March 21, 2026, 5:07 a.m. ET

The Alabama Crimson Tide are moving on in the 2026 NCAA Tournament after dispatching Hofstra for a 90-70 win in the opening round of March Madness on Friday in Tampa.

Labaron Philon exploded for 21 points in the second half, and Aiden Sherrell had a double-double with 15 points and 15 rebounds. The Crimson Tide (24-9 overall) opened with a 7-0 run after halftime to grab its first double-digit lead of the game after London Jemison slammed home a dunk three and a half minutes in.

Hofstra cut the lead to five several times before Sherrell put Alabama ahead, 74-66, with 3:55 to play. After the final media timeout, Philon made a clutch 3-pointer. Latrell Wrightsell Jr. then sped down the floor through traffic for a layup and a 79-66 lead with 2:47 left. 

Alabama’s 20-point lead at the buzzer was its largest of the game. The Crimson Tide used a big game from Taylor Bol Bowen, who finished with 15 points off the bench in a clutch performance that included three 3-pointers. Wrightsell and Amari Allen both had 11 points apiece to give Alabama five scorers in double figures.

Philon had eight rebounds and seven assists to go with 29 points, his fifth consecutive game with 20 or more points. The Crimson Tide won their fourth straight NCAA Tournament opener.

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Alabama will face the fifth-seeded Texas Tech Raiders in the round of 32 on Sunday in Tampa. Texas Tech (23-10) defeated Akron, 91-71, in its tournament opener behind 24 points from Jaylen Petty. He was one of four players to finish with 14 points or more in the Red Raiders’ victory.

Alabama is ranked 18th in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll and AP Top 25 poll; Texas Tech is 19th.

What channel will Alabama vs. Texas Tech basketball be on?

Alabama-Texas Tech will broadcast nationally on TBS.

Alabama vs. Texas Tech start time for NCAA Tournament

Alabama-Texas Tech will tip off at 8:45 p.m. CT on Sunday.

TV announcers for Alabama basketball vs Texas Tech

Tom McCarthy, Candace Parker and Dan Bonner will call the action from Benchmark International Arena in Tampa. AJ Ross will report from the sidelines. It’s the same broadcast crew from both Alabama and Texas Tech’s first-round games in Tampa.

Alabama basketball vs. Texas Tech series history

Alabama and Texas Tech will meet for the ninth time in series history Sunday. The Crimson Tide lead the all-time series, 7-1. Alabama last faced the Red Raiders on Nov. 14, 2013, a 76-65 win at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa.

Here’s a look at head-to-head results of Alabama-Texas Tech men’s basketball over the year.

Nov. 14, 2013: Alabama 76, Texas Tech 65 (Tuscaloosa)Dec. 19, 2012: Alabama 66, Texas Tech 66 (Lubbock)Dec. 16, 1983: Alabama 76, Texas Tech 56 (Osaka, Japan)Dec. 4, 1982: Alabama 74, Texas Tech 53 (Tuscaloosa)Dec. 5, 1981: Alabama 95, Texas Tech 93 (Lubbock)Dec. 13, 1980: Alabama 66, Texas Tech 64 (Tuscaloosa)Dec. 14, 1963: Texas Tech 92, Alabama 74 (Lubbock)Dec. 15, 1962: Alabama 62, Texas Tech 57 (Tuscaloosa)Alabama basketball 2026 schedule, results

Here’s a game by game look at Alabama’s 2025-26 men’s basketball schedule.

Nov. 3: vs. North Dakota (W, 91-62)Nov. 8: at St. John’s (W, 103-96)Nov. 13: vs. Purdue (L, 87-80)Nov. 19: vs. Illinois (W, 90-86)Nov. 24: vs. Gonzaga (L, 95-85)Nov. 25: vs. UNLV (W, 115-76)Nov. 26: vs. Maryland (W, 105-72)Dec. 3: vs. Clemson (W, 90-84)Dec. 7: vs. UTSA (W, 97-55)Dec. 13: vs. Arizona (L, 96-75)Dec. 17: vs. South Florida (W, 104-93)Dec. 21: vs. Kennesaw State (W, 92-81)Dec. 29: vs. Yale (W, 102-78)Jan. 3: vs. Kentucky (W, 89-74)Jan. 7: at Vanderbilt (L, 96-90)Jan. 10: vs. Texas (L, 92-88)Jan. 13: at Mississippi State (W, 97-82)Jan. 17: at Oklahoma (W, 83-81)Jan. 24: vs. Tennessee (L, 79-73)Jan. 27: vs. Missouri (W, 90-64)Feb. 1: at Florida (L, 100-77)Feb. 4: vs. Texas A&M (W, 100-97)Feb. 7: at Auburn (W, 96-92)Feb. 11: at Ole Miss (W, 93-74)Feb. 14: vs. South Carolina (W, 89-75)Feb. 18: vs. Arkansas (W, 117-115, 2OT)Feb. 21: at LSU (W, 90-83)Feb. 25: vs. Mississippi State (W, 100-75)Feb. 28: at Tennessee (W, 71-69)March 3: at Georgia (L, 98-88)March 7: vs. Auburn (W, 96-84)

SEC Tournament

March 13: vs. Ole Miss (L, 80-79)

NCAA Tournament

March 20: vs. Hofstra (W, 90-70)March 22: vs. Texas Tech, 8:45 p.m., TBS

Record: 24-9.

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