No. 5 Florida spoils No. 7 Alabama’s Senior Night time, positive aspects leg up in race for NCAA event’s ultimate No. 1 seed

Mar 5, 2025; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Florida Gators guard Walter Clayton Jr. (1) drives the ball in opposition to Alabama Purple Tide guard Labaron Philon (0) all through the primary 1/2 at Coleman Coliseum. Obligatory Credit score: Will McLelland-Imagn ImagesIn a sport with vital NCAA event implications, No. 5 Florida pulled away Wednesday evening for a 99-94 highway win over seventh-ranked Alabama.The win spoiled Alabama’s Senior Night time in Mark Sears’ ultimate house sport and gave Florida a leg up over the Purple Tide within the race for the general No. 1 seed within the NCAA event.Alabama confronted and battled again from a couple of deficits all over the sport. Florida opened a 15-8 lead that Alabama replied with a 9-0 run. The Gators retook the lead at 36-31 that Alabama replied once more with a 9-0 run.However Alabama had no reaction to Florida’s ultimate surge. The Gators grew to become a 50-47 second-half deficit right into a 75-63 lead with 7:41 last that Alabama could not conquer.Sears and Florida’s Walter Clayton Jr. went toe-to-toe in a exhibit of All-SEC guards. However Florida’s awesome rebounding and half-court execution restricted Alabama’s typically potent transition offense. Florida ruled the glass on all sides of the courtroom to again and again create its personal transition alternatives and second-chance issues.Alabama stopped Florida from operating away with the sport and minimize its deficit to 94-90 with 20.5 seconds last. But it surely by no means minimize Florida’s result in one ownership.Who will safe NCAA event’s ultimate No. 1 seed?The primary 3 No. 1 seeds within the NCAA event are digital locks. They will nearly unquestionably move to Duke, Auburn and Houston. The fourth No. 1 seed is up for grabs with a handful of SEC groups and Michigan State some of the contenders.Florida and Alabama each entered Wednesday’s sport in rivalry. However Alabama’s loss to Florida was once a moment instantly to a fellow contender after No. 4 Tennessee beat the Purple Tide on Saturday. Alabama misplaced vital floor whilst Tennessee and Florida are very a lot nonetheless alive for a most sensible seed.