Alabama
Alabama Guard Latrell Wrightsell’s Second Half Shooting Keeps Crimson Tide Unbeaten
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The No. 2 Alabama basketball team survived an early season scare on Monday night as the Crimson Tide defeated the McNeese State Cowboys 72-64 to stay unbeaten through the season’s first three games.
Alabama endured an over nine-minute field goal drought in the second half but was able to scrape together just enough offense to hang on for the win. Who shouldered the load offensively for the Crimson Tide in the middle of their second half struggles? Graduate guard Latrell Wrightsell.
Wrightsell scored a season-high 15 points along with two rebounds and two assists as his season continues to warm up. The veteran guard missed significant portions of the offseason with injury and started the season a bit slow, making just two of his first 13 three-point attempts in his first two games. His shooting stroke looked to have returned on Monday as he made five-of-nine from beyond the arc, including four in the second half to ensure an Alabama victory.
“Yeah, I mean, this is what we expected him to be,” Nate Oats said. “He’s another one that missed the exhibitions with an injury so he’s just now getting back into his rhythm. The one-for-nine that’s not him, last game. Some of those were good shots he just missed. Some of them, you know, you’ve got to get a feel for what’s a good shot, what’s not. Some of that’s hard to do if you’re not practicing like he was out a month. So I thought he had a lot better feel. Honestly, I thought he turned down some I wish he would have taken. As well as he was shooting it tonight there were three or four he should have shot, I thought. If he would have taken three or four more and get 12 or 13 threes up, that’d be great, because he’s one of the best shooters in the country in my opinion.”
Wrightsell’s 12 second-half points paced the Crimson Tide in the second half, doubling forward Grant Nelson’s six points as the Alabama offense struggled in the second frame. His third three-point make of the second half extended the Crimson Tide’s lead to 21 before Alabama went ice-cold.
McNeese State was able to cut Alabama’s lead down to six at 60-54 as the underdogs rallied, but it was Wrightsell again, making his fourth three-point shot of the second half that re-extended the lead to nine with just over five minutes to play, stopping the drought and propelling Alabama to victory.
“I mean, I just work out every day,” Wrightsell said on his last make .”I didn’t even realize that, but I’m just thankful for my teammates finding me when I’m open, trusting my shot and just getting to shoot when I’m ready.”
The Crimson Tide enters a challenging stretch of non-conference action beginning on Friday against Purdue. Wrightsell returning to form as one of the nation’s most dangerous shooters will go a long way towards helping Alabama navigate the nation’s most difficult non-conference schedule.
SPANISH FORT, Ala. (WALA) – The YMCA of South Alabama held a Healthy Kids Day at Spanish Fort Town Center Park.
Saturday’s event featured games and demonstrations, along with interactive activities featuring police and fire vehicles.
“I think just seeing so many organizations come together that serve kids, and just seeing kids have fun,” said Gwen Summer, CEO of the YMCA of South Alabama.
Marissa Rennaker, director of development for the YMCA of South Alabama, said the event exposed children to new activities.
“I think it’s been seeing all the kids laugh and try different things that they probably haven’t tried before,” Rennaker said. “There was a big group doing pickleball and yoga. We had ballet earlier, so just getting them out and exposed to things, I think it’s been great.”
The event was designed to kick off a healthy, active summer.
The YMCA of South Alabama is located at 27080 Pollard Road in Daphne.
Copyright 2026 WALA. All rights reserved.
Former Alabama star Will Anderson Jr. has reportedly signed a three-year, $150 million extension with the Houston Texans, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Anderson instantly solidified himself as one of the top defensive players in football throughout his rookie campaign in 2023. The star defensive end was named as the Rookie of the Year in 2023, as Anderson’s extension will officially keep him in Houston long-term, as well as make him the highest paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
Anderson recorded an impressive 12 sacks on the Texans’ defensive line in 2025, as the former Alabama star has made history following his head turning extension with Houston.
Anderson was nothing short of a superstar throughout his time at Alabama. Houston drafted the talented lineman with the third overall pick of the 2023 NFL draft, as Anderson was widely regarded as one of the top overall selections from his class.
The former Crimson Tide superstar has officially inked a massive extension with the Texans, as Anderson will undoubtedly continue playing a critical role on Houston’s defensive line over the coming seasons.
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Alabama head coach Rob Vaughn said that No. 4 Texas would be “hungry” against the No. 11Crimson Tide coming off its first series loss of the season to Texas A&M.
The Longhorns certainly were, as they pounced all over Vaughn’s team, striking out 17 Alabama batters en route to a 10-2 win.
“The story of the game was they just kind of kicked our tail in every phase tonight,” Vaughn said.
Alabama starter Tyler Fay had been elite over his past four starts, dating back to his complete-game no-hitter against Florida, allowing just six earned runs over the 26.0 innings pitched in those games. That changed instantly on Friday evening, as leadoff batter Aiden Robbins opened the game with a double and catcher Carson Tinney took him deep for a two-run blast moments later.
Texas added a third run in the first off an Ethan Mendoza RBI double, setting the tone for a dominant day. Alabama did not record a hit until the fourth inning as Longhorn ace Dylan Volantis tore through batters, striking out 12 over six innings.
Fay ended up going 5.1 innings, just the second time he did not make it through the sixth. The other, against Auburn, was only due to Vaughn wanting to keep his pitch count down in the wake of the no-hitter. He allowed season-highs of seven earned runs and 12 hits in the loss.
The Longhorns added a run each in the third and the fifth, before Alabama put the slightest amount of pressure on Texas in the top of the sixth. Bryce Fowler and Justin Lebron scored on the basepaths off an error and a wild pitch, respectively, to cut the Texas lead to three runs.
“You’ve got to find ways to score,” Vaughn said. “Those two guys just created two runs for us, and did a great job creating those runs and we crawl back in at 5-2, and it’s like, ‘Let’s go back to work…’ So thought we had that chance in those middle innings.”
The Longhorns effectively put the game to bed in the next frame, responding with three runs as Fay was relieved by Connor Lehman. Texas would add two more runs on the day, with the only silver lining coming in the fact that Alabama avoided a run-rule.
The Crimson Tide has now lost four straight SEC games after winning three consecutive series. Zane Adams takes the mound with the series on the line on Saturday, in a game that has been moved up to 12 p.m. CT due to anticipated rain in Austin.
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