Alabama Basketball Chasing History on the Road Against Oklahoma
Alabama basketball is staring down a chance to rewrite a frustrating chapter in program history. The Crimson Tide, ranked No. 18 in the country, have never beaten Oklahoma on the road. That’s a tough pill to swallow for a program that’s made real strides in recent years, but Saturday’s matchup offers a shot at redemption-and a chance to flip the script in Norman.
Coming into the game, Alabama sat at 12-5 overall and 2-2 in SEC play. But the bigger number hanging over their heads?
0-5. That’s the Tide’s all-time record on the road against the Sooners.
And to make matters more challenging, they entered the matchup shorthanded once again. Guards Latrell Wrightsell Jr. and Keitenn Bristow remained out with leg injuries, and freshmen Collins Onyejiaka and Davion Hannah were also sidelined due to medical conditions.
But there was a silver lining. Florida State transfer Taylor Bol Bowen, who had previously been dealing with injury issues, was not listed on the pregame availability report.
That’s a big boost for Alabama, especially at the four spot, where they’ve needed help. His presence adds much-needed length-something that’s going to matter in a big way against a tall, physical Oklahoma frontcourt.
And that frontcourt has some familiar faces. Former Alabama players Derrion Reid and Mohamed Wague are now suiting up for the Sooners, and they made their presence felt. Reid, who transferred after last season, led Oklahoma with 13 points in the first half and capped an 11-0 run with a dunk that sent Alabama into the locker room trailing, 44-33.
That late surge by Oklahoma was fueled in part by a poorly timed Alabama scoring drought. The Tide went cold for over two minutes, during which the Sooners rattled off a 9-0 run. Turnovers didn’t help either-Alabama gave the ball away seven times in the first half and struggled to generate second-chance points, managing just seven compared to Oklahoma’s 15.
Still, there were moments when the Tide showed flashes of control. Midway through the first half, Alabama knotted the game at 33-33 thanks to a three-pointer from Aiden Sherrell and a crafty layup by Houston Mallette.
Earlier, they had gone on a 9-0 run to take a 26-21 lead, sparked in part by a flagrant foul on Oklahoma’s Kirill Elatontsev. Amari Allen knocked down both free throws, Labaron Philon added another at the line, and Jalil Bethea chipped in with his first field goal of the night to give Alabama a brief cushion.
Aden Holloway also gave the Tide a jolt early with a three-pointer to reclaim a 12-10 lead, though Oklahoma’s Tae Davis quickly answered with a layup. The back-and-forth nature of the first half underscored just how evenly matched these two teams are-despite Alabama’s historical struggles in Norman.
The game opened with Aiden Sherrell scoring the first points for Alabama on a quick layup, but it was Reid who turned the momentum late in the half. His ability to exploit matchups-like the one he won against London Jemison to give Oklahoma a 10-9 lead-was a reminder of why he was such a valuable asset in Tuscaloosa before transferring out.
Heading into the second half, Alabama will need to clean up the turnovers, find more consistency on the glass, and get better production from its bench if it wants to finally get over the hump in Norman.
Starting Lineups
For Alabama, the starting five remained unchanged from last week: Labaron Philon, Aden Holloway, Amari Allen, London Jemison, and Taylor Bol Bowen. Oklahoma countered with Xzayvier Brown, Nijel Pack, Mohamed Wague, Tae Davis, and Derrion Reid.
What’s Next for Alabama
After this road test, Alabama has a tough stretch ahead:
- Jan. 24: vs. Tennessee
- Jan. 27: vs. Missouri
- Feb. 1: at Florida
- Feb. 4: vs.
Texas A&M
- Feb. 7: at Auburn
Every game matters in SEC play, but a win at Oklahoma would be more than just another notch in the win column-it would be a statement. One that says this team is ready to shake off the ghosts of the past and take the next step forward.