Alabama basketball scored 100 against Illinois, and Mark Sears didn't have any of those points. Nate Oats explained why Sears didn't play much in the second half.

Mark Sears did not play over the final minutes of Alabama’s game against Illinois in a decision that was his own. Nate Oats spoke about Sears sitting following the 100-87 win for ‘Bama over the Fighting Illini on Wednesday.

Alabama basketball's Mark Sears posted on Instagram early Thursday morning taking shots after a rare scoreless performance vs. Illinois:

Alabama didn’t slow down even with a scoreless night from star Mark Sears. The preseason All-American guard watched from the bench as the eighth-ranked Crimson Tide held off No. 25 Illinois 100-87.

Alabama basketball picked up a huge top 25 win over Illinois despite a bad game from superstar guard Mark Sears.

No. 7 Alabama basketball (4-1) defeated No. 20 Illinois (3-1), 100-87, but it did it without a point from SEC Preseason Player of the Year Mark Sears.

That changes when Illinois travels to Birmingham to face Alabama on Wednesday. In a matchup featuring two of the best offenses in the country, the Tide offer the Illini their first opportunity to prove themselves as a true top-25-level power.

Here's how good Alabama was Wednesday night. The 7th-ranked Tide scored 100 points in a win over 20th-ranked Iliinois in the CM Newton Classic at Legacy Arena.