Alabama

Alabama wipes out early deficit to oust Hofstra 90-70 in Midwest Region

Published

3 days ago

March 20, 2026

Alabama wipes out early deficit to oust Hofstra 90-70 in Midwest Region

Labaron Philon Jr. finished with 29 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, and No. 4 seed Alabama rallied from an early double-digit deficit to beat 13th-seeded Hofstra 90-70 in a first-round game in the Midwest Region of the NCAA Tournament on Friday.

The Crimson Tide (24-9) advanced to a second-round matchup against fifth-seeded Texas Tech (23-10), a 20-point winner over 12th-seeded Akron in the earlier first-round game at Benchmark International Arena.

Alabama ended the opening half on a 19-7 run to wipe out a 10-point deficit, then built its own lead to 13 before Hofstra (24-11) mounted one last push for a possible upset.

“We focused on just getting stops and pushing our pace. You know they were trying to slow the game down. You could see that in the second half,” Philon said. “Our pace kind of broke them down a little bit and we just started running.”

Freshman Preston Edmead had 24 points for the Pride, and his 3-point basket pulled the Pride within 67-62 with just over seven minutes remaining. Victory Onuetu’s dunk trimmed Alabama’s lead to 69-64 and ignited much of a crowd of 17,769 that threw its support behind the underdogs.

Philon was simply too much down the stretch, though, delivering a layup and a long 3-pointer during a surge that enabled Alabama to rebuild the lead to double digits. Taylor Bol Bowen put an exclamation point on the Crimson Tide response with two dunks and a 3-pointer as the lead ballooned to 20.

“Hofstra is a team that’s been on a big winning streak,” Alabama coach Nate Oats said. “They came in expecting to win and you could tell that. I think they got frustrated late.”

Alabama played without star guard Aden Holloway, who was suspended indefinitely following an arrest on a felony drug charge. In the absence of the team’s second-leading scorer, Aiden Sherrell, Latrell Wrightsell Jr and Amari Allen stepped up in support of Philon, who had 21 points after halftime.

Hofstra was in the tournament for the first time since 2001, the year after NBA champion and current coach Speedy Claxton helped the school located in Hempstead, New York land a spot in March Madness. The Pride also earned a berth in 2020, but that year’s NCAA Tournament was canceled because of the pandemic.

“Proud of my guys’ effort,” Claxton said. “It’s kind of tough to win a game when you give up 17 offensive rebounds. For a team like us in a tournament like this, we pretty much have to play perfect basketball, and we didn’t do that.”

Taking up the slack

Sherrell had 15 points and 15 rebounds. Wrightsell and Allen each added 11 points.

“I try to get guys involved. I ended up with like seven assists,” Philon said. “I was mainly focused on getting the ball out of my hands when I needed to and getting it back if I needed to.”

Cruz Davis scored 14 points and German Plotnikov had 11 for Hofstra.

Off the mark

Alabama rolled despite missing 13 of its first 16 3-points attempts and going 12 of 36 beyond the arc overall. Philon scored 21 of his 29 in the second half. He finished 10 of 18 from the field, including 3 of 7 on 3-pointers.

Winless

Hofstra fell to 0-5 all-time in the NCAA Tournament. The Pride also lost in the first round in 1976, 1977, 2000 and 2001.

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Alabama

Cooler, quieter weather settles into Alabama after warm weekend

Published

4 hours ago

March 23, 2026

Press Room

Cooler, quieter weather settles into Alabama after warm weekend

COOLER: After a weekend with highs well into the 80s, we expect a high in the 68-76 degree range across Alabama today with a good supply of sunshine. Tonight will be clear and cool with lows in the 40s and 50s.

The weather stays unusually quiet for the rest of the week (for late March). We might consider mentioning a small risk of a shower Wednesday, but the weather will be generally rain-free with afternoon highs rising back into the low to mid 80s by Thursday and Friday.

THE WEEKEND: At this point the weekend looks dry and cooler. Highs both days between 66 and 74 degrees; mostly sunny days and fair nights.

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And, the latest global model output suggests the dry pattern continues into the first half of next week. It will be sometime in early April before we experience our next widespread rain/storm event

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Alabama

Alabama vs. Texas Tech live updates, score for March Madness

Published

17 hours ago

March 22, 2026

Press Room

Alabama vs. Texas Tech live updates, score for March Madness

On Sunday night, one of the NCAA Tournament’s top second round matchups is set to take place from Tampa when the Alabama Crimson Tide and Texas Tech Red Raiders meet with a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line.

The Crimson Tide and Red Raiders both cruised to victories during the first round, with each winning their game by 20 points. Alabama defeated Hofstra on Friday afternoon, while Texas Tech toppled Akron.

Two programs who are familiar with the big stage in March Madness, Alabama and Texas Tech are led by two of the premier coaches in the SEC and Big 12, Nate Oats and Grant McCasland. Alabama and Texas Tech also have some premier talent at the guard position in particular with Labaron Philon and Christian Anderson, making this a must-see matchup in the second round.

Following are live updates from the second round NCAA Tournament showdown between Alabama and Texas Tech.

Alabama: Labaron Philon, Latrell Wrightsell Jr., Amari Allen, London Jemison

What channel is Alabama vs. Texas Tech game on today? Time, TV schedule

TV Channel: TBS
Start Time: 9:45 p.m. ET

The Crimson Tide and Red Raiders are set to tipoff at 9:45 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 22, from inside of Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida. A second round NCAA Tournament matchup, the game will be televised live on TBS.

Alabama vs. Texas Tech NCAA Tournament Availability Report

According to NCAA Tournament Availability Report as of Saturday, March 21:

Alabama:

Aden Holloway, Guard – Out
Davion Hannah, Guard – Out
Keitenn Bristow, Forward – Out
Collins Onyejiaka, Center – Out

Texas Tech:

JT Toppin, Forward – Out
LaTrell Hoover, Forward – Out

Alabama vs. Texas Tech predictions, picks, odds

Odds are according to BetMGM as of Saturday, March 21:

Point Spread: Texas Tech by 1 1/2
Money Line: Alabama (minus-105), Texas Tech (minus-115)
Over/Under: 164 1/2

Prediction: Alabama 83, Texas Tech 80 – Expect a complete team effort to win this game for either team, but for the Crimson Tide to eventually come away victorious with a close victory.

Alabama basketball 2025-26 schedule

Nov. 3: vs. North Dakota (W, 91-62)
Nov. 8: at St. John’s (W, 103-96)
Nov. 13: vs. Purdue (L, 87-80)
Nov. 19: vs. Illinois (W, 90-86)
Nov. 24: vs. Gonzaga (L, 95-85)
Nov. 25: vs. UNLV (W, 115-76)
Nov. 26: vs. Maryland (W, 105-72)
Dec. 3: vs. Clemson (W, 90-84)
Dec. 7: vs. UTSA (W, 97-55)
Dec. 13: vs. Arizona (L, 96-75)
Dec. 17: vs. South Florida (W, 104-93)
Dec. 21: vs. Kennesaw State (W, 92-81)
Dec. 29: vs. Yale (W, 102-78)
Jan. 3: vs. Kentucky (W, 89-74)
Jan. 7: at Vanderbilt (L, 96-90)
Jan. 10: vs. Texas (L, 92-88)
Jan. 13: at Mississippi State (W, 97-82)
Jan. 17: at Oklahoma (W, 83-81)
Jan. 24: vs. Tennessee (L, 79-73)
Jan. 27: vs. Missouri (W, 90-64)
Feb. 1: at Florida (L, 100-77)
Feb. 4: vs. Texas A&M (W, 100-97)
Feb. 7: at Auburn (W, 96-92)
Feb. 11: at Ole Miss (W, 93-74)
Feb. 14: vs. South Carolina (W, 89-75)
Feb. 18: vs. Arkansas (W, 117-115)
Feb. 21: at LSU (W, 90-83)
Feb. 25: vs. Mississippi State (W, 100-75)
Feb. 28: at Tennessee (W, 71-69)
March 3: at Georgia (L, 98-88)
March 7: vs. Auburn (W, 96-84)
March 13: vs. Ole Miss in SEC Tournament (L, 80-79)
March: 20: vs. Hofstra in NCAA Tournament first round (W, 90-70)
March 22: vs. Texas Tech in NCAA Tournament second round

Record: 24-9 overall (13-5 SEC)

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Alabama

Timmons, Cody lead Alabama past Rhode Island 68-55 for NCAA Tournament win in 1st round

Published

1 day ago

March 22, 2026

Press Room

Timmons, Cody lead Alabama past Rhode Island 68-55 for NCAA Tournament win in 1st round

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Jessica Timmons scored 21 points and Essence Cody added 19 as Alabama beat Rhode Island 68-55 Saturday in the first round of the women’s NCAA Tournament.

The Crimson Tide (24-10) won a first-round tournament game for the third straight year by shooting 53.2% (25 of 47) and dominating inside, outscoring the Rams (28-5) 42-12 in the paint.

Other than Brooklyn Gray’s 3-pointer on the Rams’ first possession, sixth-seeded Alabama led throughout. The Tide outscored Rhode Island 14-1 over the first 7:26 of the second quarter to build a 30-14 lead.

Defense played a big role in Alabama’s run as 11th-seeded Rhode Island went just 1 for 19 over an 11-minute stretch in the first half. That included missing eight 3-point attempts and committing a pair of shot-clock violations.

“We were just wanting to keep them in front and contest every shot,” Alabama coach Kristy Curry said. “So I thought our kids did a really nice job of staying consistent with the game plan. I thought that gave us a lot of energy when we started to see success with the tendencies and how we wanted to play.”

The Rams closed out the first half on a 9-1 run and cut Alabama’s lead to eight points at the break.

Alabama Forward Essence Cody (21) in action against Rhode Island at KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, KY on Saturday, Mar 21, 2026. (Rodger Champion | Crimson Tide Photos / UA Athletics)

Cody drew her third foul just 72 seconds into the second half, sending the 6-foot-4 junior to the bench for nearly the remainder of the quarter. Rhode Island closed within four points three times in the third before the Crimson Tide used a 12-0 run to pull away.

Rams coach Tammi Reiss said point guard Sophia Vital picking up her third foul midway through the quarter hurt her team’s chances.

“What you’re hoping for is it’s a game in the fourth quarter,” she said. “You’re not playing catch-up.”

Timmons scored eight of her 11 third-quarter points during the run.

Alabama Guard Jessica Timmons (23) in action against Rhode Island at KFC Yum! Center in... — Alabama Guard Jessica Timmons (23) in action against Rhode Island at KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, KY on Saturday, Mar 21, 2026. (Rodger Champion | Crimson Tide Photos / UA Athletics)

Diana Collins pitched in with 16 points, going 7 for 9 from the field, for Alabama

Palmire Mbu and Ines Debroise each scored 11 points for the Rams, who shot 32.8% (19 of 58).

Atypical Tide attack

Alabama entered Saturday averaging 22.7 3-point attempts per game. The Tide put up a season-low 10 on Saturday, but what that created was an opportunity to dominate inside.

“A lot of teams’ game plan is going to be to run us off the line, and if they do, we’re going to score in the paint,” Timmons said.

Alabama converted four of its 3-point attempts, including three by Cody, who made 10 of 30 heading into March Madness.

The three makes were a career high for the junior post player, who said they helped create chances for her teammates to attack the rim.

Rams set new standard

Rhode Island played in its second NCAA Tournament and first in 30 years Saturday, and Reiss hopes the Rams won’t have to wait that long for a third trip.

The seventh-year coach has led the program to four 20-win seasons out of the last five. She said she took inspiration from Danny Hurley, who had re-established the Rams men’s team before guiding UConn to back-to-back national titles.

“I was like, this is going to happen,” she said. “We promised Rhode Island this, and now we achieved it. Now can you sustain it? That’s the question, and that’s the next phase of Rhode Island basketball. … It’s been a process. A lot of ups, a lot of downs, but well worth the journey.”