Alabama basketball is looking for another milestone victory on Saturday with a visit from Creighton.
Coleman Coliseum is long overdue for a lid-tearing, as the Crimson Tide returns to play in its home arena for the first time in 33 days.
Operating against the odds in the 2024-25 season, Creighton (7-3) seeks to keep its momentum following an upset of Kansas, seeing the country’s former No. 1 team tumble to No. 10. Still unranked, the Bluejays will vie to climb into the polls by shocking No. 8 Alabama (7-2), but coach Nate Oats is looking to clinch UA’s first program win over Greg McDermott’s crew.
Alabama basketball vs Creighton score updates
Making the most of his debut, Chris Youngblood stole the ball from Creighton’s Jamiya Neal and put it into the hands of five-star freshman Derrion Reid, who drove down the court on the fast break for a dunk. Alabama leads 65-52 with 6:30 remaining.
Averaging 12.9 turnovers per game, finishing the first half with just four was a good sign for Alabama. However, UA has already mounted four more with a little over 10 minutes to the buzzer. Creighton scored six points on the losses of possession and trails 57-47.
With the assist from Clifford Omoruyi, Sears drained his second 3-pointer for the game to keep Alabama ahead of Creighton at 40-31 with 15:44 to halftime.
In last season’s loss to the Bluejays, Alabama didn’t forge its largest lead of the game − six points − until just a little over 14 minutes remained to the buzzer.
A pair of defensive rebounds and layups in the final seconds of the first half of action by Creighton center Ryan Kalkbrenner made it a single-digit game between the Crimson Tide and the Bluejays. Alabama leads 37-31 at halftime.
With less than four minutes to halftime, Alabama had been held scoreless for the last three and a half minutes, only clearing one of its last eight field goal attempts. Creighton creeps up, trailing 33-23.
Freshman stud Labaron Philon is impressing again with eight points, one rebound and a steal. He notched his first assist of the game on a pass that resulted in Mark Sears’ first trey of the game, plus a 27-10 lead for UA with less than nine minutes to halftime.
After entering the game with 15:37 to halftime, it took Youngblood just a couple minutes to drain his first three in the Crimson and White to see Creighton trail, 16-7.
Alabama leads 13-5 with less than 15 minutes to halftime and 10 of those points have been scored in the paint. Going behind the back for a layup, Mark Sears boosted UA’s lead to eight points.
Assisted by Mark Sears, the 6-foot-10, 240 pound freshman made a second-chance 3-pointer to give Alabama a 7-5 lead with 16:19 to halftime.
Almost instantly, Ryan Kalkbrenner introduced himself to Coleman Coliseum with a dunk to put Creighton on the board first, but SEC Preseason Player of the Year Mark Sears reminded the Bluejays center whose house it was with a jump-shot to tie the scoreboard at 2.
Starters for Alabama include guards Labaron Philon and Mark Sears, forwards Grant Nelson and Jarin Stevenson, along with Clifford Omoruyi at center.
Creighton’s starting five consists of guards Steven Ashworth and Jamiya Neal, forwards Mason Miller and Jackson McAndrew and center Ryan Kalkbrenner.
What time does Alabama basketball play Creighton today?
Date: Saturday, Dec. 14
Start time: 7:30 p.m. CT
For the first time in over a month, Alabama will tip off at home in Coleman Coliseum at 7:30 p.m. CT.
What channel is Alabama basketball vs Creighton today?
TV channel: SEC Network
Alabama vs Creighton will be broadcast on the SEC Network.
Alabama basketball vs Creighton livestream options
The SEC Network event will be livestreamed via ESPN+ and Fubo.
Alabama basketball vs Creighton predictions
Creighton will have a tough go in its first trip to Tuscaloosa. Especially with new additions like centers Aiden Sherrell and Clifford Omoruyi around to protect the rim this year.
Although the Bluejays return Ryan Kalkbrenner, who sealed last season’s victory over UA, the roster is down a few heads. Fedor Zugic has yet to play with questions of eligibility. Last week, Creighton lost its second leading scorer in Pop Isaacs. On Thursday, two freshmen Larry Johnson and Sterling Knox were reported to “no longer” be members of the team by basketball analyst Jeff Goodman.
With senior guard Chris Youngblood cleared to make his debut for UA, Creighton will have another problem on both sides of the ball as it seeks to stretch its series record to 4-0.
Alabama basketball vs Creighton injury update
Youngblood comes off the bench on a minutes restriction after sitting out the season so far recovering from ankle surgery. UA senior guard Latrell Wrightsell Jr. (Achilles tendon) remains out for the year.
After dropping 27 points to upset then-No. 1 Kansas last Wednesday, Creighton’s Isaacs will sit the rest of the season out after surgery for a lingering hip injury.
Alabama basketball vs Creighton betting odds
Alabama is an 11.5-point favorite over Creighton, according to BetMGM.
- Spread: Alabama (-11.5)
- Moneyline: Alabama (-700) | Creighton (+500)
- Over/under: 163.5 points
Alabama basketball in the headlines
Here are the latest headlines surrounding the Crimson Tide after its statement win at UNC in the SEC/ACC Challenge last Wednesday:
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.
