Alabama
FT. MYERS, Fla. (03/19/2026) — A dominant second-half performance powered the Alabama Crimson Tide to a commanding 90-70 victory over the Hofstra Pride on Thursday night at Benchmark International Arena. After a tightly contested first half, Alabama leaned on stellar outings from guard Labaron Philon Jr. and forward Aiden Sherrell to pull away and secure the decisive win.
How It Happened
The game began as a high-paced, back-and-forth affair. Alabama struck first with a London Jemison layup, but Hofstra quickly found its rhythm from beyond the arc. The Pride connected on a barrage of three-pointers, with German Plotnikov and Biggie Patterson hitting from deep to give Hofstra an early 18-16 lead. The shooting continued as Joshua Aaron Reaves drained a 25-footer, capping a run that pushed the Pride's advantage to 28-18 with 9:20 left in the half.
Facing a double-digit deficit, the Crimson Tide began to methodically chip away. Threes from Latrell Wrightsell and Taylor Bol Bowen cut the margin, and a 24-foot jumper from Aiden Sherrell gave Alabama a brief 33-32 lead. After Hofstra's Preston Edmead answered with a deep three, Sherrell knotted the game at 35-35 with an emphatic alley-oop dunk. Labaron Philon Jr. closed the half with a driving layup, sending Alabama into the locker room with a slim 37-35 edge.
Alabama carried that momentum directly into the second half. An Amari Allen tip-in, followed by a three-pointer from Philon and a dunk by Jemison, quickly extended the lead to 49-39 just over three minutes in. Hofstra refused to fold, as Edmead heated up with a series of long-range jumpers to keep the Pride within striking distance, cutting the deficit to 67-62 with 7:14 remaining.
Turning Point
With the game still competitive, Alabama unleashed its most dominant stretch of the night. Clinging to a single-digit lead, the Crimson Tide erupted for a decisive 14-0 run. The offensive onslaught turned a 73-69 nail-biter into an 87-69 blowout, completely stifling Hofstra's comeback hopes and sealing the outcome with just minutes left on the clock. The run showcased Alabama's ability to elevate its play on both ends of the floor, shutting down the Pride's offense while converting efficiently to put the game out of reach.
Star of the Game
Guard Labaron Philon Jr. was the undisputed engine for the Alabama offense. He delivered a masterful, near-triple-double performance, finishing with a game-high 29 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists. Philon orchestrated the offense, scored at critical moments, and consistently created opportunities for his teammates.
He was complemented by a dominant effort in the paint from Aiden Sherrell, who posted a powerful double-double with 15 points and 15 rebounds. Sherrell’s control of the glass was a defining factor in the game, as Alabama outrebounded Hofstra 46-34.
What It Means
For the Alabama Crimson Tide, the 20-point victory is a strong start to their postseason journey. The team demonstrated resilience by overcoming an early deficit and poise by closing out the game with a clinical second-half surge. The star-level performances from Philon and Sherrell are an encouraging sign as the competition intensifies.
For the Hofstra Pride, the loss marks the end of a hard-fought season. The Pride’s 46% shooting from three-point range kept them in the contest for much of the night, with Preston Edmead leading the charge with 24 points. Ultimately, they were unable to match Alabama's superior size, depth, and second-half execution.