No. 1 Arizona was too much for No. 12 Alabama as the Crimson Tide dropped their third game of the season 96-75 on Saturday.
The Crimson Tide won the first 20 minutes ,but a dominant second half from Arizona showed why the Wildcats are the No. 1 team in the nation as they put Alabama away. With the loss, Alabama fell to 7-3 overall on the season.
Here are a few takeaways from the game.
- Strong Start
Alabama got off to a strong start against the No. 1 team in the nation. For the first time this season, Arizona trailed at halftime as the Crimson Tide enjoyed a 41-39 advantage after the first 20 minutes. Labaron Philon led the way for Alabama with 14 points and six rebounds in the first half. Aiden Sherrell kept the Wildcats in check by adding five first-half blocks.
- Familiar Face
Crimson Tide fans saw a familiar face on the court Saturday night when they faced off against former guard Jaden Bradley. Bradley played his freshman year for the Crimson Tide, then transferred and is now in his senior year at Arizona. Bradley punished his former team by scoring 14 points with five rebounds and seven assists.
- Dominated on the Offensive Glass
Coming into the matchup with Arizona, rebounding was a big concern. The inability to keep Arizona off the boards was the difference in the game. The Wildcats outrebounded the Crimson Tide 52-32. Arizona was able to take advantage on the offensive glass, pulling down 22 offensive boards that led to 15 second-chance points.
- Terrible Finish
Alabama held its own in the first half, but a disastrous second half from the Crimson Tide turned into a beatdown. Arizona got hot, and Alabama’s shooting got cold in the final 20 minutes. The Crimson Tide were outscored 57-34 in the second half while shooting just 38.5% from the field. Turnovers and the inability to keep the Wildcats off the glass in the second half led to a 21-point defeat.
Alabama will host South Florida on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The game can be streamed on SEC Network+.
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