Bama Central

Live Updates from No. 15 Alabama Basketball's Season Opener Against North Dakota

Score updates and analysis from Coleman Coliseum as the Crimson Tide kicks off the 2025-26 season against the Fighting Hawks.
Joe Gaither|
Jan 25, 2025; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nate Oats directs his team during the first half against the LSU Tigers at Coleman Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Will McLelland-Imagn Images
Jan 25, 2025; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nate Oats directs his team during the first half against the LSU Tigers at Coleman Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Will McLelland-Imagn Images | Will McLelland-Imagn Images

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Alabama Crimson Tide

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- No. 15 Alabama basketball opens its 2025-26 season at home against the North Dakota Fighting Hawks. The Crimson Tide enters the year picked to finish fourth in the SEC as they look to integrate new talent alongside experienced guards. Alabama won a 97-90 game in Grand Forks, N.D. last season as they played a game in former forward Grant Nelson's backyard.

Alabama returns guards Labaron Philon and Aden Holloway from last season's team as they look to lead the Crimson Tide's backcourt. They'll be aided by Houston Mallette and Latrell Wrightsell as both experienced guards return from injury.

The Crimson Tide also welcomes Aiden Sherrell for his sophomore season as he looks to become a focal point in the Alabama offense. Head coach Nate Oats hit the transfer portal to adds Taylor Bol Bowen, Keitenn Bristow and Noah Williamson in the front court.

Alabama looks to integrate members of its No. 10 overall recruiting Class in 2025 into Oats's system as Amari Allen, London Jemison, Davion Hannah and Collins Onyejiaka look to get big minutes in the season opener.

Live Updates (Refresh Browser For Latest Updates)

(latest updates at the top)

Second Half

Alabama wins 91-62. The Crimson Tide was led in scoring by Labaron Philon with 22 points. Philon also had eight assists, three rebounds and a block.

  • Alabama fans win gooey fries from Baumhowers after North Dakota misses both free throws.
  • 3:49 - Under 4 timeout. Alabama leads 83-58 as Labaron Philon scores his 21st point of the game. Philon is joined by Houston Mallette, London Jemison and Amari Allen in double figures. Mallette has 13, Jemison and Allen have 12 each. The Crimson Tide is in full control, but Nate Oats is still unhappy at the team's attention to detail and rebounding.
  • 6:10 - Davion Hannah takes it coast to coast for a layup after intercepting a pass. Impressive play by the freshman who has six points, three rebounds, three steals and an assist in his first college game.
  • 7:32 - Alabama has been efficient at the free throw line, making 17-of-20 at the charity stripe.
  • 8:23 - Media Timeout. Alabama leads 74-50 the game is cruising to a finish. Alabama is shooting 7-of-23 from beyond the arc and is still putting pressure on the Fighting Hawks, forcing nine turnovers and getting out for 17 fast break points.
  • 11:23 - Amari Allen shows great ball pressure and forces a turnover. The Crimson Tide has scored 13 points off nine turnovers.
  • 11:50 - Under 12 Timeout. Alabama leads 67-47. Aiden Sherrell will be at the line after the break trying to finish off a 3-point play the old fashioned way. Alabama's offense has stalled a bit with Labaron Philon on the bench, as soon as he returned, the offense got Sherrell rolling to the rim.
  • 15:58 - Two Alabama turnovers in a row lead to North Dakota opportunities and Nate Oats is not happy. Noah Williamson enters for Aiden Sherrell and Houston Mallette enters for Labaron Philon, who committed the turnovers. Alabama leads 61-40, but Oats is coaching beyond the scoreboard.
  • 17:20 - Under 18 timeout. Alabama leads 58-34 and is getting out and running in the second half, putting pressure on the Fighting Hawks. Alabama has 15 fast break points in the game and six second-chance points from eight offensive rebounds. Head coach Nate Oats spent the last few minutes getting onto Taylor Bol Bowen as he's struggling with details on the defensive end.
  • 17:24 - Alabama's hitting the offensive boards and getting easy put-backs, and running on fast-break opportunities. The Crimson Tide leads 58-34 and takes a timeout after Houston Mallette pulls down an offensive rebound.
  • 18:34- Amari Allen poked the ball away and got a breakaway dunk for a big play for the Crimson Tide. Alabama leads 54-34.

HALFTIME

Halftime v North Dakot
Halftime vs North Dakota | Joe Gaither Screensho

First Half

  • :23 - Collins Onyejiaka checks in for his first action of the game.
  • 1:45 - Noah Williamson shows nice skill running the fast break and scoring at the rim for his first bucket of the game. He has two points and three rebounds with an assist for the Crimson Tide.
  • 3:04 - Under 4 timeout. Alabama leads 41-26. Labaron Philon continues to assert himself and now has 13 points, six assists, two rebounds and one block with two turnovers. The Crimson Tide is shooting 6-of-14 from behind the arc with five different players cashing in from deep.
  • Alabama student section is chanting "Bald" at North Dakota guard Zach Kraft.
  • 6:10 - Alabama started off 5-of-5 from the free throw line early, a good sign as the team leads 36-22.
  • 6:54 - Under 8 timeout. Alabama leads 34-20. The Crimson Tide started the half so efficiently, but has slown down a little and gotten slightly sloppy. Alabama's up to four turnovers in the half after going the first seven minutes without a turnover. Labaron Philon leads all scorers with 11 points. Amari Allen leads both sides with four rebounds and Philon leads both sides with five assists.
  • 9:17 - Under 12 timeout. Alabama leads 29-16. The Crimson Tide is 5-of-11 from deep and is outrebounding the Fighting Hawks 12-6 and has nine fast break points as they're blitzing North Dakota early.
  • Alabama is on fire from deep. Amari Allen makes a 3-pointer and the Crimson Tide is now 5-of-11 from deep. Alabama leads 29-16.
  • 11:24 - Labaron Philon makes a second three-point shot and still hasn't missed a shot tonight. The sophomore is up to 11 points.
  • 13:43 - Labaron Philon commits Alabama's first turnover of the night, dribbling it off his foot on the offensive end.
  • 15:01 - Houston Mallette makes Alabama's third shot from deep. Alabama leads 19-9.
  • 15:31 - Under 16 timeout. Alabama 15, North Dakota 9. Labaron Philon has started off hot. He's 3-for-3 from the floor with one made 3-point shot. Philon has eight points with two assists and a block. The Crimson Tide is 2-of-5 from beyond the arc early, with London Jemison hitting the other 3-point shot.
  • 16:27 - Davion Hannah and Noah Williamson check in for their first action of the season.
  • 17:23 - Philon makes Alabama's first 3-point basket of the season. He's a perfect three-for-three from the floor with eight points already.
  • London Jemison comes in first off the bench for Taylor Bol Bowen. Bol Bowen was beat on a back cut a few possessions earlier.
  • 18:28 - Labaron Philon at the rim takes his scoring total to five points after two layups and a free throw. Alabama leads early 7-4.
  • The Crimson Tide student section chose Alabama basketball over Monday Night Football and is in full throat to start the season.
  • Alabama wins the tip and the 2025-26 season is underway. Taylor Bol Bowen scores the Crimson Tide's first basket of the year cutting to the basket, catching the pass and scoring the layup.

Pregame Updates

North Dakota Starters
Eli King
Reggie Thomas
George Natsvlishvili
Garrett Anderson
Anthony Doppler

Alabama Basketball Starters
Labaron Philon
Houston Mallette
Amari Allen
Taylor Bol Bowen
Aiden Sherrell

Why Aden Holloway, Two More Players Are Out for North Dakota Season Opener

Officials for Alabama's season opener against North Dakota:
Referee: Don Daily
Umpire: Lucas Santos
Umpire: Rob Rorke

  • Nate Oats said last week that Latrell Wrightsell would be on a minutes restriction for tonight's game, but it appears he won't play as he's in a sweatsuit while the team warms up.
  • Alabama guard Aden Holloway is also not dressed out in warmups and is wearing sweats as the team is shooting around.
  • Alabama forward Keitenn Bristow is not dressed out during warmups and is sporting a walking boot on his right foot.
  • Alabama women's basketball defeated Stetson 82-73 in the Crimson Tide's season opener played just before the men tipped off tonight.

Alabama Crimson Tide On SI

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Joe Gaither
JOE GAITHER

Joe Gaither oversees videos and podcasts for Alabama Crimson Tide On SI/BamaCentral. He began his sports media career in radio in 2019, working for three years in Tuscaloosa covering the University of Alabama and other local high school sports. In 2023 he joined BamaCentral to cover a variety of Crimson Tide sports and recruiting, in addition to hosting the “Joe Gaither Show” podcast. His work has also appeared on the Boston College, Missouri and Vanderbilt web sites.

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