Alabama basketball faced a potential pitfall on the road against LSU, especially after their double-overtime thriller against Arkansas. Despite a sluggish start, the Crimson Tide pulled through with a 90-83 victory, showcasing their resilience.
Labaron Philon, usually a key player, was not at his best. Coming off a heavy workload against the Razorbacks, he was listed as "probable" on the injury report and managed only eight points, marking his first single-digit game this season.
With Philon limited, Alabama leaned heavily on Aden Holloway. Although Holloway struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 1-of-6, he led the team with 17 points, proving crucial to their offensive efforts.
Freshman Amari Allen also stepped up, contributing 16 points and six rebounds. His performance was vital, especially after leading the team in minutes against Arkansas.
Senior Houston Mallette played his usual pivotal role. With Alabama clinging to an eight-point lead and just 90 seconds left, Mallette secured two critical offensive rebounds. This set up London Jemison's decisive put-back dunk, effectively sealing the win.
Aiden Sherrell's performance in the second half was a game-changer. After logging 39 minutes against Arkansas, there were questions about his stamina.
Yet, Sherrell delivered, helping Alabama extend a narrow 43-40 halftime lead to double digits. In a standout six-minute stretch, he scored seven points, grabbed five rebounds, dished out two assists, and blocked three shots, finishing with a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds despite fouling out.
With Charles Bediako no longer on the roster, Sherrell has been asked to step up, and he continues to rise to the occasion.
This victory marks Alabama's sixth straight win following a tough loss to Florida, demonstrating their ability to regroup and push forward in the season.