Live Updates for Alabama Basketball vs. Kennesaw State in Rocket City Classic

The Crimson Tide and Owls are facing off in Huntsville in Antoine Pettway's first time coaching against his alma mater.

Dec 17, 2025; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide guard Labaron Philon (0) drives against South Florida Bulls forward Izaiyah Nelson (35) during the second half at Coleman Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: David Leong-Imagn Images | David Leong-Imagn Images

In its final game before Christmas, the No. 16 Alabama men's basketball team will match up with Kennesaw State in the Rocket City Classic in Huntsville, Ala. The game doubles as a reunion for former Crimson Tide player and assistant coach Antoine Pettway, now the head coach of the Owls.

Both squads are 8-3 entering Sunday afternoon's contest, which is only the second meeting in history between these two programs. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT; the game will be streamed on SEC Network+.

Pettway took the Kennesaw State job in 2023, replacing the late Amir Abdur-Rahim, who'd been hired as the new coach at South Florida. Pettway is 42-33 overall in his stint with the Owls, winning four more conference games last season than he did in his inaugural campaign.

Crimson Tide coach Nate Oats retained Pettway on his staff when he was hired from Buffalo in 2019. Together, the pair experienced multiple SEC Championships and NCAA Tournament berths. Alabama won the SEC Tournament in 2021, doing so again in March 2023 before being selected as the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Live Updates

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First Half

• Halftime has arrived. Alabama has a comfortable 54-28 advantage after Houston Mallette drained a three-pointer at the end of the first half. The Crimson Tide has seven three-point makes as a team, 24 total rebounds and two players in double figures.

• With three minutes and 37 seconds to go until halftime, the Crimson Tide's advantage has ballooned to 43-19. Aiden Sherrell is a perfect 6-for-6 from the field and has 13 points. Alabama has a 20-17 edge in rebounding and a 6-5 lead on the offensive glass.

• Bol Bowen was briefly down on the floor after a missed Kennesaw State three-point shot, but he stayed in the game.

• At the under-eight media timeout, the Crimson Tide is well in front of the Owls. The score sits at 27-8, and Philon is the first player on either side into double figures with 11 points. Alabama is currently on an 8-0 run.

• Alabama makes and loses a coaches' challenge on a foul, costing it a timeout.

• Alabama leads Kennesaw State 14-6 at the second media timeout. Neither team has been shooting well: The Crimson Tide is converting from the field at a 29 percent rate, compared to 17 percent for the Owls. Kennesaw State has five turnovers and 11 minutes and 38 seconds remain until halftime.

• Keitenn Bristow and Jalil Bethea are now in the game and made an immediate impact. Bristow recorded a steal and Bethea was fouled on a made basket, sinking the free throw.

• Forward Taylor Bol Bowen, whom Nate Oats has wanted to see more out of on the glass, has checked in.

• The broadcast notes that the arena in Huntsville is cold. The venue normally hosts hockey games, specifically those of the Huntsville Havoc.

• Latrell Wrightsell Jr. comes off the bench for his first action of the game after the timeout.

• At the first media timeout of the day, Philon has five of Alabama's seven points. Both teams have five boards, one each on the offensive end. Crimson Tide 7, Owls 2 with 15:48 to go in the first half.

• The first points of the ball game belong to Labaron Philon courtesy of a three-pointer.

Pregame

• Amari Allen and Aiden Sherrell comprise Alabama's starting frontcourt for this afternoon. Labaron Philon Jr., Aden Holloway and Houston Mallette are the starting guards.

• Two injured Alabama freshmen had their statuses for the game reported on by Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports. Amari Allen, who missed the USF game on Wednesday with a hip pointer, is available. London Jemison injured his knee in the first half of that matchup and will be out Sunday.