Alabama Survives Double OT Thriller Behind Huge Night from Mobile’s Labaron Philon

February 19, 2026 Michael Brauner AL BASKETBALL, Alabama, Alabama, Featured News
NASHVILLE, TN - JANUARY 07: Alabama Crimson Tide guard Labaron Philon Jr. (0) goes up for a layup during a game between the Vanderbilt Commodores and Alabama Crimson Tide, January 7, 2026, at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Matthew Maxey/Icon Sportswire)

The Alabama Crimson Tide men’s basketball team won potentially the game of the year in college hoops on Wednesday night, taking down the Arkansas Razorbacks 117-115 in double overtime to pull even with them and Tennessee for second place in the SEC.

It was Labaron Philon Jr. playing hero for Alabama with one of the best games of his young career, dropping 35 points with seven assists to hold off the Razorbacks sensational freshman Darius Acuff Jr., who had a historic 49-point effort including a circus shot at the end of regulation to send it into the first overtime.

The Tide trailed by 10 at the half before fighting back in the second to take a lead late prior to the Acuff tying bucket right at the end of the game.

Both in overtime and in double overtime, Houston Mallette — who had not been an offensive factor for the entire night — hit two clutch threes for his only six points on the night to push the game to the brink.

Sophomore big man Aiden Sherrell had perhaps his best game in two years for Alabama as well and has stepped into an even bigger role following the Charles Bediako ruling making the center ineligible and pushing Sherrell into the main size role. He had 26 points and 13 rebounds including five on the offensive side of the ball.

Young freshman Amari Allen had a double-double of his own with 19 points and 11 rebounds as well.

The victory pushes the Crimson Tide to 9-4 in SEC play and 19-7 overall, two games behind the 11-2 Florida Gators who once again look like the best team in the conference. Alabama will get set to hit the road once again this weekend with a road game against LSU before hitting the final stretch of the regular season starting next week.

As the season comes to a head, Nate Oats seem to have his squad trending in the right direction, making for a potentially very exciting March ahead.