Live: Labaron Philon stats in Alabama basketball vs Texas Tech March Madness

BIRMINGHAM — Labaron Philon’s shot refused to fall, yet the sophomore guard still steered second-seeded Alabama to a 90-65 second-round victory over Texas Tech, ensuring the Crimson Tide’s continued march through the South Region.

Philon, who torched Hofstra for 29 points on Thursday, finished with a modest nine points on 2-for-12 shooting, including 2-for-8 from beyond the arc. The off-night from the field, however, did little to diminish his overall impact: he dished out a career-high 12 assists, corralled six rebounds and flirted with his second straight triple-double before finishing with four turnovers in 29 minutes.

The performance flipped the script on his traditional role. After averaging 20.4 points entering the weekend, Philon became the game’s primary playmaker, repeatedly collapsing the Red Raiders’ zone and finding open teammates for easy looks. His 12 assists tied the program’s NCAA Tournament record for a single game, set in 1991.

Alabama shot 54 percent from the floor, and Philon initiated much of the offense. He recorded five assists in the first 10 minutes as the Tide built an early double-digit cushion, then added seven more after halftime as the lead ballooned past 20. His lone first-half field goal came from deep, a right-wing triple that gave Alabama a 19-10 advantage. He added a second three midway through the second half to push the margin to 28.

Despite the shooting slump, Philon’s fingerprints were everywhere. He grabbed a team-high five rebounds in the opening period, finished with six overall, and his four turnovers were offset by the dozen assists that kept possessions alive. The guard entered the day fifth on Alabama’s single-season scoring list with 681 points; the nine-point output leaves him 16 shy of overtaking Mark Sears’ 2024-25 campaign and Brandon Miller’s 2022-23 tally for third place.

With the win, Alabama advances to the Sweet 16 for the third time in five years. Philon’s next opportunity to climb the record books — and rediscover his stroke — arrives next weekend.