No. 2 Alabama explodes on offense, pounds Texas 103-80
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Chants of “Let’s go, Bama!” rang out at Moody Center with about three minutes left Tuesday as fans walked single file out of the arena with their heads down.
The No. 2 Crimson Tide shot nearly 60% from 3-point range and scored 13 points over their season average in a 103-80 win over Texas in Southeastern Conference men’s basketball action.
Alabama drilled 17 of 29 3-point tries, making seven more than they’ve averaged per game this season, behind a balanced scoring attack with five players scoring in double figures. Sophomore guard Jarin Stevenson came into the game shooting 24% from 3-point range, but he must love the sight lines in Austin. He led the Crimson Tide with 22 points on 7-for-8 shooting including 4-for-5 on 3-pointers.
Aden Holloway and Mark Sears each scored 18 while Labaron Philon chipped in 15. Mouhamed Dioubate scored 13 points on a perfect shooting night from the field and the foul line going a combined 6-for-6 including 3-for-3 from 3-point range. He came into the game shooting 25% from long distance.
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Alabama guard Labaron Philon (0) drives to the basket against Texas guard Tre Johnson (20) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
Alabama guard Aden Holloway (2) drives to the basket against Texas guard Jordan Pope (0) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
Alabama guard Mark Sears (1) passes the ball past Texas defenders during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
Alabama guard Labaron Philon (0) drives to the basket against Texas guard Tre Johnson (20) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
Alabama guard Labaron Philon (0) drives to the basket against Texas guard Tre Johnson (20) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
Alabama forward Jarin Stevenson, left, drives to the basket against Texas forward Ze’Rik Onyema (21) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
Alabama guard Labaron Philon (0) drives to the basket against Texas during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
Alabama guard Mark Sears (1) passes the ball past Texas defenders during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
Alabama forward Jarin Stevenson, left, is fouled as he drives to the basket against Texas forward Ze’Rik Onyema (21) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
Alabama head coach Nate Oats directs his players during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Texas in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
Alabama forward Mouhamed Dioubate (10) reacts after scoring against Texas during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
Alabama forward Jarin Stevenson (15) reacts as he scores against Texas during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
Texas forward Jayson Kent (25) dives for a loose ball with Alabama forward Jarin Stevenson, front left, forward Mouhamed Dioubate, second from left, and Alabama guard Chris Youngblood, right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
Alabama forward Jarin Stevenson (15) is fouled by Texas forward Kadin Shedrick (5) as he tries to score during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
Alabama guard Aden Holloway (2) reacts after he scored against Texas during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
Texas guard Tre Johnson, left, is pressured by Alabama guard Chris Youngblood, right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
Alabama forward Jarin Stevenson (15) reacts as he scores against Texas during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
Texas guard Tre Johnson (20) drives against Alabama forward Mouhamed Dioubate (10) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
Texas forward Jayson Kent (25) drives to the basket against Alabama during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
Texas guard Tre Johnson (20) drives to the basket against Alabama guard Aden Holloway (2) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
Texas forward Jayson Kent (25) is blocked by Alabama center Clifford Omoruyi, center, as he tries to score during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
Texas guard Julian Larry (1) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Alabama in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
Alabama guard Mark Sears (1) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Texas in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
It’s the fifth time in SEC play that Alabama has scored more than 100 points.
For Texas, freshman Tre Johnson led all scorers with 24 points on 9 of 17 shooting and Jayson Kent scored a season-high 19 on 6 of 9 shooting. Julian Larry chipped in 10 points. The Longhorns were shorthanded going into the game without Chendall Weaver and Devon Pryor due to injuries, and Arthur Kaluma played 11 minutes and left with a left knee injury in the first half.
Johnson scored 10 of Texas’ first 12 points as the Longhorns raced out of the gate, but then Alabama went back to being, quite frankly, themselves. They didn’t play with their typical pace with 67 possessions, but they were incredibly efficient, scoring on 43 of them. Alabama came into the game leading NCAA Division I in scoring at 90 points per game and in pace with 78.3 possessions.
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Alabama led 49-31 at halftime and played tough interior defense, making Texas shoot for 6-for-18 on layups. The Crimson Tide outrebounded Texas 41-25 and the Longhorns had more offensive rebounds than defensive 14-11. Even with all the extra possessions, Texas could only muster 13 second-chance points.
Texas (15-10, 4-8 SEC) hosts No. 15 Kentucky on Saturday. Alabama (21-3, 10-1) hosts No. 1 Auburn on Saturday.
More details and quotes from the postgame press conference will be added to this story
