Did we just witness the game of the year in college basketball?
On Wednesday night, the Alabama Crimson Tide and Arkansas Razorbacks collided inside Coleman Coliseum, and what ensued between two of the SEC’s top teams was nothing short of an instant classic.
In the first half, Arkansas jumped out to an early lead, and led by strong offensive play from the duo of Darius Acuff Jr. and Meleek Thomas, eventually carried a 57-47 lead into halftime. The Crimson Tide came storming back in the second half with some truly phenomenal second half offensive play, and eventually had a chance to win late before the aforementioned Acuff sent the game to overtime with a made three at the end of regulation.
Both teams continued the back-and-forth action following regulation as well, and following two overtimes, Alabama was able to come away with a massive 117-115 home win after Arkansas missed a dunk at the buzzer which would have forced a third.
For Alabama, Labaron Philon Jr. led the Crimson Tide with 35 points and seven assists, while Aiden Sherrell posted one of his top stat lines since arriving in Tuscaloosa, finishing with a double-double at 26 points and 13 rebounds on 10-of-13 shooting. Amari Allen also posted a double-double for Alabama with 19 points and 11 rebounds.
Arkansas was led by the aforementioned Acuff, who finished with a game-high 49 points on 6-of-10 shooting from three. Thomas and Billy Richmond III also finished with 24 and 20 points, respectively.
Here is a look at how social media reacted following Alabama’s massive win over the Razorbacks on Wednesday night.
INSTANT CLASSIC. #RollTide | #BlueCollarBasketballpic.twitter.com/BigS0hhvRS
— Alabama Men’s Basketball (@AlabamaMBB) February 19, 2026
Fire up the smoker 🔥#RollTide | @AlabamaMBBpic.twitter.com/bVIxXZ5MBP
— Alabama Athletics (@UA_Athletics) February 19, 2026
DOUBLE OT THRILLER IN TUSCALOOSA 🤯
ALABAMA WINS‼️ pic.twitter.com/3WiBv7yzlG
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) February 19, 2026
BAMA SURVIVES A DOUBLE OT INSTANT CLASSIC 🤯@AlabamaMBB x #SECMBBpic.twitter.com/COF6XUzipT
— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) February 19, 2026
GAME OF THE YEAR ⁉️
No. 25 Alabama takes a 2OT THRILLER over No. 20 Arkansas 🐘 pic.twitter.com/Z5UxV3z08c
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) February 19, 2026
INSTANT CLASSIC IN TUSCALOOSA 🍿
NO. 25 ALABAMA WINS A 2OT CLASSIC DESPITE 49 PTS FROM DARIUS ACUFF JR. 😱 pic.twitter.com/pOvnn4Q2jb
— ESPN (@espn) February 19, 2026
Alabama takes down No. 20 Arkansas in 2OT!! 🔥@AlabamaMBB WINS IN THE GAME OF THE YEAR!! pic.twitter.com/V2RZMJeqW4
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) February 19, 2026
WHAT. A. GAME. 😤
No. 25 Alabama knocks off No. 20 Arkansas in a double OT thriller!@AlabamaMBB x #SECMBBpic.twitter.com/WY2qkZxaSh
— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) February 19, 2026
Acuff. Philon.
Two of the best guards in the country put on a show 🍿🔥 pic.twitter.com/4OuXKNBtUx
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) February 19, 2026
A LEGACY GAME FOR LABARON PHILON JR. AND THE CRIMSON TIDE 🔥
No. 25 Alabama wins it in a 2OT thriller vs. No. 20 Arkansas 😤 pic.twitter.com/3ywI0XLdVK
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 19, 2026
Final
Alabama @ 1.33 ppp
Arkansas @ 1.31 ppp— Alabama Roundball (@BamaRoundball) February 19, 2026
What a great shootout btw @AlabamaMBB & @RazorbackMBB – as Bama wins 117-115 in double overtime . An incredible effort by Labaron Philon who led Alabama with 35 & Diaper Dandy sensation Darius Acuff had 49 for Arkansas . Yes an @SEC classic!
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) February 19, 2026
Alabama started SEC play 4-4. Crimson Tide is now 9-4
— Nick Kelly (@_NickKelly) February 19, 2026
Alabama wins a double-overtime classic over Arkansas 117-115.
35 for Labaron Philon.
26 and 13 for Aidan Sherrell.
Game of the Year in the SEC. https://t.co/0D95yhO6Rt
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) February 19, 2026
Arkansas-Alabama tonight was the 1st AP-ranked matchup where both teams scored 110+ points since Syracuse-UConn in the 2009 Big East Tournament.
— Cole Cubelic (@colecubelic) February 19, 2026
HUEY DID IT AGAIN! pic.twitter.com/uJ0PxScyI4
— Alabama Men’s Basketball (@AlabamaMBB) February 19, 2026
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This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Alabama basketball reactions to double overtime win vs. Arkansas
