Alabama vs. Illinois: Live updates, score, highlights
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – No. 8 Alabama (3-1) will face No. 25 Illinois (3-0) tonight in its fifth game of the 2024-25 season. Part of the CM Newton Classic, the Crimson Tide and Illini will play in Legacy Arena at 8 p.m. The non-conference matchup will air on the SEC Network.
Alabama will look to bounce back after suffering its first loss of the season at Purdue last Friday, but the schedule doesn’t let up. Last year’s Big Ten Tournament champion, Illinois is one of five basketball teams in the nation with five straight 20-win regular seasons. Over the last five years, Alabama’s 104 wins rank No. 9 nationally; Illinois ranks 14th with 99 wins.
Game links: WATCH | LISTEN | STATS
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Final: Alabama 100, Illinois 87
11/20/2024 10:07:05 PMThe Crimson Tide advances to 4-1 on the 2024-25 season.
Tide guards fuel quick 6-0 streak
11/20/2024 09:57:34 PMTwo Latrell Wrightsell free throws and layups from Labaron Philon and Aden Holloway lead to a quick 6-0 run for Alabama — and a timeout for Illinois. On cue, “Basket Case” is playing at Legacy Arena.
Alabama 92, Illinois 78 (2:19, 2H)
UA up single digits after at final break
11/20/2024 09:49:33 PMIllinois won’t go away and is four for its last four from the field at the under-4 media timeout. Alabama had built its lead back up to 17 points, but the Illini have clawed back and trail by single digits.
Alabama 86, Illinois 77 (3:52, 2H)
Alabama answers run by the Illini
11/20/2024 09:39:22 PMThe Crimson Tide rights the ship and goes on a 7-0 run over the last 2:10. Meanwhile, Illinois hasn’t scored in nearly three minutes (2:42) at the under-8 media timeout. Derrion Reid fueled that Alabama run with five of the Tide’s seven points during the current streak.
Alabama 80, Illinois 65 (7:29, 2H)
Oats calls a timeout after an Illini run
11/20/2024 09:26:56 PMIllinois went on an 8-0 run over the last 1:30, leading Nate Oats to call a timeout. Before speaking to his guys on the bench, Oats walked out to have a word with the officials after a no-call on a Labaron Philon drive to the basket.
Alabama 71, Illinois 62 (11:27, 2H)
Illinois leads… on the glass
11/20/2024 09:17:35 PMIllinois opened the second half by out-rebounding Alabama, 8-4, and has a 30-22 overall edge on the glass thus far. All-American Mark Sears is also still scoreless (0-5). And the Crimson Tide still holds a double-digit lead on the scoreboard, because others are getting it done.
Grant Nelson, Aden Holloway and Labaron Philon are all in double figures, and Aiden Sherrell is giving Alabama good minutes off the bench with Cliff Omoruyi (4 fouls) in foul trouble.
Alabama 63, Illinois 50 (15:06, 2H)
Halftime: Alabama 52, Illinois 38
11/20/2024 08:51:23 PMGrant Nelson leads all scorers with 19 points. Mark Sears has zero. Alabama leads by 14.
Alabama still on top despite missed 3s
11/20/2024 08:43:25 PMAfter starting 5-6 from 3-point range, the Crimson Tide is 1-14 since, with an Aden Holloway triple being the outlier. However, Alabama still leads Illinois by 15 points at the under-4 media timeout.
Alabama 44, Illinois 29 (2:39, 1H)
A 13-0 UA run leads to an Illini timeout
11/20/2024 08:29:25 PMAlabama has made five of its last six shots to extend its current run to 13-0 over the last 3:38. The Tide’s lead has ballooned to 17 points, forcing Illinois coach Brad Underwood to burn a timeout.
Alabama 36, Illinois 19 (8:32, 1H)
Tide leads by 10 at the under-12
11/20/2024 08:23:33 PMBefore the game’s media timeout, Alabama was on a 6-0 run over the last 1:52. It was punctuated by a Jarin Stevenson dunk. Up to this point, the Crimson Tide is shooting 60 percent from the field (12-20) and its getting stops on the defensive end to lead by double digits.
Alabama 29, Illinois 19 (10:18, 1H)
Unreal start from 3-point range
11/20/2024 08:12:55 PMAlabama made six field goals before the under-16 timeout, and five of them were 3-pointers. The Tide made five of its first six long-range shots, and Grant Nelson was responsible for three straight (3-4) and leads all scorers with nine points at the first under-16 media timeout.
Alabama 17, Illinois 11 (15:45, 1H)
Alabama’s starting five vs. Illinois
11/20/2024 07:49:13 PMNate Oats is going with a little different lineup for Game 5. After going big against Purdue, Labaron Philon is back in the starting five, while Jarin Stevenson will now come off the bench. Philon scored a team-high 18 points in the loss at Purdue.
Mark Sears, Labaron Philon, Latrell Wrightsell, Grant Nelson and Cliff Omoruyi
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