No. 16 Alabama bounced back from Saturday's loss with a 104-93 win over South Florida. The Crimson Tide scored over 100 points for the fourth time this season and 34th under Nate Oats. Alabama moves to 8-3 on the season by defeating former assistant coach Bryan Hodgson.
Here are a few takeaways from the game.
- Better Effort
Nate Oats was unhappy with the effort from the last game in which Alabama was blown out by No. 1 Arizona. Before Wednesday's game, Oats made it clear that he would have a short leash on any player who didn't show effort. As a result, the Crimson Tide players responded with much more intensity on the defensive end of the floor.
- Bench Comes Up Big
The Alabama bench played a big role in their success Wednesday night. The Crimson Tide bench outscored their opponent 42-22. Aden Holloway was a big contributor, providing 24 points to lead all bench players.
- Career Night for Philon
For the third time this season, Labaron Philon tied his career high in points. Philon took control of the game and led all scorers with 29 points. In addition to his point contribution, Philon added a game-high seven assists.
- Free Points From the Line
Alabama found a way to get to the line frequently on Wednesday and made the most of their opportunities. The Crimson Tide shot 83% from the line, hitting 29 of their 35 attempts. Philon made his way to the free throw line and converted six of his team-high seven free throw attempts.
Alabama will play Kennesaw State in Huntsville, AL, on Sunday, December 21, at 1 p.m. in the Rocket City Classic. The game can be streamed on SEC Network+.
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