Labaron Philon Jr. produced another strong performance with 25 points, as No. 15 Alabama took control late in the first half and withstood a comeback attempt by No. 5 St. John’s in an impressive 103-96 victory in New York Saturday afternoon.

Philon made 10 of 17 shots and had help from two players returning from injury. Aden Holloway added 21 points on 9-of-18 shooting after sitting out the season opener with a wrist injury, and Latrell Wrightsell Jr. finished with 17 after also missing the season opener with a finger injury.

Zuby Ejiofor scored 20 of his 27 points in the first half, but the Red Storm (1-1) had a 12-game winning streak at Madison Square Garden stopped. St John’s went on a 17-6 run, and Joson Sanon’s corner three-pointer put the team ahead 81-80 with 8:13 left.

However,

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