Overview
- Labaron Philon scored 25 points with a late dagger three, Aden Holloway added 21 in his season debut, and Taylor Bol Bowen and Latrell Wrightsell Jr. chipped in 17 each as Alabama shot 48% with 11 threes.
- Alabama closed a back-and-forth game with a 14–1 burst after St. John’s briefly led, leveraging pace and guard play to seize control in the final minutes.
- Zuby Ejiofor paced St. John’s with 27 points and 10 rebounds, but he managed only six after halftime as the Red Storm went nearly five minutes without a field goal late.
- St. John’s missed 12 free throws, committed 12 turnovers and surrendered 19 second‑chance points, undercutting 49% shooting and a strong first half from its frontcourt.
- Alabama moved to 2–0 and will host No. 1 Purdue on Thursday; St. John’s is 1–1, was without guard Dylan Darling due to a calf strain, and is eyeing his return for William & Mary next Saturday.