical Leaders:
– Scoring: Mark Sears (17.5 PPG)
– Rebounding: Grant Nelson (8.0 RPG)
– Assists: Mark Sears (4.0 APG)
North Dakota Statistical Leaders:
– Scoring: Treysen Eaglestaff (18.6 PPG)
– Rebounding: Amar Kuljuhovic (6.9 RPG)
– Assists: Treysen Eaglestaff (2.3 APG)
Not a member, Alabama fans? Join BOL today!
Have you subscribed to BamaOnLine.com yet? You can sign up for ONE MONTH of premium access to our Alabama coverage for just $11.99! Be able to read all of BOL’s premium articles and nuggets covering Alabama sports and recruiting and also join thousands of other Crimson Tide fans around the globe on the BOL Round Table message board! CLICK HERE!
