Alabama
17-3,6-1SEC
LSU
12-7,1-5SEC
No. 4/3 Alabama Holds Off LSU, 80-73
1/25/2025 10:57:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The Crimson Tide reserves scored 44 points in the win led by a team-best 19 points from Aden Holloway
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Five players scored in double figures to help lift No. 4/3 Alabama to an 80-73 victory over the LSU Tigers Saturday night inside Coleman Coliseum. The win marks the Crimson Tide's fifth consecutive win over the Tigers and its sixth consecutive win over LSU at home.Â
Aden Holloway led the squad with his 19 points off the bench, burying a trio of three-pointers and sinking all six of his tries at the charity stripe. The performance marked Holloway's 10th game in double figures this season, helping overcome a scoreless night by UA leading scorer Mark Sears.Â
In addition to Holloway, the Crimson Tide (17-3, 6-1 SEC) had four other players exceed double digits, including Mouhamed Dioubate (14), Chris Youngblood (13), Grant Nelson (12) and Labaron Philon (11).Â
LSU (12-7, 1-5 SEC) was led by Jordan Sears' 21 points off the bench, shooting 7-of-14 from the field to go along with six assists.Â
Head Coach Nate Oats Postgame CommentsÂ
"I didn't think our second half defense has been very good lately, so we made the point to the guys that we're done starting the same group that starts the game, we're going to start the guys that give us the best chance. We subbed in two guys in the starting lineup, we looked at some leverage numbers, plus/minus numbers and kind of challenged a couple guys. I couldn't be more proud of our guys in the second half. Clifford (Omoruyi), I didn't think he was bringing it, they had a kid with 15 rebounds and Clifford wasn't rebounding like he needed to. He ends up going and playing extremely hard in the second half, had a great attitude on the bench and ends up winning the hard hat after not starting in the second half."Â
 "The rebounding was obviously an issue, got to give a ton of credit to LSU. Corey Chest with 15 rebounds in the first half, ends with 18. That was a major issue, all the offensive boards they had. They ended up outscoring us in second chance points, only by three, but we gave up way too many offensive rebounds. This is the fourth time this season we've been outrebounded. So that's something we're going to have to really address going into Mississippi State. We're going to turn our full attention to that game on the road at Mississippi State because it's not going to be an easy one, they're tough. Coach Jan's teams are always tough."Â
Team StatsÂ
- Alabama's bench unit tallied 44 points, compared to LSU's 28Â
- The Crimson Tide perimeter defense held the Tigers to shooting just 3-of-23 (13 percent) from deepÂ
- Nate Oats' squad had another impressive performance down low, scoring 38 points in the paintÂ
- Alabama shot 27-for-61 (44 percent), 7-of-23 (30 percent) and buried 19-of-24 (79 percent) shots from the charity stripeÂ
- The Crimson Tide led for 29:42 despite the back and forth contest all nightÂ
First Half Â
- LSU took control quickly as an early free throw led to a 7-2 run by the Tigers at the 18:05 markÂ
- Alabama responded with an 11-2 run of its own, with seven of the points coming from Chris YoungbloodÂ
- The Tigers clawed its way back after an 8-0 run across 3:03 to take a 17-13 lead with 11 minutes to playÂ
- The Crimson Tide retaliated once again with a 12-2 run, featuring a pair of threes by Jarin Stevenson and Aden Holloway to take the lead with just under six minutes to go (27-21)Â
- However, LSU found its groove offensively once again as the Tigers knotted it up at 40 apiece to close out the opening halfÂ
- Youngblood led the squad at the half with 11 points off 5-for-6 shooting from the fieldÂ
- Alabama shot 13-of-26 (50 percent) from the field, 4-of-12 (33 percent) and sank 10-of-13 free throws in the first halfÂ
Second Half Â
- Both squads traded baskets for the first five minutes of the second period as the Crimson Tide held the advantage (52-50)Â
- Grant Nelson entered double figures for his third game in a row after his three-pointer put Alabama back ahead at the under-12-minute media timeout (63-56)Â
- After swapping baskets for another five minutes of action, the Crimson Tide still held its ground on the scoreboard with just over five minutes to go (69-62)Â
- Alabama found its offensive momentum on a quick 8-0 run to take a double-digit lead for the first time of the matchup (77-64)Â
- The Tigers went on a 9-3 run in the closing two minutes, but the Crimson Tide held on to secure the victory (80-73)Â
- Holloway led all scorers in the second half with 12 points, featuring a pair of three-pointersÂ
- Nate Oats' squad shot 14-for-35 (40 percent) from the field, 3-for-11 (27 percent) from three, and buried 9 of 11 free throws in the closing halfÂ
Up NextÂ
- Alabama will begin next week on the road against Mississippi State on Wednesday, Jan. 29, at Humphrey Coliseum Â
- Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. CT and will be televised on the SEC NetworkÂ
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