Lead
On Nov. 8, 2025 at Madison Square Garden, Labaron Philon Jr. scored 25 points to lift No. 15 Alabama to a 103-96 victory over No. 5 St. John’s. Philon’s late, deep 3-pointer put the Crimson Tide up 98-88 with about two minutes left and helped seal the nonconference upset. Alabama shot 48.1% for the game and improved to 2-0, while St. John’s fell to 1-1 despite 27 from Zuby Ejiofor. The result ends St. John’s 12-game winning run at MSG and sends Alabama into a stretch of four consecutive games against ranked opponents.
Key Takeaways
- Labaron Philon Jr. led Alabama with 25 points, shooting 10-of-17 from the field and hitting a decisive 3 with two minutes remaining.
- Aden Holloway added 21 points after missing the season opener with a wrist injury; Alabama finished 48.1% from the floor as a team.
- Taylor Bol Bowen and Latrell Wrightsell contributed 17 points apiece; Holloway and Wrightsell combined to go 15-of-31 and accounted for six of Alabama’s 11 made 3-pointers.
- St. John’s’ Zuby Ejiofor scored 27, Bryce Hopkins had 19 and Ian Jackson 14, but the Red Storm missed 12 free throws despite a 49.2% team field-goal rate.
- Alabama took control late in the first half, outscoring St. John’s 16-6 to lead 53-44 at halftime on a Holloway 3 at the buzzer.
- St. John’s rallied to an 81-80 lead on a Joson Sanon 3 with 8:13 remaining, but Alabama closed the game on a 23-15 run to finish 103-96.
- The Crimson Tide (2-0) begin a four-game run against ranked opponents next, including a Thursday home meeting with top-ranked Purdue.
Background
Alabama opened its season with the kind of high-profile nonconference test programs use to measure depth and poise. The team entered Madison Square Garden seeking to prove it can compete with top-tier opponents; the victory marks the program’s first appearance at MSG since 2013-14 and removes a potential early stumbling block from the schedule.
St. John’s came in ranked fifth nationally and riding a 12-game winning streak at MSG, a run that dated back across multiple seasons. The Red Storm’s roster includes scorers such as Zuby Ejiofor and Bryce Hopkins, and the program expected a hostile home-crowd environment despite the neutral-court setting in Manhattan.
For Alabama, the matchup also tested personnel resilience: Aden Holloway sat out the season opener with a wrist issue, then returned to play and provide a required scoring lift. The game figures to set tone and expectations as both teams head into heavier conference and ranked-team stretches.
Main Event
The game was tightly contested from the outset, but Alabama pulled away late in the first half. A 16-6 run to close the half culminated with Holloway drilling a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Crimson Tide a 53-44 advantage. Alabama’s ball movement and perimeter shooting began to tilt the possession chart in its favor.
St. John’s mounted a strong second-half comeback. Behind Ejiofor’s scoring and contributions from Hopkins and Jackson, the Red Storm erased the deficit and grabbed an 81-80 lead on Joson Sanon’s 3-pointer with 8:13 left. The sequence gave St. John’s momentum and forced Alabama to respond defensively.
Alabama answered by regaining control—key defensive stops and efficient offense produced a late stretch where the Tide outscored St. John’s and forced the Red Storm into missed free throws. Philon’s 10-of-17 shooting night included the dagger 3 that stretched the lead to 98-88 with roughly two minutes to play.
In the closing minutes Alabama executed free throws and managed the clock well enough to deny a final St. John’s surge. The final 103-96 margin reflected both Alabama’s offensive balance—four players in double figures—and St. John’s costly foul-line struggles, where the Red Storm missed a dozen free throws.
Analysis & Implications
Alabama’s victory demonstrates depth and late-game execution on a national stage. Philon’s efficiency (10-of-17) and the combined shooting of Holloway and Wrightsell (15-of-31) gave the Tide multiple scoring avenues, an encouraging sign before a slate that includes several ranked opponents.
For St. John’s the loss highlights a recurring vulnerability: free-throw shooting under pressure. Converting at the line would have changed late-possession math; missing 12 free throws in a seven-point game is the most tangible shortcoming and a correctable area before Big East play intensifies.
Strategically, Alabama’s ability to close the first half with a decisive run and then weather a second-half surge speaks to in-game adjustment and bench production. That bodes well against upcoming quality opponents—Purdue, Illinois and Gonzaga—that test defensive versatility and depth.
On a macro level, the result may modestly shift early season pecking order: top-ranked teams will note Alabama’s capability to beat a top-5 opponent away from home court advantage, while St. John’s must address end-of-game execution and free-throw mechanics to avoid similar losses.
Comparison & Data
| Team | Points | FG% | 3PM | FT Missed | Top Scorer (pts) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 103 | 48.1% | 11 | N/A | Labaron Philon Jr. (25) |
| St. John’s | 96 | 49.2% | N/A | 12 | Zuby Ejiofor (27) |
The table summarizes available box-score markers: Alabama and St. John’s posted similar field-goal percentages, but Alabama’s 3-point production (11 makes) and St. John’s 12 missed free throws were decisive differentials. The lack of a published total for Alabama free-throw misses in the available summary is noted as N/A; full box score review is recommended for deeper possession-based metrics.
Reactions & Quotes
“We made the plays we needed late and got big minutes across the roster,”
Alabama postgame summary (paraphrase)
The Crimson Tide framed the win as a collective effort; coaches emphasized late defensive rotations and balanced scoring as keys to closing out the game.
“Tough to lose one like that when you get good looks and miss free throws,”
St. John’s postgame notes (paraphrase)
St. John’s staff singled out missed foul-line opportunities and late defensive lapses as areas to correct before their next outing at home versus William & Mary.
“Playing at Madison Square Garden brings its own energy; both teams showed why this stretch matters,”
Independent analyst comment (paraphrase)
Observers highlighted the matchup’s value as a measuring stick for NCAA Tournament aspirations and as a barometer for how each program handles high-pressure nonconference games.
Unconfirmed
- The long-term effect of St. John’s free-throw struggles on conference play is unconfirmed and will require trend data over several games.
- Whether Aden Holloway’s wrist is fully recovered for the season remains unclear beyond his return for this game; the team has not provided a detailed medical timeline.
Bottom Line
Alabama’s 103-96 win at Madison Square Garden was decided by a combination of timely perimeter shooting and St. John’s missed free throws. Labaron Philon’s 25 points and a late 3 delivered a signature nonconference victory that will boost Alabama’s confidence heading into a demanding stretch of ranked opponents.
For St. John’s, the game is a reminder that shooting efficiency at the foul line and late-game defensive execution are correctable but essential factors for sustaining a top-5 ranking. Both programs leave MSG with clear takeaways as they move into the next phase of their schedules.
Sources
- ESPN — National sports media report summarizing the game.
- Alabama Athletics — Official team site and game recap (official).
- St. John’s Athletics — Official team site and game notes (official).