Eric Boggs 
Alabama Basketball
In a clash of ranked teams, No. 8 Alabama rebounded from a tough road loss with an impressive 100-87 victory over No. 25 Illinois on Wednesday night at Legacy Arena in Birmingham. The Crimson Tide’s strong offensive performance secured a marquee non-conference win and built momentum for their upcoming matchup against No. 7 Houston.
Alabama (4-1) set the tone early, fueled by forward Grant Nelson’s red-hot first half. Nelson tallied 19 of his 23 points before the break, helping Alabama race to a 52-38 halftime lead. The Tide’s sharpshooting start—knocking down their first four three-point attempts—proved too much for Illinois (3-1) to handle.
Freshman guards Aden Holloway and Labaron Philon carried the offensive load in the second half, scoring 18 and 16 points, respectively. Philon also stuffed the stat sheet with nine assists and seven rebounds. Latrell Wrightsell Jr. chipped in another 16 points for the Crimson Tide.
Despite their resilience, Illinois struggled to close the gap. The Fighting Illini trimmed Alabama’s lead to single digits multiple times, including an 86-78 margin late in the second half. However, a series of missed opportunities and turnovers prevented them from completing the comeback.
Illinois’ Will Riley led his team with 18 points and nine rebounds, while Kylan Boswell added a season-high 17 points. Kasparas Jakucionis (15 points) and Tomislav Ivisic (14 points, 10 rebounds) also contributed, but the Illini’s 54.2% performance at the free-throw line (13-of-24) hurt their chances.
For Alabama, the game marked a stark contrast to their recent loss at Purdue. Their early 13-0 run, capped by Clifford Omoruyi’s layup, highlighted the Tide’s ability to capitalize on Illinois’ mistakes, including 11 missed shots during that stretch. The Tide also demonstrated efficiency at the charity stripe, converting 11-of-13 attempts (84.6%).
Key Takeaways
Illinois’ Challenges
The Illini faced their first major test of the season after opening with three double-digit victories. Head coach Brad Underwood emphasized the learning opportunity for his team, which features 10 newcomers and just one returning player from last season’s Elite Eight run.
“We got out of character at key moments,” Underwood said. “But championships aren’t won in November. This is about growth and building towards something bigger.”
Alabama’s Depth on Display
While preseason All-American Mark Sears had a rare scoreless night, the Tide’s depth shone through. Nelson’s versatility, Holloway’s poise, and Philon’s all-around game provided a balanced attack.
“We came out with energy and executed well,” said Alabama head coach Nate Oats. “It’s a good win, but there’s still room to improve.”
Up Next
Illinois will regroup against Maryland-Eastern Shore on Saturday, while Alabama prepares for a high-stakes showdown with No. 7 Houston in Las Vegas on Nov. 26.
Both teams will look to use this early-season test as a stepping stone. For Illinois, it was a chance to battle through adversity. For Alabama, it was a statement win on their home turf.
About The Author
