BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — In a thrilling matchup between last year’s Elite Eight teams, No. 8 Alabama claimed a commanding 100-87 victory over No. 25 Illinois on Wednesday night at Legacy Arena.

Grant Nelson shone for the Crimson Tide, contributing 23 points, while Aden Holloway followed closely with 18 points. Freshman Labaron Philon showcased his versatility by posting 16 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds, aiding Alabama in overcoming a challenging game from preseason All-American Mark Sears, who struggled to find the basket.

Latrell Wrightsell Jr. added another 16 points to Alabama’s total. Nelson set the tone early, hitting three consecutive 3-pointers to kick off the game.

For Illinois, Will Riley was the standout performer, scoring 18 points and grabbing nine rebounds. Kylan Boswell contributed with 17 points, while Kasparas Jakucionis added 15 points, and Tomislav Ivisic completed the effort with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Sears had a disappointing game, missing all five of his shot attempts, including four from beyond the arc, and he didn’t re-enter the game after sitting out with 11:27 left on the clock.

**Key Takeaways**

Illinois has now dropped to a 17-19 record against ranked opponents since the start of the 2019-20 season. After three convincing victories, this marked a challenging test for the Illini.

On the other hand, Alabama bounced back impressively from an earlier loss to No. 6 Purdue, adding this win to their résumé for the NCAA Tournament. They started the game strong, making four consecutive 3s and five out of six attempts initially.

**Key Moment**

A pivotal point in the game came midway through the first half when Alabama went on a 13-0 run, establishing a commanding 36-19 lead. This surge culminated with a layup from Clifford Omoruyi, coinciding with a rough stretch for Illinois, who missed 11 consecutive shots.

Despite a furious effort from Illinois, who reduced the gap to eight points in the second half, they were unable to get any closer.

**Key Stat**

Alabama excelled at the free-throw line, converting 11 of 13 attempts (84.6%), while Illinois struggled, hitting only 13 of 24 attempts (54.2%).

**Upcoming Games**

Illinois will host Maryland-Eastern Shore on Saturday, while Alabama is set to face No. 7 Houston next Tuesday in Las Vegas.