Alabama basketball hangs 100 on Florida State in thriller exhibition: Recap, highlights

BIRMINGHAM, AL. — Alabama basketball‘s first exhibition game of the 2025-26 season took fans for a ride of highs and lows.

In its first matchup since an Elite Eight loss to Duke, the Crimson Tide met Florida State at the Ballin’ in Boutwell showcase in Birmingham, walking away with a 109-105 victory.

At Boutwell Auditorium, Alabama brought a host of new faces, plus a few returning ones like guards Labaron Philon Jr., Aden Holloway, Houston Mallette, Latrell Wrightsell Jr. and center Aiden Sherrell.

Philon walked away as Alabama’s top scorer with 28 points and a team-high four assists. Rebounding was commanded by freshman Davion Hannah and Mallette, who had seven each. Mallette also won the first Hard Hat of the season for his “Blue Collar” efforts.

Here’s a recap of the game.

A DEEPER LOOK: Nate Oats talks grind to recruit 2026 class, how Alabama basketball compares to Top 25 teams, SEC

REQUIRED READING: Meet Alabama football tight end recruit who wouldn’t mind playing for Nate Oats, Tide basketball

Live score updates for Alabama basketball vs Florida StateCrimson Tide hangs on for 109-105 win

Despite Florida State threatening to take the game to overtime with a late foul, Houston Mallette helped keep Alabama ahead, 107-105, with a 1-for-2 trip to the line after drawing a foul in transition.

After a 30-second timeout for Alabama, Mallette found himself back at the free throw line, where he went 2-for-2 for a final score of 109-105.

Alabama hits 100-point mark in first showing of season

Aden Holloway struck again from the arc to take the scoreboard to 102-92, reestablishing Alabama’s first double-digit advantage since the first period.

Less than three minutes remain.

Philon goes back-to-back again for Alabama lead

Alabama took over the scoreboard with less than five minutes to go after back-to-back layups by Labaron Philon, who returned to Alabama after declaring for the NBA Draft in the spring.

The shots brought Philon’s point total for the night up to 22.

Aden Holloway back in ‘Biz’ness late

Holloway, also known as ‘Biz’ made a critical three after struggling from deep throughout the night.

His first make out of seven attempts shaved the deficit to one-point with 6:33 on the clock. Alabama was tied at 87 after Houston Mallette followed Holloway’s bucket with a trey of his own.

Alabama basketball still trailing with under-8 to go

Alabama hadn’t held a lead since 12:41 to the buzzer and Florida State remained in control with an 83-79 lead at under-8.

Then, the Seminoles were led by Chauncey Wiggins, who had 16 points, and 14 points each from Robert McCray and Lajae Jones.

Taylor Bol Bowen in foul trouble

At the under-15 mark, Bol Bowen was charged with his third foul, marking a daunting sight for Alabama’s front court, trailing 66-63. Then, Bol Bowen was one of three Tide players with a team-high three defensive rebounds and has been a key scorer.

Philon goes back-to-back to reclaim lead after half

Philon made his third three of the evening to make it a one-point deficit and swiped the lead back with a layup, making it 52-51 with a little over 18 minutes to go in the second period.

The man from Mobile was 4-for-7 with a team-high 14 points.

Alabama basketball trails FSU at halftime

A three-point jumper by FSU’s Kobe Magee saw the Seminoles go into halftime with a 48-47 lead.

Alabama was in a field goal drought for the last 3:53 of the first period, with its only points coming from Aden Holloway at the free throw line, which has been a weak spot for the Crimson Tide so far.

Alabama and FSU all tied up after Tide’s double-digit lead

With no field goals in the last 2:45 with a little over a minute to go, Alabama allowed FSU to creep back up after amassing an 11-point lead.

Alabama and FSU stood tied at 45.

Taylor Bol Bowen keeps Alabama ahead of former team

Hyped up after drawing a foul on a layup for a 34-25 lead with about six minutes to halftime, Bol Bowen gave a shout in the faces of his former Seminoles, who had been held scoreless for over four minutes.

He was second in scoring for the Crimson Tide with eight points behind nine for Philon.

Keitenn Bristow reclaims Alabama lead

At the under-10 minute mark, Keitenn Bristow tipped the ball into the net for a 27-25 lead. Philon set the Tarleton State transfer up with a long lob that initially had the crowd thinking he was going to take yet another shot from deep.

Houston Mallette settles score for Alabama

With 10:34 left in the first period, Mallette — making his return since a knee injury ended his 2024-25 run with the Crimson Tide — sank three to tie the scoreboard at 23.

Early turnovers put Tide in trouble early

Florida State has put together a 12-0 run in the last minute and 29 seconds as turnovers for a dangerously fast Alabama team mount for the Crimson Tide, which had seven so far.

Philon broke up the scoring drought with a trey to make it a 21-14 game.

Freshman scorers take lead for the Tide

Banking Alabama’s second corner three of the evening, freshman forward Amari Allen tied the scoreboard at 9-9 for Alabama before a media timeout with 15:46 to halftime.

Forward London Jemison proceeded to create an 11-9 lead with a layup.

Taylor Bol Bowen makes first Tide basket in Alabama debut

Facing his former team, forward Taylor Bol Bowen hit a corner three to see Alabama trail 6-4 with 17 minutes to go in the first period.

Labaron Philon scores first points for Alabama basketball

Philon drew a foul while driving to the net to get Alabama’s first opportunity to score. Less than two minutes in with FSU scoreless, he went 1-for-2.

Who made first starting five for Alabama basketball?

Labaron Philon, Aden Holloway, Houston Mallette, Taylor Bol Bowen and Aiden Sherrell made up Alabama’s first starting five of the season.

Will Noah Williamson appear vs FSU?

Noah Williamson, a senior transfer center from Bucknell, was not dressed out for pregame warmups ahead of Alabama’s faceoff against FSU.

What is Alabama basketball ranked in preseason polls?

Alabama basketball came 23rd in the first edition of KenPom rankings for the 2025-26 season.

The AP Poll ranked the Crimson Tide at No. 15 in the nation.

What is Alabama basketball’s record vs Florida State?

Alabama and Florida State their 16 meetings. The Crimson Tide last met the Seminoles in Tuscaloosa on Nov. 27, 2009, in a 60-51 loss.

Thursday marks the first time Nate Oats has faced Florida State during his tenure at Alabama, which began in 2019.

Alabama basketball schedule for 2025-26 season

Oct. 16: vs. Florida State − Ballin’ in Boutwell (Exhibition)

Oct. 26: at Furman (Exhibition)

Nov. 3: vs. North Dakota

Nov. 8: at St. John’s in Madison Square Garden

Nov. 13: vs. Purdue

Nov. 19: vs. Illinois at United Center (Chicago)

Nov. 24-27: Players Era Festival in Las Vegas, Nev.

Nov. 26-27: Championship round(s)

Dec. 3: vs. Clemson in SEC/ACC Challenge

Dec. 7: vs. UTSA

Dec. 13: vs. Arizona in C.M. Newton Classic

Dec. 17: vs. USF

Dec. 21: vs. Kennesaw State at Propst Arena in Huntsville

Dec. 29: vs. Yale

Jan. 3: vs. Kentucky

Jan. 6/7: at Vanderbilt

Jan. 10: vs. Texas

Jan. 13/14: at Mississippi State

Jan. 17: at Oklahoma

Jan. 24: vs. Tennessee

Jan. 27/28: vs. Missouri

Feb. 1: at Florida

Feb. 4: vs. Texas A&M

Feb. 7: at Auburn

Feb. 10/11: at Ole Miss

Feb. 14: vs. South Carolina

Feb. 17/18: vs. Arkansas

Feb. 21: at LSU

Feb. 24/25: vs. Mississippi State

Feb. 28: at Tennessee

March 3/4: at Georgia

March 7: vs. Auburn

Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Live score, updates for Alabama basketball vs Florida State exhibition

Alabama basketball hangs 100 on Florida State in thriller exhibition: Recap, highlights

Tags: