Freshman Brayden Burries scored a career-high 28 points on Saturday, helping No. 1 Arizona stay unbeaten in a 96-75 victory over No. 12 Alabama in Birmingham, Ala.
Burries hit five 3-pointers and added seven rebounds for the Wildcats (9-0), who outscored Alabama 57-34 in the second half in their fifth ranked win of the season. Motiejus Krivas totaled 14 points and 14 rebounds, while Jaden Bradley had 13 points, seven assists and five rebounds.
Anthony Dell’Orso scored 13 points off the bench and Ivan Kharchenkov added 10 points and five steals for the Wildcats. Tobe Awaka led all players with 15 rebounds in the win.
Labaron Philon Jr. tallied 24 points, 10 rebounds and five assists to lead Alabama (7-3), which had its four-game winning streak snapped. Latrell Wrightsell scored 21 points for the Crimson Tide, who were outrebounded 52-32.
After trailing by two at halftime, Arizona began the second half on a 14-4 spurt, stamped with Krivas’ dunk to give the Wildcats a 53-45 lead with 15:29 remaining.
Following Awaka’s flagrant foul with 14:01 left, Burries’ seven straight points punctuated Arizona’s 11-0 run, extending the Wildcats’ lead to 18 at the 11:22 mark.
Burries later hit 3-pointers on back-to-back Arizona possessions, pushing the lead to 21.
Kharchenkov’s jumper and Berries’ layup gave the Wildcats an 89-66 lead with 3:43 left, sealing an impressive Arizona second half.
Philon’s free throws gave Alabama an early 10-8 lead, before Burries scored nine of Arizona’s 11-2 spurt, giving the Wildcats a 19-12 edge.
After Bradley’s jumper put Arizona ahead by three, Wrightsell’s two jumpers and Philon’s trey gave Alabama a 26-22 lead midway through the first half.
Wrightsell’s 3-pointer gave the Crimson Tide a seven-point lead with 7:01 left, but Alabama was held scoreless until Aiden Sherrell’s dunk tied the game at 39 with 1:07 remaining.
Philon then drilled a mid-range jumper to give Alabama a 41-39 halftime advantage. Philon’s 14 first-half points led all scorers, while Bradley’s 11 paced the Wildcats.
