NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Labaron Philon put up 21 points to help fifth-ranked Alabama secure a decisive 99-70 victory over No. 15 Kentucky on Friday night. This win propelled Alabama into the semifinals of the Southeastern Conference Tournament. The Crimson Tide, holding a promising record of 25-7 and seeded third, now set their sights on facing fourth-ranked Florida for a chance to compete in the tournament final. Earlier on Friday night, Florida also advanced by defeating No. 21 Missouri with a score of 95-81, as all top four seeds of the SEC moved ahead.
Jarin Stevenson contributed 16 points, while Mark Sears, Mouhamed Dioubate, and Aden Holloway each added 13 points. Alabama again showcased dominance over Kentucky, having swept them during the regular season.
Kentucky, with a 22-11 record, only managed to tie the game once at 14 and ended the first half trailing 45-38. Andrew Carr led Kentucky with 18 points, followed by Amari Williams with 16, and Travis Perry with 11.
Key Takeaways
Kentucky played without Lamont Butler, their starting guard, who was absent due to a right shoulder injury sustained Thursday night. Coach Mark Pope expressed relief on pregame radio about the “best possible news” from recent medical tests. Kentucky goes home without a tournament title since their last win in 2018.
Alabama, under the guidance of coach Nate Oats, is now just two victories away from securing their third tournament title in the past five seasons. The team improved its historically challenging record against Kentucky in this event to 3-17 and advanced their quarterfinal matchups record to 2-6. Their current season stands out with a record-breaking 11 wins over AP Top 25 opponents.
Decisive Moment
Alabama dashed any hopes Kentucky had for a comeback by launching into a 12-6 run at the start of the second half. This rapid scoring prompted Kentucky to call a timeout with 16:31 left on the clock following Dioubate’s three-pointer. Alabama’s lead later stretched to 30 points.
Notable Statistics
Alabama capitalized on turnovers, outscoring Kentucky 29-6 in this aspect of the game.
Looking Ahead
Kentucky’s Lamont Butler now has a window to recover before the start of the NCAA Tournament. Meanwhile, Alabama aims to retaliate against Florida, having previously suffered a 99-94 defeat on their home court on March 5.
