Aden Holloway, hot start pushes Alabama past struggling South Carolina
By David Wasson
Published:
The Alabama men’s basketball team got 20 points from Aden Holloway and 19 each from Labaron Philon Jr. and reserve Latrell Wrightsell Jr. to defeat visiting South Carolina 89-75 on Saturday night in Tuscaloosa.
Alabama (18-7 overall, 8-4 SEC) jumped out to a 45-32 halftime lead and held on from there against the Gamecocks, who have dropped 6 straight decisions and have not won since Jan. 20.
Holloway finished 6-of-9 from the field with 4 3-pointers. Philon also made 4 treys and Wrightsell added 3 from beyond the arc as Alabama connected on 14 3s.
Meechie Johnson scored 24 of his game-high 26 points in the second half to lead South Carolina (11-14, 2-10). Kobe Knox dropped 21 points for the Gamecocks and Mike Sharavjamts added 14. South Carolina’s bench only contributed seven points against the Crimson Tide, and Alabama outrebounded the Gamecocks 43-29.
Johnson scored 11 straight points, capped by a 3 with 8:20 remaining, to cut Alabama’s lead to 63-56. But the Gamecocks would climb no closer, as Wrightsell would can a 3 with 7:39 to play to end the flurry.
South Carolina continues its road trip Tuesday, playing No. 14 Florida in Gainesville. Alabama plays host to No. 21 Arkansas on Wednesday night.
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
