No. 25 Alabama men's basketball survives late scare from LSU, 90-83

Crimson Tide hold off Tigers' comeback attempt in SEC matchup

Feb. 22, 2026 at 3:38am

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No. 25 Alabama men's basketball defeated the LSU Tigers 90-83 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge on Saturday night, despite a late comeback effort from the home team. Star guard Labaron Philon Jr. struggled, scoring just 8 points on 2/8 shooting, but Aden Holloway led the Crimson Tide with 17 points. Alabama built a double-digit lead in the second half before LSU made a late push, but the Tide held on for the victory.

Why it matters

The win keeps Alabama in the hunt for the SEC regular season title, as they trail Florida by two games. The Crimson Tide have now won six straight games, showing their resilience in the face of a late scare from the Tigers.

The details

Alabama got off to a slow start, shooting just 2/6 in the opening four minutes, but they picked up the pace as the first half progressed. The Tide led by 3 at halftime, then opened the second half on a 17-9 run to take a double-digit advantage. LSU made a late push, closing the gap to 8 points, but Alabama hit 8 free throws in the final 4 minutes to seal the victory.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 21, 2026 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
  • Alabama led by 3 points at halftime.

The players

Aden Holloway

A star guard for the Alabama Crimson Tide who led the team in scoring with 17 points in the win.

Labaron Philon Jr.

The star guard for Alabama who struggled, scoring just 8 points on 2/8 shooting after coming off a career-high 35 points in the team's previous game.

Aiden Sherrell

The Alabama center who scored 12 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for his second straight double-double.

Nate Oats

The head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball team.

Latrell Wrightsell Jr.

The Alabama guard who scored 10 points in the second half to help the Crimson Tide build their lead.

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What they’re saying

“We were hoping he'd feel better today, and he did, but he still wasn't anything close to where he needs to be.”

— Nate Oats, Head Coach

“We were plus-16 when he was in the game. His offensive leverage was positive, too. He was good.”

— Nate Oats, Head Coach

“You gotta give them a lot of credit, because they could've easily not [done] what they did tonight, based on some of the tough one, two possession losses they've had.”

— Nate Oats, Head Coach

What’s next

Alabama will return to the court on Wednesday, February 25th, hosting the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Coleman Coliseum. Tipoff is slated for 8 p.m. CT, and the game can be seen on ESPNU.

The takeaway

Despite a late scare from LSU, Alabama's balanced scoring attack and strong defensive effort in the second half allowed them to hold on for the victory and keep their SEC title hopes alive. The Crimson Tide's ability to withstand the Tigers' comeback shows their resilience and determination as they continue their push for the conference crown.