No. 15 Alabama defeated No. 5 St. John’s 103-96 on November 8, 2025, at Madison Square Garden Basketball Game, delivering the Red Storm their first loss of the season. The Crimson Tide overcame a second-half deficit through superior guard play and paint dominance. Alabama’s balanced offensive attack and rebounding control proved decisive despite free-throw shooting advantages favoring St. John’s.[1][2][3][4][5]
Alabama’s Guard Execution Overcomes Paint Pressure
Alabama guards Labaron Philon and Aden Holloway combined for 46 points, controlling tempo and creating scoring opportunities through ball movement. Their performance highlighted Alabama’s depth at guard positions, a strength that Pitino acknowledged as difficult to defend.[6][7]
Labaron Philon’s Late-Game Heroics
Philon scored 25 points on efficient 10-of-17 shooting with 3 rebounds and 3 assists. He delivered the crucial go-ahead three-pointer with 2:32 remaining, extending Alabama’s lead to 98-88. Philon’s defensive focus limited turnovers despite offensive pressure late in the contest.[2][8][9][10][11]
Aden Holloway Returns with Immediate Impact
Holloway contributed 21 points on 9-of-18 shooting in his season debut after missing Alabama’s opener with a wrist injury. He made 2 of 9 three-point attempts while recording 4 assists before fouling out with 3:22 remaining. Holloway’s opening-half performance established Alabama’s early offensive momentum, scoring 15 first-half points.[3][11][12][13][2]
Bench Contributors Provide Crucial Depth
Taylor Bol Bowen added 17 points and 9 rebounds with 2 blocks and 2 steals. Latrell Wrightsell Jr. scored 17 points including 4 three-pointers while overcoming second-half cramping after recovering from a preseason finger injury. Combined, Alabama’s bench outscored St. John’s reserves significantly.[4][10][12][2]
St. John’s Offensive Efficiency Insufficient Against Paint Disadvantage
St. John’s shot 49.2 percent overall but managed only 14.3 percent from three-point range (6 makes), limiting offensive versatility. Zuby Ejiofor dominated the first half with 21 points on elite 9-of-12 shooting (75%), but finished with only 6 second-half points as Alabama adjusted defensively. Bryce Hopkins contributed 19 points primarily in the opening half.[11][13][2][3]
Secondary Scoring Collapsed During Critical Moments
Oziyah Sellers scored 14 points with 12 coming in the second half during the comeback attempt, but inconsistent earlier output limited impact. Ian Jackson added 14 points on 6-of-13 shooting (46%), showing shooting inefficiency despite decent efficiency. Joson Sanon made only 1 of 7 field goal attempts (14%), hamstrung by poor shot selection.[5][12][2][3][11]
St. John’s played without Dylan Darling, their primary point guard, due to a calf strain sustained in the season opener. This absence reduced halfcourt control and contributed to defensive miscommunications.[13][14][2][3]
Defensive Metrics Reveal Alabama’s Structural Advantages
Alabama controlled the paint 54-40 and generated 19 second-chance points off 14 offensive rebounds, establishing rebounding superiority. The Crimson Tide shot 31.4 percent from three (11-of-35) compared to St. John’s 14.3 percent, highlighting spacing advantages. Alabama forced 12 turnovers while committing only 7, demonstrating superior ball security and defensive pressure.[10][2][4][11]
| Statistic | Alabama | St. John’s | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paint points | 54 | 40 | +14 |
| Three-pointers made | 11 | 6 | +5 |
| Field goal attempts | 81 | 65 | +16 |
| Fouls called | 27 | 17 | +10 |
| Free throws made | 14 | 28 | St. John’s +14 |
| Turnovers forced | 12 | 7 | +5 |
Alabama’s 53 first-half points represented the most allowed by St. John’s under Pitino in three seasons, indicating early defensive breakdown. The deficit proved insurmountable despite St. John’s free-throw advantage of 28-40 (70%) versus Alabama’s 14-22 (64%).[14][15][4][5][6][13]
Historical Significance and Future Implications
The loss snapped St. John’s 12-game winning streak at Madison Square Garden. Alabama became the first non-conference opponent scoring 100 points against St. John’s since Niagara in 2004, representing a defensive watershed moment. The game featured 18 lead changes and 7 ties, confirming competitive execution by both programs.[15][16][17][2][3][10][13][14]
Nate Oats secured his eighth victory against AP Top-5 opponents, while this marked Alabama’s first MSG appearance since 2013-14. Rick Pitino acknowledged Alabama’s superiority: “They shoot within 15 seconds on average. We haven’t seen that in three years”.[7][18][2][13]
