Alabama basketball and Texas A&M in 'dog fight' at halftime: Live updates, game highlights

Alabama basketball and Texas A&M in ‘dog fight’ at halftime: Live updates, game highlights

Posted by Admin January 11, 2025 Basketball

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It’s been 10 years since Alabama basketball won in Reed Arena.

On Saturday at No. 9 Texas A&M, the No. 5 Crimson Tide has the chance to stop history from repeating itself, but Nate Oats said he expects keeping an undefeated start to SEC play will be a “dog fight” ahead of the matchup.

The last time UA left College Station with a victory, the regular-season finale was decided by a single point after the Crimson Tide overcame a first half that made then-coach Anthony Grant say, “Everything that could go wrong went wrong.” Stakes are still high in a brutal conference where Alabama and A&M are both 13-2, seeking their eighth and 10th consecutive wins, respectively.

Even though UA returned to Tuscaloosa with a 20-point win over Columbia this week, there was still what Oats called “disaster” in defeat.

Lead scorer Wade Taylor IV (lower body) is out for A&M, but A&M’s defense doesn’t have much trouble being the most physical team whether he’s on the floor or not. Just like every trip to the rim, every trip to the free throw line will matter, so Alabama can’t foot another 50% outing like the one it had against the Gamecocks.

Alabama basketball vs Texas A&M score updates

Reminding Alabama that it’s still a presence in the paint despite struggles from the perimeter, A&M’s Pharrell Payne drove to the rim for a layup that trimmed the Crimson Tide’s lead to five points with about 15 minutes left.

Rutgers big man transfer Cliff Omoruyi went up to block shot in the opening minute of the second half, but his feet got tangled up with Jarin Stevenson on the play. Omoruyi went to the ground grabbing right ankle and writhing in pain before being helped into the locker room by staff.

Omoruyi returned with 16:12 to the buzzer.

The Crimson Tide has made 36.3% of its at the rim this season. Freshman Labaron Philon gave the stat a boost with a dunk to give UA a 48-41 advantage with less than a minute to halftime.

Rookie Derrion Reid and Mark Sears chipped in from the free throw line, both going 2-for-2 to send the Crimson Tide into the locker room up by eight.

Alabama has 14 fouls down the roster with just over three minutes to play in the first half. Big Aiden Sherrell has a team-high three while Grant Nelson, Omoruyi, Chris Youngblood and Mouhamed Dioubate have two each.

Down 46-39, the Aggies have started to pick it up from the free throw line, shooting 54.5% as halftime nears.

The sophomore Dioubate stopped another two-points for guard Zhuric Phelps with a block that would’ve torn the lid off of Coleman Coliseum if the Crimson Tide was at home.

Denied at the rim, A&M is taking more shots from three-point range. A three-point jumper by C.J. Wilcher sees the Aggies just three points behind Alabama.

Auburn transfer Aden Holloway notched his second trey from downtown to give A&M “the Biz” and put Alabama ahead 32-23. The Crimson Tide is shooting over 47% from the arc with about five minutes to halftime.

Meanwhile, the Aggies have been held to 1-for-6 from the perimeter.

Answering a 3-pointer for freshman Labaron Philon, Phelps cut back into Alabama’s 21-15 lead with a defensive board and a layup.

The gritty battle in the paint has seen 19 personal fouls between A&M and Alabama with eight minutes to halftime, the Crimson Tide on top with 10.

Four turnovers seven minutes in see Texas A&M closing in on the Crimson Tide, but Alabama is forcing the Aggies to lose possession, too. Philon started the game with a steal and was joined by Stevenson, Dioubate and Sears in the stat category.

At media timeout, A&M trails 16-11.

The first three of the night has fallen for the Crimson Tide. Stevenson, who missed his first 17 attempts from three-point range this season, edged Alabama to a five-point lead over Texas A&M with a trey with 16:38 to halftime.

A physical game between the Crimson Tide and the Aggies have seen fouls stack up quickly for both squads. Alabama found the board with a 2-for-2 trip to the free throw line for the sophomore Stevenson. Going 1-for-2 on free throws, Nelson gave UA a 5-2 lead about three minutes into action.

Alabama returns its starting five of guards Labaron Philon and Mark Sears, forwards Grant Nelson and Jarin Stevenson with center Cliff Omoruyi.

The Aggies start guard Zhuric Phelps, stepping up for Taylor IV, as well as Hayden Hefner, Manny Obaseki, Solomon Washington and Henry Coleman III.

What time does Alabama basketball vs Texas A&M start today?

Date: Saturday, Jan. 11

Time: 7 p.m. CT

Location: Reed Arena, College Station, TX

What channel is Alabama basketball vs Texas A&M today?

If Tennessee vs. Texas runs over, tune into ESPNews to catch tipoff for Alabama vs Texas A&M.

Alabama basketball vs Texas A&M livestream options

Alabama vs. Texas A&M will be broadcast on ESPN and can be streamed on ESPN+ and Fubo. Play-by-play will be provided by Dave O’Brien with Cory Alexander as analyst.

Alabama vs Texas A&M betting odds

Here are the game lines and odds from BetMGM as of Saturday:

Spread: Alabama (-3.5)
Moneyline: Alabama (-160) | Texas A&M (+135)
Over/under: 159.5 points

Alabama vs Texas A&M injury updates

A&M top scorer Wade Taylor IV (lower body) has been ruled out for Saturday’s game, along with Alabama guard Houston Mallette (knees). Latrell Wrightsell Jr. (Achilles tendon) remains out for the season for the Crimson Tide.

Next five games for Alabama basketball

Jan. 14: Ole Miss, 6 p.m. CT
Jan. 18: at Kentucky, 11 a.m. CT
Jan. 21: Vanderbilt, 6 p.m. CT
Jan. 25: LSU, 7:30 p.m. CT
Jan. 29: at Mississippi State, 8 p.m. CT

Next five games for Texas A&M basketball

Jan. 14: at Kentucky, 6 p.m. CT
Jan. 18: LSU, 7:30 p.m. CT
Jan. 22: at Ole Miss, 8 p.m. CT
Jan. 25: at Texas, 1:30 p.m. CT
Jan. 28: Oklahoma, 8 p.m. CT

Alabama basketball in the headlines

Here are the latest headlines surrounding Alabama basketball after the Crimson Tide’s 88-68 win at South Carolina on Wednesday.

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Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.