Alabama basketball's Mark Sears made history on Tuesday, and the work he put in to do so has been five years in the making.

Alabama basketball guard Mark Sears surpassed 2,500 career points in Tuesday's win over Vanderbilt. He scored 21 points, reaching the milestone with his 10th and final point of the first

Nate Oats knows just what a valuable player Mark Sears has been for Alabama over the past three seasons. But just in case anyone else needed a reminder, Sears earned a piece of college basketball history Tuesday night against Vanderbilt.

Mark Sears became just the 81st player in Division I men’s basketball history to score 2,500 career points. Alabama’s fifth-year senior entered Tuesday’s game against Vanderbilt with 2,489 points and scored 21 in the Crimson Tide’s 103-87 win.

Mark Sears earned yet another accolade during his standout career at Alabama early in Tuesday night's game against Vanderbilt.

The Crimson Tide outscored the Commodores 54-32 in the paint and won the battle on the glass 44-39 while holding Vanderbilt to nearly 10% below its usual field goal percentage of 47.1. It started inside as Alabama came out as the more aggressive and physical team, and the Tide didn't let up through all 40 minutes.

Alabama basketball coach Nate Oats called out a few players last week, and two of them responded to lead UA's win over Kentucky.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.— The No. 4 Alabama basketball team made good on the first phase of freshman guard Labaron Philon’s word Tuesday night, protecting home court against a Vanderbilt squad with momentum from a weekend upset.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Mark Sears became the 82nd player in Division I history to eclipse 2,500 career points as the No. 4 Alabama men’s basketball team defeated Vanderbilt, 103-87, Tuesday

It goes without saying that Mark Sears, the Preseason National Player of the Year, has been instrumental in the Tide’s success this year. Last week Alabama picked up two key road wins in the SEC in a 20-point road victory vs. South Carolina and a top-ten win on the road against Texas A&M and Sears was a vital part of that.

A big reason behind Alabama’s win was their performance in the first half, where the Crimson Tide carried a 48-31 lead into the break. The Crimson Tide also shot an impressive 58.1% from the field in the first half, 36.4% from three, and 80% at the free throw line.

Aden Holloway and Mouhamed Dioubate each scored 22 points to help No. 4 Alabama beat Vanderbilt 103-87 on Tuesday night.