Four-seed Alabama men’s basketball downed 13-seed Hofstra 90-70, despite trailing by 10 points early, in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Friday in Tampa.
“Give Hofstra a lot of credit. That’s a very good team that came ready to play,” Oats said postgame.
Star guard Labaron Philon Jr. led all scorers with 29 points on 10/18 shooting. The effort was his fifth straight of 20 or more points and his 20th of the season. He was followed in scoring by center Aiden Sherrell and forward Taylor Bol Bowen, who each notched 15 points.
Alabama opened the game with an early 8-2 run propelled by stout defense and fast transition play. Philon and forward London Jemison forced two steals, which were turned into points on the other end.
The Pride roared back at Alabama with an 18-8 run, taking a 20-16 lead in the process, as guard and CAA Player of the Year Cruz Davis began to find rhythm. He ended the first half with 9 points on 4/7 shooting.
Hofstra continued to trouble the Crimson Tide’s defense and extended its lead to 10 points, as the Crimson Tide struggled from the field after the strong start, missing 11 of its last 13 shots.
Oats said his team “didn’t do a great job” in the middle of the first half.
A string of three consecutive scoring possessions helped kickstart a red-hot 5/6 end to the period for the Crimson Tide, in which the Pride shot just 2/8 from the field. Alabama entered the break up 2 points despite its mid-half struggles and a dismal 14/36 shooting performance.
An explosive opening to the second half for Alabama saw it open a 10-point advantage. The effort was powered by stout showings on both sides of the court, as the Crimson Tide shot 5/7 from the field and held Hofstra to just 2/8.
“I feel like there were multiple times in the game that we came together,” Bol Bowen said postgame. “We played well as a team and made a bunch of great team plays. I’m just super happy and proud of our guys for how we played today.”
The lead remained at double digits as Philon broke the program’s single-season points record for a sophomore, which was previously held by guard James “Hollywood” Robinson.
Philon passed Robinson’s 661 points scored in 1991-92 as he began the second half red hot with 14 points on 5/7 shooting and 2/4 from deep. Philon continued to sizzle as he reached 29 points, which put him at 681 total points on the year.
The Pride cut the lead down to 5 points with 4:49 to play as Davis tossed in a layup, which was just his second made basket of a second half in which he shot 2/10 from the field.
Oats said he thought his team guarded well against Davis “for the most part.”
The Crimson Tide blew the game open with a 19-4 run in the final four minutes of action, which was capped off by a made triple from center Noah Williamson with 14 seconds to go. Alabama ran the clock out, clinching an NCAA tournament second-round appearance for the fourth straight year.
The Crimson Tide will return to action Sunday in Tampa against 5-seed Texas Tech. Tipoff has yet to be announced.
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