Alabama Star Labaron Philon Jr. Quiet in Road Win Over LSU

The Crimson Tide superstar failed to score at least 10 points for the first time this season.

Feb. 22, 2026 at 2:56am

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No. 25 Alabama beat LSU 90-83 on the road, but Crimson Tide superstar guard Labaron Philon Jr. did not play a major role on the scoreboard. Philon, who was listed as "probable" on the availability report, only scored 8 points on 2-of-8 shooting, including 0-of-3 from deep. Alabama head coach Nate Oats said Philon was "banged up" and "couldn't get loose" during the game.

Why it matters

Philon has been a dominant scorer for Alabama this season, averaging 21.8 points per game and setting a single-season school record for most 20-point games. His quiet outing against LSU was uncharacteristic and raised questions about his health and availability going forward.

The details

Philon scored a career-high 35 points in Alabama's double-overtime win over Arkansas just three days earlier. He was named to the 2026 Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Player of the Year Late-Season Team on Friday. Oats said the team will try to manage Philon's workload in practice this week ahead of their game against Mississippi State.

  • On Saturday evening, Alabama beat LSU 90-83 on the road.
  • Three days earlier, on Wednesday, Philon scored a career-high 35 points in Alabama's double-overtime win over Arkansas.
  • On Friday, Philon was named to the 2026 Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Player of the Year Late-Season Team.

The players

Labaron Philon Jr.

A sophomore guard for the Alabama Crimson Tide who is one of the top scorers in college basketball this season, averaging 21.8 points per game.

Nate Oats

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

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What they’re saying

“Baron's obviously banged up. He played a lot of minutes on Wednesday night [against Arkansas]. We held him out of practice. It's a lot about basketball — bumps, bruises — he just couldn't get loose.”

— Nate Oats, Head Coach, Alabama Crimson Tide

What’s next

The team will try to manage Philon's workload in practice this week ahead of their game against Mississippi State on Wednesday.

The takeaway

Philon's quiet performance against LSU, despite his recent scoring outbursts, raises concerns about his health and availability going forward. The Crimson Tide will need their star player at full strength as they push for a high seed in the NCAA Tournament.