Alabama Edges Out Oklahoma in Thrilling Matchup
NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — In a thrilling matchup on Saturday, No. 18 Alabama edged out Oklahoma with a final score of 83-81, thanks to standout performances from Labaron Philon, who led the team with 23 points, and Aiden Sherrell, who contributed 21 points. The victory marks Alabama’s third win in five Southeastern Conference games, bringing their overall record to 13-5.
Oklahoma, struggling to find their footing this season, was looking to secure their first win against a ranked opponent. Unfortunately, their hopes diminished as they faced their fourth consecutive loss, following a disappointing 96-79 defeat to No. 19 Florida earlier in the week. The Sooners are now 11-7 for the season and 1-3 in conference play.
Game Highlights
As the game neared its conclusion, Oklahoma was inbounding the ball with just 4.1 seconds left on the clock and a chance to clinch the game. Nijel Pack attempted a long-range 3-pointer but failed to connect. Although the Sooners retrieved the offensive rebound, they were unable to convert on the subsequent shot, sealing their fate in the contest.
During the game, Oklahoma initially gained momentum, leading 21-19 after an impressive run, but Alabama quickly countered—Amari Allen scored, drawing a hard foul from Kirill Elatontsev, which was classified under flagrant rules. Following the foul, Allen converted both free throws, giving the Crimson Tide a narrow lead at 23-21.
At halftime, Oklahoma was in control, leading 44-33 and limiting Alabama to a mere 4-for-19 shooting from beyond the arc. However, the second half saw a reversal of fortunes with Alabama launching into a 12-0 run. Philon finished the run with a fast break layup, putting Alabama ahead 45-44 for the first time in the game.
As the clock wound down, Oklahoma found themselves trailing 82-79 with just 10 seconds remaining. Brown, in a dramatic moment, was fouled while attempting a challenging 3-pointer, leading to three free throw attempts. He successfully converted the first two but missed the third, marking a rare miss for him after hitting eight consecutive shots from the line. Meanwhile, Allen responded by netting one of two free throws, allowing Alabama to maintain their slender lead until the end.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, Alabama will host Tennessee next Saturday, while Oklahoma is set to take on South Carolina on Tuesday, desperately seeking a turnaround in their season.
