Arizona Overpowers Alabama in Second Half Surge, Hands Tide a Tough Loss in Birmingham
For 20 minutes on Saturday night, Alabama looked like it was ready to go toe-to-toe with the nation’s top-ranked team. But basketball games aren’t won in halves, and in the second frame, Arizona reminded everyone why it’s undefeated and perched atop the rankings.
Playing at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, the 12th-ranked Crimson Tide took a 41-39 lead into the break against No. 1 Arizona.
The first half was a back-and-forth slugfest, with Alabama showing flashes of the offensive firepower and defensive intensity that have defined its best moments this season. But once the second half tipped off, the Wildcats hit another gear-and Alabama simply couldn’t keep up.
Arizona rolled to a 96-75 win, staying perfect at 10-0 while Alabama dropped to 7-3.
A Promising First Half
Alabama got a bit of a boost heading into the game with the return of three previously injured players-Aden Holloway, Taylor Bol Bowen, and Keitenn Bristow-but none of them made a significant impact. Still, Nate Oats stuck with a starting five of Labaron Philon, Holloway, Bol Bowen, Latrell Wrightsell, and Aiden Sherrell.
Sherrell opened the scoring with a three, and Alabama traded blows with Arizona through much of the first half. When Wrightsell knocked down a deep triple with 6:50 to go, the Tide led 37-30. Arizona answered with a 9-0 run, but Alabama closed the half strong with a Sherrell dunk and a Philon finish at the rim to reclaim the lead at the break.
Statistically, Alabama held its own in the first 20 minutes. The Tide shot 50% from the field (15-30), hit 7 of 17 from three (41%), and went 4-for-4 at the line.
They also matched Arizona’s physicality on the glass, pulling down 19 rebounds, and were active defensively with nine blocks. Turnovers were kept in check with just six.
Philon looked every bit the floor general, leading the way with 12 points, six boards, five assists, and a block. Wrightsell bounced back from a rough shooting night in the previous game, scoring 12 on 5-of-7 shooting.
Sherrell added seven points, two boards, and five blocks. Bol Bowen chipped in seven points and three boards but also coughed up three turnovers.
Outside of those four and a three-pointer from Houston Mallette, Alabama’s offense didn’t get much support. Jalil Bethea, who had erupted for 21 points earlier in the week, played just one minute in the half.
Arizona, meanwhile, struggled to find its rhythm early, shooting just 33% (14-42) and 29% from deep (5-17). But the Wildcats took 12 more shots than Alabama thanks to a strong showing on the offensive glass. Jaden Bradley, a familiar face to Tide fans, led the Wildcats with 11 points, three rebounds, and three assists in the half.
Second Half Collapse
The second half started with promise-Wrightsell hit a pair of free throws to push Alabama ahead 43-39. But that was the last real highlight for the Tide.
Arizona quickly seized control and never looked back. By the 15:48 mark, the Wildcats had taken a 49-45 lead.
By 9:20, it was 72-54. The game was effectively over.
Arizona dominated every phase of the second half. Alabama’s offense sputtered, shooting just 38% from the field and 33% from three.
They got to the line more often but left points there, going 9-for-14. More concerning was the rebounding-just 13 total boards, and only one on the offensive glass.
For a team that’s struggled against elite frontcourts this season, this was another glaring example.
Philon continued to shine individually, finishing with 24 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists. Wrightsell added 21 points on an efficient 8-of-12 shooting.
Bol Bowen had eight points, four boards, and four blocks, while Sherrell tallied seven points, five rebounds, and eight blocks before exiting with what coach Oats called “full body cramps.” But beyond those four, Alabama didn’t get much.
Holloway was a non-factor, going scoreless in 21 minutes, and Bethea played just two minutes in the entire game. Davion Hannah didn’t see the floor at all.
Arizona, on the other hand, looked every bit the No. 1 team in the country. The Wildcats shot 52% in the second half (22-42), including 5-of-9 from deep, and pounded Alabama on the glass.
They finished with a staggering 52 rebounds-22 of those offensive. For context, Alabama had just 32 total rebounds, and only three offensive.
Freshman Brayden Burries, a former Alabama recruiting target, exploded in the second half, scoring 20 of his 28 points after the break and adding seven rebounds. Bradley was steady all night, finishing with 14 points, seven assists, five boards, and three steals.
Motiejus Krivas posted a monster double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds-nine of them on the offensive end. Tobe Awaka added seven points and 15 boards, including seven offensive.
Rebounding Woes Continue
This wasn’t a one-off issue. Alabama has now been outmuscled on the boards in losses to Purdue, Gonzaga, and Arizona-three of the most physical teams in the country.
Oats didn’t mince words postgame, saying, “We have a rebounding problem.” He specifically called out Bol Bowen, saying, “Taylor is 6’10” and plays a lot of minutes, and if he doesn’t want to do it, we need to find someone that will.”
When asked why he didn’t call a timeout during Arizona’s 28-6 second-half run, Oats responded bluntly: “Call a timeout and tell them what, play harder?”
It was a telling moment. This Alabama team has talent, no doubt.
But against elite competition, toughness and execution-especially on the glass-have been glaring issues. Until that changes, the Tide will struggle to get over the hump in these marquee matchups.
The Birmingham Debate
There’s also the question of the venue. Legacy Arena hasn’t been kind to Alabama in recent years.
While technically a neutral site, it hasn’t felt like much of a home-court advantage. The crowd support is there, but the results haven’t followed.
In contrast, Coleman Coliseum has been electric this season, and Oats has built something real in Tuscaloosa. For a team that plays one of the toughest schedules in the country, the benefits of these neutral-site games are debatable-especially when they come with matchups against top-tier opponents.
What’s Next
Alabama returns to Coleman Coliseum on Wednesday to host South Florida, with tip-off set for 7 p.m. CT on SEC Network Plus.
After that, it’s another “home” game-this time in Huntsville-against Kennesaw State on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT.
There’s still time for this team to find its identity and tighten up the areas that continue to haunt them. But if the Tide want to make noise come March, it starts with fixing the fundamentals-starting with the boards.
Roll Tide.