Alabama Bounces Back with 104-93 Win Over South Florida, Behind Philon's 29 and Holloway's Hot Hand
After a tough second-half collapse against Arizona, Alabama needed a response - and they got it. The 16th-ranked Crimson Tide returned to Coleman Coliseum and handled business against a scrappy South Florida squad, pulling out a 104-93 win that was as entertaining as it was telling.
This wasn’t just a win - it was a statement that Alabama can still impose its will offensively, even while ironing out some lingering issues on the defensive glass and in transition.
A Shuffled Starting Five and a Fast Start
Head coach Nate Oats shook up the starting lineup once again, rolling out Labaron Philon, Latrell Wrightsell, Houston Mallette, Aiden Sherrell, and for the first time, freshman London Jemison. Jemison’s night was cut short by an injury in the first half, and he didn’t return after the break. Fellow freshman Amari Allen was unavailable due to injury.
Still, the Tide got off to a solid start. Sherrell opened the scoring, and while South Florida briefly jumped ahead 5-2, Mallette quickly answered with a deep three to tie it up. From there, Alabama’s bench gave them a spark - especially Aden Holloway, who drilled a three to give Bama a 15-10 edge midway through the first half.
Houston Mallette was locked in early, knocking down a pair of triples and crashing the boards with purpose. Philon, after a quiet start, began slicing through the Bulls' defense and scoring at the rim with ease. Sherrell capped the first half with a buzzer-beating putback, sending the Tide into the locker room with a 44-38 lead.
But Alabama had no answer for USF’s Wes Enis in the first 20 minutes. The Bulls’ guard lit it up from deep, hitting 5-of-9 threes and dropping 17 points before halftime. If not for Alabama’s offensive rebounding surge - 16 boards on the offensive glass alone - this one could’ve looked very different at the break.
Second Half Surge: Holloway Heats Up, Philon Takes Over
With Jemison sidelined, Taylor Bol Bowen stepped into the second-half lineup and made his presence felt. Wrightsell and Philon opened the half with a barrage of threes, pushing the lead to double digits. Then Holloway caught fire.
After being held scoreless against Arizona, Holloway responded in a big way. His third deep ball of the night gave Alabama a 72-56 lead with just over 12 minutes to play.
From that point on, the game turned into a whistle-fest. Fouls piled up on both sides, and the free throw line became the main stage.
Alabama, to its credit, knocked down its chances - going 18-of-21 from the stripe in the second half.
Despite the choppy flow, Alabama mixed in just enough buckets to break the century mark for the fourth time this season.
Stat Sheet Highlights
Alabama’s offense clicked from all levels. The Tide shot 45% from the field (31-of-69), hit 13-of-33 from beyond the arc (39%), and cashed in 29-of-35 free throws.
The rebounding effort was a tale of two halves - dominant early, but outworked late. Still, they finished with 45 boards, including 22 on the offensive end.
Philon tied his career-high with 29 points, adding seven assists, three boards, and a block, all while committing just one turnover. He looked every bit like one of the most dynamic guards in the country.
Holloway’s bounce-back performance was a big storyline. He poured in 24 points on efficient shooting and added four rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Mallette chipped in 14 points and seven boards, continuing to show his value as a glue guy who can stretch the floor and rebound.
Bol Bowen had his best game in a Tide uniform. Nine points, nine rebounds - six of them offensive - and two blocks in extended minutes. After being called out by Oats following the Arizona loss, he responded with toughness and energy.
Sherrell added six points, seven rebounds, and three blocks, while Wrightsell contributed 10 points and helped stretch the floor.
South Florida Brings the Fight
Give credit to South Florida. This is a well-coached, physical team that didn’t back down.
They shot 39% from the field, 10-of-30 from deep, and hit 27-of-34 free throws. Their second-half rebounding was relentless, and they finished with 46 total boards, 15 assists, and eight steals.
Izaiah Nelson was a force in the paint after a quiet first half, finishing with 25 points and 12 rebounds. Enis cooled off after halftime but still led the Bulls with 20 points. Josh Omojafo added a double-double of his own with 20 points and 11 boards, while Joseph Pinion chipped in 11.
Oats: “We Did a Better Job Early, But We Have to Keep It Up”
After the game, Oats acknowledged the improvement on the boards - especially in the first half - but emphasized the need for consistency.
“We did a better job early,” he said, “but we have to keep it up for 40 minutes.”
He also praised the defensive adjustment on Enis after halftime but pointed out how Nelson took over inside.
“35 (Nelson) killed us,” Oats said. “We’ve got to be tougher down low.”
On the positive side, Oats singled out Mallette’s versatility and willingness to do what’s needed: “Houston is a pleasure to coach.”
What’s Next
Alabama’s next matchup brings another familiar face to the sideline. Former assistant Antoine Pettway returns to the state with his Kennesaw State squad for the “Rocket City Classic” in Huntsville.
That game tips off Sunday at 1 p.m. CT and will stream on SEC Network Plus.
The Tide will then wrap up their non-conference slate on December 29th with a home matchup against Yale.
For now, Alabama can take a breath. They bounced back, they hit shots, and they showed flashes of the team many believe can make noise in March. But as Oats made clear - the work is far from done.