Live Updates from No. 12 Alabama Men's Basketball Against UTSA

The Crimson Tide faces a familiar name from Nate Oats' coaching tree at Coleman Coliseum on Sunday afternoon.

Coleman Coliseum before the Alabama men's basketball game vs. UTSA. | BamaCentral

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.— Two seasons ago, the Alabama men's basketball program made its first Final Four in history. Austin Claunch was an assistant coach on Nate Oats' Crimson Tide staff at the time, parlaying that year's success into his second career post as a head coach, this time at UTSA.

On Sunday, in Claunch's second season leading the Roadrunners, he will return to Coleman Coliseum for a game against No. 12 Alabama (6-2). The game tips off at 1 p.m. CT and can be viewed on SEC Network.

UTSA (4-4) lost to South Alabama seven days ago, but has won three of its last five contests overall. The Crimson Tide has been victorious in three straight dating back to Nov. 25 against UNLV at the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas.

Oats said Crimson Tide guards Aden Holloway and Latrell Wrightsell Jr. would be game-time decisions. The pair did not play in Wednesday's win over Clemson, with the team's freshman players standing out during that matchup. Oats stated Friday that forward Keitenn Bristow, who also missed out on Wednesday's action, would be doubtful for the game against the Roadrunners.

If Wrightsell plays, he will be on a minutes restriction, not unlike fellow guard Jalil Bethea. Bethea made his season debut on Wednesday after transferring from Miami (Fla.) following last season. He continues to ramp back up after a lengthy injury absence because of offseason foot surgery.

Wrightsell is dealing with ankle issues. Bristow, who last played against UNLV, had a boot on his right foot the next night for the squad's final game in Sin City. Holloway had a brace on his right wrist Wednesday. He did not practice Friday in order to give the ailment some more rest. Wrightsell was limited in practice that day but earned positive feedback from Oats for his performance.

The injury bug has already bitten Alabama early on in the 2025-26 campaign. Wrightsell and Bristow have only participated in three games each. Holloway also missed the season opener against North Dakota, a game neither Wrightsell nor Bristow took part in.

Live Updates:

Be sure to refresh your browser for live updates from Alabama basketball vs. UTSA. The most recent updates from the game will appear at the top.

Second Half:

• FINAL: Alabama 97, UTSA 55. The Crimson Tide moves to 7-2 on the season, while the Roadrunners drop to 4-5. Alabama shot 39 percent from the field and 28 percent (16-of-57) from deep. The Crimson Tide finished with 57 rebounds. Allen had another double-double with 11 points and 10 boards.

• Martin sends the crowd into an eruption with a dunk.

• In comes Martin with 1:50 left. He's joined by Murphy.

• The student section is chanting "We want Jacob," in reference to walk-on Jacob Martin. We'll see if Nate Oats obliges them.

• Alabama now has five players in double figures: Philon, Bethea, Jemison, Allen and Wrightsell.

• At the under-eight media timeout of the second half, the Alabama advantage is back near 40 points. Jalil Bethea has five of the Crimson Tide's 13 makes from long range. He has 19 points and Philon is up to 20. Allen and Aiden Sherrell have nine rebounds apiece. Freshman London Jemison has gone 6-for-7 from the stripe. It's 78-41 with 7:54 left to go. Alabama has 47 total rebounds.

• The Coleman Coliseum crowd (predominantly the student section) erupts in cheers and chants of "gooey fries" after UTSA takes an 0-for-2 trip to the charity stripe. Those misses at the line awarded the crowd here today free gooey fries from a local restaurant for the next 48 hours. Alabama leads UTSA 73-35 with 11 minutes and 41 seconds on the clock.

• The first official media timeout of the second half arrives with 15:35 left in the game. This contest isn't in much doubt, and Philon has equaled Bethea's scoring total of 16. The Crimson Tide is more than doubling up the Roadrunners in both points (64-30) and offensive rebounds (13-5).

• Amari Allen just delivered one of the best dunks of the young season. Alabama leads, 62-27.

• The second half is underway at 2:12 p.m. CT.

Halftime:

Halftime box score between Alabama and UTSA. | StatBroadcast Systems

First Half:

• Alabama goes into the locker room with an absolutely massive 56-17 lead. This game has been complete domination by the Crimson Tide through 20 minutes. Alabama has hit 11 three-pointers thus far.

• Preston Murphy Jr. has checked in for his Alabama debut.

• Austin Claunch calls timeout after five straight points from Wrightsell. Alabama has stretched its lead to 48-17 with two minutes and nine seconds left in the first half. Three Crimson Tide players are now in double figures, and Bethea is up to 16 points, nearly outscoring the Roadrunners by himself. Wrightsell and Philon have 10.

• The first Crimson Tide player in double figures is Bethea, who has 11 points so far this afternoon. The Crimson Tide's lead sits at 33-10 with under six minutes remaining until halftime.

• The Roadrunners just reached double figures in the game a moment ago. The score is 28-10 Alabama with 7:06 to go. London Jemison just hit two free throws.

• UTSA has incurred a Class B technical foul, which counts as neither a personal nor team foul. It was incurred by Daniel Akitoby. He touched the ball on an Alabama inbounds attempt.

• Mallette is back in the game.

• Houston Mallette is taking a trip to the locker room, grabbing at his lower back. Davion Hannah is in for him.

• The Crimson Tide is already beginning to pull out in front of this one. Alabama has an 18-4 advantage at the 11:13 mark of the opening half. Neither team is lighting it up from the field early: Alabama is shooting 30 percent and UTSA is shooting 29 percent. The rebounding battle is close on paper (11-8 Alabama), but the Crimson Tide has six offensive boards compared to none for the visitors.

• The one to break the drought from beyond the arc is none other than Jalil Bethea, who sinks his first triple in an Alabama uniform in his second game of the season.

• At the first media timeout of the day, there's a lid on the rim for the Crimson Tide. Alabama is up 5-0 with 15:59 to go in the half, but has taken nine three-pointers and only hit one. Wrightsell has tried three.

• The first points of the game go to Alabama on a three-point basket by Labaron Philon.

Pregame:

• Alabama forward Taylor Bol Bowen is not playing today; he's currently in street clothes. Head coach Nate Oats said Friday that Bol Bowen was a player he wanted to see step up against the Roadrunners. Bol Bowen is dealing with back spasms.

• Wrightsell is in the starting lineup.

• Latrell Wrightsell Jr. is participating in warm-ups. Aden Holloway is in street clothes and still has a brace on his wrist. It's a safe assumption that he will miss his second consecutive game.