Kentucky vs Alabama basketball: Epic score fest, highlights, and box score recap

First Half

The Kentucky Wildcats and Alabama Crimson Tide are locked in a high-paced battle, with Alabama holding a slim 47-45 lead at halftime. The game has been an electric back-and-forth affair, featuring surges from both teams and standout individual performances.

After a Jaxson Robinson corner three gave Kentucky an early 7-2 lead, Alabama answered with an 11-0 run, stunning the Rupp Arena crowd. The Wildcats settled down and responded with a 10-2 run, highlighted by a Brandon Garrison three, to take a brief lead. The first half continued at a breakneck pace, with both teams exchanging blows in a chaotic stretch.

Grant Nelson has been the star of the half, pouring in 19 points to lead Alabama. His ability to score inside and from deep has been a constant thorn in Kentucky’s side. Meanwhile, Amari Williams has been active for the Wildcats, though he forced a few shots early and struggled at the free-throw line, going 2-for-5.

Key First-Half Team Stats

Both teams played with remarkable speed and intensity, but Alabama capitalized on their three-point shooting and ball movement, while Kentucky leaned on strong rebounding and a balanced offensive attack:

Team Stats

Field Goals: Alabama 16-39 (41.0%), Kentucky 15-35 (42.9%)
Three-Point FG: Alabama 6-19 (31.6%), Kentucky 5-11 (45.5%)
Free Throws: Alabama 9-10 (90.0%), Kentucky 10-13 (76.9%)
Rebounds: Alabama 22, Kentucky 23
Offensive Rebounds: Alabama 10, Kentucky 9
Defensive Rebounds: Alabama 12, Kentucky 14
Assists: Alabama 12, Kentucky 8
Turnovers: Both teams, 4

Individual standouts

Alabama Crimson Tide

Grant Nelson (#4): 19 points, 6-10 FG, 2-5 3PT, 5-5 FT, 4 rebounds, 2 assists
Clifford Omoruyi (#11): 8 points, 3-4 FG, 5 rebounds
Mark Sears (#1): 8 points, 2-6 3PT, 4 assists

Kentucky Wildcats

Amari Williams (#22): 8 points, 3-8 FG, 6 rebounds, 1 block
Otega Oweh (#00): 8 points, 3-7 FG, 4 rebounds, 2 assists
Brandon Garrison (#10): 7 points, 3-4 FG, 1-2 3PT

Halftime recap

Kentucky has done well to limit turnovers and control the glass, but they’ll need to contain Grant Nelson in the second half. Defensively, the Wildcats may look to tighten up their perimeter defense after allowing six threes in the opening half. Offensively, Amari Williams needs to play within himself and convert more consistently at the line, while players like Lamont Butler and Jaxson Robinson need to step up on the offensive end.

The stage is set for a thrilling second half at Rupp Arena.

Second half

Kentucky started the second half strong, taking a 52-49 lead off an Otega Oweh slam following a steal and assist from Andrew Carr. However, foul trouble for Carr—who picked up his fourth early in the half—shifted momentum in Alabama’s favor. The Tide went on a 14-4 run, fueled by Nelson’s relentless drives and Mark Sears’ sharp shooting, to take a 66-60 lead with 12 minutes remaining.

The Wildcats clawed back multiple times, with a Brandon Garrison jam and a Jaxson Robinson three tying the game at 81 with just under five minutes to play. But costly mistakes, including a missed corner three from Ansley Almonor and a turnover by Lamont Butler, allowed Alabama to close on a 9-0 run and secure the victory. 102-97.

Key Second-Half Stats

• Fouls: Kentucky committed seven fouls in the first six minutes of the second half, putting Alabama in the bonus early and giving the Tide easy scoring opportunities.
• Turnovers: Kentucky's struggles with ball control in key moments allowed Alabama to capitalize, with Mark Sears finishing the game with eight assists.
• Shooting: Alabama hit back-to-back threes late, creating a gap Kentucky couldn’t bridge.

Final Team Stats

Alabama Crimson Tide | Kentucky Wildcats
FG: 30-67 | 35-73
Field Goal %: 44.8 | 47.9
3PT: 13-34 | 11-27
Three Point %: 38.2 | 40.7
FT: 29-34 | 16-20
Free Throw %: 85.3 | 80.0
Rebounds: 42 | 38
Offensive Rebounds: 15 | 13
Defensive Rebounds: 27 | 25
Assists: 20 | 20
Steals: 3 | 6
Blocks: 3 | 8
Total Turnovers: 10 | 8
Points Off Turnovers: 12 | 11
Fast Break Points: 16 | 22
Points in Paint: 34 | 44
Fouls: 21 | 25
Largest Lead: 9 | 6

Full Box Score

Alabama Crimson Tide

Starters:

• Jarin Stevenson #15: FG: 1-4 | 3PT: 0-2 | FT: 0-0 | OREB: 1 | DREB: 2 | REB: 3 | AST: 0 | STL: 1 | BLK: 1 | TO: 0 | PF: 1 | PTS: 2
• Grant Nelson #4:| FG: 7-13 | 3PT: 2-7 | FT: 9-10 | OREB: 2 | DREB: 9 | REB: 11 | AST: 2 | STL: 0 | BLK: 0 | TO: 4 | PF: 4 | PTS: 25
• Clifford Omoruyi #11:| FG: 5-7 | 3PT: 0-0 | FT: 2-2 | OREB: 2 | DREB: 5 | REB: 7 | AST: 0 | STL: 0 | BLK: 2 | TO: 0 | PF: 2 | PTS: 12
• Labaron Philon #0:| FG: 4-10 | 3PT: 3-5 | FT: 4-4 | OREB: 3 | DREB: 1 | REB: 4 | AST: 4 | STL: 1 | BLK: 0 | TO: 2 | PF: 1 | PTS: 15
• Mark Sears #1: FG: 6-17 | 3PT: 4-12 | FT: 8-9 | OREB: 1 | DREB: 0 | REB: 1 | AST: 9 | STL: 0 | BLK: 0 | TO: 1 | PF: 2 | PTS: 24

Bench:

• Mouhamed Dioubate #10:| FG: 2-5 | 3PT: 0-1 | FT: 4-7 | OREB: 1 | DREB: 7 | REB: 8 | AST: 3 | STL: 1 | BLK: 0 | TO: 0 | PF: 5 | PTS: 8
• Chris Youngblood #8:| FG: 3-4 | 3PT: 2-3 | FT: 2-2 | OREB: 0 | DREB: 1 | REB: 1 | AST: 0 | STL: 0 | BLK: 0 | TO: 1 | PF: 2 | PTS: 10
• Aden Holloway #2: | FG: 2-7 | 3PT: 2-4 | FT: 0-0 | OREB: 1 | DREB: 0 | REB: 1 | AST: 2 | STL: 0 | BLK: 0 | TO: 1 | PF: 4 | PTS: 6

Kentucky Wildcats

Starters:

• Andrew Carr #7: FG: 1-4 | 3PT: 0-1 | FT: 2-2 | OREB: 0 | DREB: 1 | REB: 1 | AST: 1 | STL: 1 | BLK: 0 | TO: 0 | PF: 4 | PTS: 4
• Amari Williams #22: | FG: 5-11 | 3PT: 0-0 | FT: 3-6 | OREB: 5 | DREB: 6 | REB: 11 | AST: 1 | STL: 1 | BLK: 2 | TO: 4 | PF: 5 | PTS: 13
• Otega Oweh #00: | FG: 8-14 | 3PT: 1-2 | FT: 4-5 | OREB: 1 | DREB: 5 | REB: 6 | AST: 3 | STL: 2 | BLK: 1 | TO: 0 | PF: 5 | PTS: 21
• Jaxson Robinson #2: | FG: 4-10 | 3PT: 3-7 | FT: 0-0 | OREB: 1 | DREB: 0 | REB: 1 | AST: 0 | STL: 0 | BLK: 0 | TO: 1 | PF: 4 | PTS: 11
• Lamont Butler #1: | FG: 6-14 | 3PT: 2-5 | FT: 3-3 | OREB: 1 | DREB: 3 | REB: 4 | AST: 8 | STL: 1 | BLK: 2 | TO: 1 | PF: 2 | PTS: 17

Bench:

• Ansley Almonor #15: | FG: 2-4 | 3PT: 2-4 | FT: 4-4 | OREB: 1 | DREB: 2 | REB: 3 | AST: 0 | STL: 0 | BLK: 0 | TO: 0 | PF: 4 | PTS: 10
• Brandon Garrison #10: | FG: 5-7 | 3PT: 1-3 | FT: 0-0 | OREB: 2 | DREB: 4 | REB: 6 | AST: 5 | STL: 0 | BLK: 0 | TO: 0 | PF: 0 | PTS: 11
• Travis Perry #11: FG: 0-2 | 3PT: 0-2 | FT: 0-0 | OREB: 0 |

Kentucky will look to rebound after a week off against Vandy.