Alabama Basketball Drops Second Straight Game, Loses at Florida

The Crimson Tide has lost three of four games with one game left to go in the regular season before tournament play begins.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The struggles continue for Alabama basketball, as it loses a second consecutive game and falls on the road to Florida by a final score of 105-87.

In the first half, Alabama showed some of the best defensive intensity it’s had all season, carrying over from the Tennessee game on Saturday. The Crimson Tide stymied the Gators for the first 15 minutes of the game, but the issue was surprisingly, once again the offense.

The Alabama offense, which has been the most electric unit in the country all season, couldn’t buy a 3-pointer for the entire half. It hit its first 3-pointer of the game with just 1:30 to go in the first half.

During that time, Florida eventually found its offense, hitting nine of its last 11 shots of the first half, resulting in a 9-point Gator lead at the break.

The second half looked a lot like the second halves of many of Alabama’s road games this year. The shots couldn’t find a way to fall, and slowly but surely the lead got out of hand. Before Alabama knew it the lead was 13, then 17, then 20, and by then there was no hope of coming back.

Leading the way for Alabama in scoring was once again Mark Sears, who scored an impressive 33 points on 50 percent shooting. By the end of the game, Alabama still couldn’t find it’s 3-point stroke, finishing the game 5-of-23. That makes two consecutive games where Alabama’s struggled mightily from deep.

The Crimson Tide has now lost three of its last four games and has been all but eliminated from a chance at a split SEC title. Alabama has just one game remaining in the regular season, Saturday’s home game against Arkansas. After that, it’s tournament time, starting with the SEC Tournament and Nashville and then wherever it gets seeded in the NCAA Tournament.

Tipoff for Saturday’s game against Arkansas is set for 11 a.m. CT and will be broadcast on ESPN.

How it Happened:

(most recent update at the top)

2nd Half

• 2:16 - Sam Walters becomes the second Alabama player to foul out, with Florida leading by 19.
• 4:15 - Rylan Griffen is helped to the locker room after injuring his leg. After no foul was called on the play where he was injured, Nate Oats was assessed a technical foul.
• 4:49 - Mark Sears has scored over 20 points in the second half, and is up to 26 in the game. Alabama has cut into the lead slightly, but still trails by 15.
• 7:19 - Alabama had the deficit down to 16, but a small Florida run has pushed it right back to 21, with two free throws coming after the break. The floodgates appear to have opened, and it isn't slowing down. Very similar to a lot of other Alabama road games this season.
• 9:46 - It feels like all Florida in this one. The Gators are getting runouts and hitting open shots, and the fans in the building are rocking. Florida currently leads 74-53.
• 13:17 - The momentum has completely swung towards Florida, who has built the lead up to 15 now as the O'Connell Center crowd has gotten into it. Nelson has been called for back to back fouls and is up to 3.
• 15:49 - Florida leads Alabama 57-44 at the under-16. Alabama being outscored 13-9 since the start of the second half. Florida has made 4 of its last 5 attempts from the field, and is finding success going inside to Tyrese Samuel.
• 17:33 - Alabama is once again finding success in the lane to start the half, but now isn't being able to get stops on the defensive end. Florida leads, 53-41.

1st Half

• HALF: Florida 44, Alabama 35 
• A really solid defensive half for Alabama went down the drain in the last five minutes, with the Gators hitting 9 of their last 11 field goals. Alabama still struggling to shoot it for the second straight half, currently 1-for-10 for the game.
• 4:46 - Florida gets a runout dunk off a long rebound, and has extended the lead out to 6. Alabama is currently 0-of-9 from three, and just 38% from the floor, but is still in the game thanks to its defense.
• 7:33 - At the under-8, Florida leads Alabama 21-19. Alabama was on a 7-0 run before a stepback iso 3 from the Gators. The Crimson Tide is guarding extremely well still, holding Florida to 35% from the floor.
• 11:49 - Florida leads Alabama 13-12 at the under-12. Both teams struggling to get anything going from three, a combined 0-for-9. But Alabama is finding success with kickout drives and is outrebounding Florida by 6 currently.
• 14:19 - Florida leads Alabama 7-6 at the first media timeout. Honestly very solid defense in the halfcourt from Alabama so far, but four turnovers and an 0-4 start from three has given a terrible start offensively.
• 18:59 - Florida scores the first points of the game at the free throw line. Alabama looks solid defensively, but has given up two early offensive boards. Gators lead 1-0. 

Pregame

• Alabama's starters: Mark Sears, Aaron Estrada, Rylan Griffen, Jarin Stevenson, Grant Nelson.
• Per the Crimson Tide Sports Network pregame show, Latrell Wrightsell will play tonight.
• The game's officials are Doug Shows, Don Daily, and Byron Jarrett.
• Wrightsell is fully dressed and going through warmups.

Alabama guard Latrell Wrightsell is dressed out and getting shots up in warmups.

He’s missed the past four games with a head injury. pic.twitter.com/1y9vl4Uexj

— Blake Byler (@blakebyler45) March 5, 2024

• Alabama has arrived at the O'Connell Center, with a few players taking the floor to shoot around now 90 minutes out from tipoff. 
• One of the biggest storylines entering the game is the status of Alabama guard Latrell Wrightsell, who has missed the past four games with a head injury. A clip from the team's gameday shootaround in Gainesville showed that Wrightsell made the trip and has practiced with the team.

Morning work at The Swamp.#RollTide | #BlueCollarBasketball pic.twitter.com/E7WQhrJbM1

— Alabama Men’s Basketball (@AlabamaMBB) March 5, 2024

How to Watch: No. 16 Alabama at Florida

Who: No. 16 Alabama (20-9, 12-4 SEC) at Florida (20-9, 10-6 SEC)

When: Tuesday, March 5, 6 p.m. CT

Where: Stephen C. O'Connell Center, Gainesville, Fla.

TV: ESPN

Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network (Play-By-Play: Chris Stewart, Analyst: Bryan Passink). The pregame show will begin one hour prior to tipoff.