Alabama basketball’s final two-game road trip has come to a close, and Nate Oats will be pleased the Crimson Tide‘s legs didn’t give out in Texas.
Oats said Monday newly-minted No. 1 Alabama (21-3, 10-1 SEC) was “banged up” after a physical faceoff against Arkansas on Saturday, but that didn’t stop the team from picking up its seventh 100-plus point win of the 2024-25 season against Texas (15-10, 4-8).
Alabama has been known to underestimate lesser opponents on its schedule, but the Crimson Tide has proven to be a squad that’s done better away from Coleman Coliseum. In the 103-80 win in Moody Center, there was no laziness to be seen.
Sophomore Jarin Stevenson emerged with the breakout offensive performance he’s been waiting for this season, putting up 22 points to lead the Crimson Tide. He was supported by 18 points from Mark Sears and Aden Holloway.
Leading Alabama on the boards was Clifford Omoruyi with eight rebounds, which were complemented by six rebounds for Holloway, Grant Nelson and Labaron Philon.
Score updates for Alabama basketball vs Texas
The Crimson Tide has looked like the lethal-shooting squad that made the Final Four so far in Austin. Up 72-53 with about 10 minutes on the clock, Alabama was already on track for a season-best night from the perimeter, going 13-for-20.
Two more 3s by Jarin Stevenson and Mouhamed Dioubate saw the Crimson Tide total 15 on the night, which ties for the most this season in the SEC. Up 87-67 with 4:54 to go, should Alabama keep the lead, it’ll be the greatest loss a Texas team has suffered in Moody Center.
Jarin Stevenson led UA with four threes, followed by Labaron Philon, Aden Holloway and Chris Youngblood, who had three treys each to see UA finish 17-for-29 beyond the arc.
Johnson is trying to keep Alabama, up 58-41, from running away with the win with about 15 minutes to go. Ball screen defense has been a struggle at times for the Crimson Tide, and the freshman keyed in on the weakness for eight of Texas’ 10 points to start the second period.
Rest assured that Oats will challenge the Crimson Tide to hold onto its 18-point once it comes out of the locker room for the second half.
Despite nine turnovers, threes are falling for Alabama, up 49-31 after going 7-for-12 from three-point range in the first period.
Assisted by Labaron Philon, Cliff Omoruyi’s dunk put Alabama back ahead of Texas by nine points.
The Crimson Tide came close to establishing a double-digit lead over the Longhorns on a layup by Grant Nelson, but Tre Johnson and Julian Larry answered for Texas, who trailed 37-28 with under three minutes to halftime.
After the timeout, Nelson put Alabama up by 10 points with a 2-for-2 trip to the free throw line.
The freshman has already made a couple plays that have resulted in what he would call “aura moments.” Philon fed off the pressure to make two layups in a minute to put the Crimson Tide on top, 25-17.
With Texas coming up scoreless on its last five attempts, the Auburn transfer Holloway made the most of the drought and splashed a 3-pointer for Alabama to take a 16-13 lead with under 12 minutes left in the period.
Early turnovers saw Alabama trail by five until Chris Youngblood tipped it in to tie the scoreboard at 7 points with 15:28 to halftime. Oats opting for size on Johnson, the 6-foot-11 Stevenson is limiting the damage that could come from the top scorer in the SEC.
A little over three minutes into the first half, the Crimson Tide had already registered three turnovers. Julian Larry, Kadin Shedrick and Arthur Kaluma all picked up steals for the Longhorns.
Jarin Stevenson is credited with Alabama’s first basket of the evening against Texas, who quickly answered to tie the scoreboard at 2 points by way of Johnson.
Alabama returns its starting five of Mark Sears, Chris Youngblood, Grant Nelson, Jarin Stevenson and Cliff Omoruyi.
Starting for the Longhorns are guards Julian Larry, Tramon Mark and Tre Johnson with forwards Kadin Shedrick and Arthur Kaluma.
What time does Alabama basketball vs Texas start today?
Date:Â Tuesday, Feb. 11
Time:Â 8 p.m. CT
Location:Â Moody Center, Austin, Texas
What channel is Alabama basketball vs Texas today?
If Kentucky-Tennessee doesn’t end by 8:10 p.m. CT, Alabama versus Texas will only be available on the ESPN app.
Alabama basketball vs Texas livestream options
Alabama basketball vs Texas will be broadcast on ESPN, which can be streamed through ESPN+ and Fubo.
Alabama vs Texas betting odds
Here are the game lines and odds from BetMGM as of Tuesday:
- Spread:Â Alabama (-4.5)
- Moneyline:Â Alabama (-190) | Texas (+155)
- Over/under:Â 165.5 points
Injury updates for Alabama vs Texas
Freshman forward Derrion Reid (lower body), who Oats said would be game-to-game after sitting against Arkansas, was questionable to play vs. the Longhorns. He was ruled out on Tuesday evening on will join Houston Mallette (knees) and Latrell Wrightsell Jr. (Achilles tendon) on the bench.
Texas will be without Chendall Weaver and sees three more players bouncing back from tweaks and flare-ups. Forward Devon Pryor will be a game-time decision.
Weaver’s return has been indefinite since a hip injury on Jan. 6 against Auburn. Fellow guard Tramon Mark was listed as probable on Sunday after surprising fans when he was ruled out on the SEC athlete-availability report for Vanderbilt on Feb. 6. Starting forward Arthur Kaluma, who has the teams’ second highest-scoring average at 13.4 points per game, was probable with Pryor.
Next five games for Alabama basketball
- Feb. 15:Â Auburn, 3 p.m. CT
- Feb. 19:Â at Missouri, 8 p.m. CT
- Feb. 22:Â Kentucky, 5 p.m. CT
- Feb. 25:Â Mississippi State, 8 p.m. CT
- Mar. 1: at Tennessee, 12/3 p.m. CT
Next five games for Texas basketball
- Feb. 15:Â Kentucky, 7 p.m. CT
- Feb. 22:Â at South Carolina, 7:30 p.m. CT
- Feb. 26:Â at Arkansas, 8 p.m. CT
- Mar. 1:Â Georgia, 7 p.m. CT
- Mar. 4: at Mississippi State, 7 p.m. CT
Alabama basketball in the headlines
The most exciting week in Alabama basketball history is here. Texas is up first, but all eyes are already on the first No. 1 versus No. 2 showdown in SEC history on Saturday. What to know from the headlines as the Crimson Tide eyes Auburn:
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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.
