TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – No. 5 Alabama advanced to the semifinals of the SEC Tournament with a 99-70 win over No. 15 Kentucky.

It was a second half runaway from the Crimson Tide Friday night as Alabama outscored Kentucky by 20 points after halftime. Alabama went into halftime as it took a seven-point lead and did not look back. 

“These guys played great,” Alabama head coach Nate Oats said. “It’s the best games Jarin’s [Stevenson] played all year. So, I think he’s peeking at the right time and Labaron is peaking at the right time.”

A big reason for the separation after halftime was both the offense and the defense. Alabama shot 56% in the second half, including hitting nine of its 16 3-pointer attempts. Defensively, the Crimson Tide held Kentucky to 36% shooting and only allowed two threes in the second half.

Alabama guard Labaron Philon led the way in scoring for Alabama. The freshman finished with 21 points on 8-for-14 shooting and added four assists and three rebounds. Philon attacked the basket all night as he made six trips to the free throw line. 

“It’s going to help us in the long run. I can get the guys going on defense and I just get into that mentality to go out and take it all in and be locked in defensively,” Philon said.

Five Crimson Tide players scored in double-figures in the game, including Alabama forward Jarin Stevenson, who shot 6-for-8 in the game and 3-for-5 from beyond the arc. Guards Mark Sears and Aden Holloway and forward Mouhamed Dioubate each scored 13 points apiece. As a team, the Crimson Tide shot 51% for the game and 11-for-29 from 3-point range. The Crimson Tide missed its first nine attempts from deep, but finished 11 for its last 20. 

Stevenson talked about how crucial it was for Alabama to play well defensively and to take care of the ball.

 “Yeah it was a big key was taking care of the ball, being aggressive and going out making plays and running in transition,” Stevenson said.

The turnover category was a big story. Alabama won the turnover battle as it committed just 10 turnovers compared to the 16 it forced. But it was not just how many turnovers the Alabama defense came up with, it was also its ability to capitalize. Alabama almost single-handedly won the game in points off of turnovers as it outscored the WIldcats 29-6 in points off turnovers,

“I thought our ball pressure caused them some problems. Our plan was to try to keep out of transition, get them off the 3-point line and pressure the ball,” Oats said.

The depth of Alabama showed up in a big way. The Crimson Tide outscored Kentucky 44-9 in bench points. Kentucky was missing their star guard Lamont Butler, who aggravated his left shoulder in the Wildcats’ second round game against Oklahoma. 

Rebounding-wise, Alabama also had the edge. The Crimson Tide outrebounded the WIldcats 41-34, with offensive rebounds being dead even at seven. Dioubate led the team with eight rebounds in the game and forward Aidan Sherrell was right behind him with seven rebounds. 

With the win, Alabama becomes just the third team ever and the first since the 1978-1979 Tennessee Volunteers to beat Kentucky three times in one season.

Up next, Alabama will move onto the semifinal round against No. 2 seed Florida. The two met just 10 days ago in Tuscaloosa as the Gators came away with a 99-94 win on Alabama’s senior day. The rematch between Alabama and Florida is set to tip off at 2:30 CT, following the game between No. 1 seed Auburn and No. 4 seed Tennessee.