Labaron Philon’s 23 points and Aiden Sherrell’s 21 help No. 18 Alabama beat Oklahoma 83-81

Alabama secured a hard-fought victory over Oklahoma in a thrilling 83-81 matchup on Saturday. Labaron Philon led the charge for the No. 18 Crimson Tide with 23 points, while Aiden Sherrell contributed 21 points to the winning effort.

The game came down to the wire as Oklahoma attempted a game-winning shot in the final seconds. However, Nijel Pack’s long-range attempt fell short, and the Sooners couldn’t capitalize on the offensive rebound.

Despite struggling at the free-throw line, converting only 15 of 26 attempts, Alabama managed to come out on top. Xzayvier Brown led the scoring for Oklahoma with 21 points, followed by Derrion Reid with 16 points. The Sooners, who were aiming for their first win against a ranked opponent this season, suffered their fourth consecutive loss after falling to Florida earlier in the week.

Oklahoma held a 44-33 lead at halftime, limiting Alabama to just 4-for-19 shooting from beyond the arc. However, the Crimson Tide stormed back in the second half with a 12-0 run to take the lead.

In the closing moments of the game, Oklahoma had a chance to tie the score with Brown attempting a 3-pointer while being fouled. Brown made two free throws but missed the third, allowing Alabama to maintain a slim lead. Amari Allen sealed the victory for the Crimson Tide by converting one of two free throws.

Looking ahead, Alabama is set to face Tennessee in their next game, while Oklahoma will take on South Carolina. The intense matchup between these two teams showcased the competitive nature of college basketball and left fans on the edge of their seats until the final buzzer.

For more updates on college basketball and the latest AP Top 25 rankings, fans can follow the AP Top 25 college basketball poll at https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and stay tuned for exciting matchups throughout the season.