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NCAA Tournament Live Updates from No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 13 Hofstra

Score updates and analysis from Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, as the Crimson Tide takes on the Pride.
Henry Sklar|
Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida, ahead of four opening-round games: No. 5 Texas Tech vs. No. 12 Akron, No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 13 Hofstra, No. 8 Clemson vs. No. 9 Iowa, and No. 1 Florida vs. No. 16 Prairie View A&M.
Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida, ahead of four opening-round games: No. 5 Texas Tech vs. No. 12 Akron, No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 13 Hofstra, No. 8 Clemson vs. No. 9 Iowa, and No. 1 Florida vs. No. 16 Prairie View A&M. | Henry Sklar

In this story:

Alabama Crimson Tide

TAMPA, Fla. –– The Madness has arrived.

After an early exit in the SEC Tournament at the hands of Ole Miss, No. 4 seed Alabama opens NCAA Tournament play against No. 13 seed and Coastal Athletic Association champion Hofstra. The Crimson Tide will be without second-leading scorer Aden Holloway and will look to fend off a dangerous Pride team. No. 13 seeds have won 20.6 percent of first-round games entering this year’s tournament.

Follow along for live updates and analysis from Benchmark International Arena as the Crimson Tide looks to punch its ticket to the NCAA Tournament Round of 32.

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Second Half

11:51 - Alabama needed its star players to step up in the second half, and they have. Labaron Philon has 11 points this half, and Amari Allen has 9. Alabama has a double-digit lead. Alabama 59, Hofstra 48.

15:52 - It's been all Alabama early in the second half. Amari Allen and Labaron Philon have combined for 10 of Alabama's 12 points. Alabama 49, Hofstra 39.

First Half

First half split box
First half split box | Statbroadcast
  • 0:00 - Hofstra built a double-digit lead early in the first half, but Alabama responded with a steady push to close the gap before the break. The Crimson Tide leaned on timely defense and some late scoring from Aiden Sherrell to take a two-point lead at halftime. Set up for a competitive second half. Alabama 37, Hofstra 35.
  • 3:15 - Alabama is slowly chipping away at Hofstra's lead; it's down to 5 points. Still, the Crimson Tide is shooting a brutal 3-for-16 from deep and just 32% from the field. Alabama 25, Hofstra 30.
  • 7:34 - Alabama can't take the lid off the rim. Alabama is shooting 36% from the field and 23% from deep. Hofstra is winning the rebounding battle 15-11. Alabama 21, Hofstra 28.
  • 8:55 - Hofstra is on a 16-2 run over the last three-and-a-half minutes. Alabama 18, Hofstra 28.
  • 11:06 - Hofstra has stolen all the momentum that Alabama built early. The Pride just ripped off a quick 8-0 run to take a four-point lead halfway through the first. Alabama is just 2-for-8 from deep so far. Alabama 16, Hofstra 20.
  • 14:54 - Hofstra cut it to a one-point game out of their early timeout, but Taylor Bol Bowen has made a difference early. The Florida State transfer hit a three-pointer and then converted an and-one, pending a free throw two possessions later. Alabama 13, Hofstra 9
  • 17:03 - No Aden Holloway? No problem so far for Alabama against Hofstra. The Crimson Tide has been active on both ends of the floor. Labaron Philon already has 4 points and the Tide are winning the rebounding battle 4-2. Alabama is up 8-2.
  • 20:00 - Hofstra wins the opening tip, and we are underway from Tampa.

Pregame

  • Freshman London Jemison gets the nod in place of Aden Holloway.
  • Alabama starters vs. Hofstra:
    Labaron Philon
    Latrell Wrightsell
    Amari Allen
    London Jemison
    Aiden Sherrell

2:47 p.m. - The opening game of the day in Tampa has concluded, as No. 4 seed Texas Tech knocks off No. 13 Akron 91-71 after a dominant final 10 minutes; the winner of Alabama vs. Hofstra will face the Red Raiders.

How to Watch: 2026 NCAA Tournament Round of 64

Who: 4-seed Alabama (23-9, 13-5 SEC; 0-1 SEC Tournament) vs. 13-seed Hofstra (24-10, 12-6 CAA; 3-0 in CAA Tournament)

What: Alabama's first game of March Madness

When: Friday, March 20, 2:15 p.m. CT

Where: Benchmark International Arena, Tampa Bay, Florida

Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network (Play-By-Play: Chris Stewart, Color: Bryan Passink). The pregame show will begin one hour prior to tipoff.

Series: Alabama and Hofstra have never met.

Last Meeting: This will be the first-ever matchup between the Crimson Tide and Pride.

Last time out, Alabama: The Crimson Tide fell to Ole Miss 80-79 in the SEC Tournament quarterfinal on March 13. Alabama, which was the 2-seed, had a double-bye and didn't play until Friday, while the 15-seed Rebels took down 10-seed Texas and 7-seed Georgia in back-to-back days before upsetting Alabama. Ole Miss went up by multiple possessions within the first few minutes, and the Crimson Tide had to play catch-up from there. But UA never took the lead or even tied the game, as it got complacent.

Last time out, Hofstra: After earning the 3-seed in the CAA Tournament, the Pride won three straight games, including a 75-69 victory over Monmouth in the Championship. Hofstra is dancing for the first time since 2001 and just the fifth time in school history.

Alabama Basketball in the NCAA Tournament:

  • 1974-75: Lost in Round of 64 (NCAA Tournament seeding introduced in 1979)
  • 1975-76: Lost in Sweet 16
  • 1981-82: 4-seed, Lost in Sweet 16
  • 1982-83: 6-seed, Lost in Round of 64
  • 1983-84: 9-seed, Lost in Round of 64
  • 1984-85: 7-seed, Lost in Sweet 16
  • 1985-86: 5-seed, Lost in Sweet 16
  • 1986-87 (vacated): 2-seed, Lost in Sweet 16
  • 1988-89: 6-seed, Lost in Round of 64
  • 1989-90: 7-seed, Lost in Sweet 16
  • 1990-91: 4-seed, Lost in Sweet 16
  • 1991-92: 5-seed, Lost in Round of 32
  • 1993-94: 9-seed, Lost in Round of 32
  • 1994-95: 5-seed, Lost in Round of 32
  • 2001-02: 2-seed, Lost in Round of 32
  • 2002-03: 10-seed, Lost in Round of 64
  • 2003-04: 8-seed, Lost in Elite Eight
  • 2004-05: 5-seed, Lost in Round of 64
  • 2005-06: 10-seed, Lost in Round of 32
  • 2011-12: 9-seed, Lost in Round of 32
  • 2017-18: 9-seed, Lost in Round of 32
  • 2020-21: 2-seed, Lost in Sweet 16
  • 2021-22: 6-seed, Lost in Round of 64
  • 2022-23: No. 1 overall seed, Lost in Sweet 16
  • 2023-24: 4-seed, Lost in Final Four
  • 2024-25: 2-seed, Lost in Elite Eight
  • 2025-26: 4-seed, Result TBD

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Henry Sklar
HENRY SKLAR

Henry Sklar is an intern at Alabama Crimson Tide/Bama Central. He previously covered Alabama football and basketball for TideIllustrated.com and was a contributing writer for The Crimson White, focusing on golf and football. He also has extensive experience on social media, including TikTok. He’s lived in six different states, enjoys playing golf and DJing in his free time while majoring in News Media with a concentration in sports media.

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