Alabama Basketball Comes Up Short Against No. 4 Purdue in Canada

The Crimson Tide competed hard, but couldn't get it done against a top-5 team.

It looked for a while like they could pull it off, but 7-foot-4 behemoth Zach Edey proved to be too much for Alabama against No. 4 Purdue as the Boilermakers leave Toronto with a 92-86 win.

Alabama came out firing on all cylinders, knocking down 13 first-half threes and leading by as many as 12 points in the first half and nine points in the second half. The Crimson Tide did its best to contain the reigning National Player of the Year in Edey, but he dominated the game with 35 points and seven rebounds.

The Crimson Tide dealt with massive foul trouble all game, even having multiple big men with three first half fouls. The foul trouble affected the way Alabama was able to defend in the second half, and put them at a disadvantage.

Mark Sears was elite, leading Alabama with 35 points. He’s playing at an unbelievable level.

While a loss is never an outright good thing, you can’t help but be impressed with the way Alabama competed in the game. The Crimson Tide played with more effort than it has all season, and can take some nice lessons from this game moving forward into a second straight game against a top-10 team, this one on the road against No. 10 Creighton. 

Live Updates:

(most recent update at the top)

Second Half

• Sears gets a steal and a layup, cutting the lead to three with 20 seconds left.

• Wague hits an and-one to cut the lead to four with 1:20 to go.

• Mark Sears is willing Alabama into this game right now. He's on another level. 31 points and Alabama trails by 1.

• Alabama stormed back to take the lead, but Edey has answered with four of his own. Purdue leads by three at the under-4.

• Alabama is hanging around. Griffen hits a three to cut the deficit down to 3 points with 5 minutes to go.

• We've hit the under-8, and Purdue leads 73-66 with a Wague free throw coming after the break. Alabama isn't out of it, but it's going to take some big time shot making.

• Purdue has taken control with Alabama going cold beyond the arc. 17-3 run for the Boilers has led to a 70-63 lead.

• Alabama leads Purdue 60-59 at the under-12 timeout. The 3-ball is not falling near as much so far this half, but some looks have definitely been there.

• Alabama takes a timeout after a Purdue runout that cuts the lead down to three points. The score is 60-57 with 13 minutes to go.

• Pringle and Wague both up to four fouls at the under-16, but Alabama leads 58-49.

• Alabama opens the half on a 6-0 run and Purdue calls a timeout. 55-47 Crimson Tide lead. 

• Wague has picked up a fourth foul early in the half.

• Alabama scored the first bucket of the second half and leads 51-47. 

First Half

• HALFTIME: Alabama 49, Purdue 47
• What a half. 13 made threes for Alabama, but foul trouble is going to be a major issue in the second half. Regardless, you have to absolutely love how Alabama has fought, and the energy they've played with.

• Sears is up to 12 in the half after a tough and-one to put Alabama ahead by 5 at the under-4.

• Purdue has found some momentum with Edey inside, but Alabama maintains a 34-31 lead with four to go in the half.

• Nick Pringle picks up his third foul, and Alabama leads 31-23 at the under-8 timeout in the first half.

• Purdue needs a timeout. Alabama leads 30-18 after a Sears 3-ball.

• Edey subs out, and Alabama immediately starts attacking the basket every possession.

• Alabama leads 22-14 at the under-12 timeout. Going to the bench, the energy still hasn't dropped off.

• Sears hits a stepback three, and the Alabama lead is up to double-digits.

• Alabama leads Purdue 16-9 at the under-16 timeout. Energy is fantastic. 4-for-4 from beyond the arc. But Wague just picked up his second foul early.

• The leg doesn't seem to be bothering Nelson. He looks great on both ends.

• Alabama opens the game on an 8-0 run with two threes.

• Alabama's big men are incredibly active down low against Edey right now. 

• Alabama wins the tip over Edey and strikes first with an Estrada jumper. 

Pregame

• Alabama's starters against Purdue: Mark Sears, Aaron Estrada, Rylan Griffen, Grant Nelson, Mohamed Wague

• Nate Oats said Grant Nelson should be good to go "as long as there's no flare-ups." Nelson practiced yesterday for the first time this week after suffering a leg injury against Arkansas State. 

How To Watch:

What: Hall of Fame Toronto Series, hosted by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame

Who: Alabama vs. No.4 Purdue

Where: Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto.

When: 12:30 p.m., CT

TV: FOX (Jason Benetti, Robbie Hummel)

Of Note:

• Purdue and Alabama both earned No. 1 seeds in last year's NCAA Tournament and were ranked No. 1 for a combined nine weeks.

• The game is part of a doubleheader, as No. 24-ranked Clemson will face undefeated TCU in the second game.

• The Crimson Tide’s (6-2) matchup against the Boilermakers (8-1) is the first of three straight matchups where Alabama will face a top-10 opponent in No. 4 Purdue, at No. 10 Creighton and vs. No. 1 Arizona (Phoenix, Ariz.).

• The Boilermakers are wrapping up a nine-game stretch in which it played Xavier (4 seed in 2023 NCAAs), Gonzaga (ranked No. 11), Tennessee (ranked No. 7), Marquette (ranked No. 4), Texas Southern (2023 NCAA Tournament), Northwestern (2nd rd. in 2023 NCAA Tournament), Iowa (2023 NCAA Tournament), Alabama (1 seed in NCAA Tournament) and Arizona (currently ranked No. 1). Purdue is 6-1 in those games so far.