Alabama split back-to-back games against Southeastern Conference co-leaders Florida and Texas A&M.

The Crimson Tide (15-7, 5-4 SEC) bounced back from a 100-77 thrashing at the hands of the host Gators to defeat the visiting Aggies 100-97 on Wednesday. That left them just two games behind the conference leaders as they visit Auburn on Saturday.

Head coach Nate Oats gave the players the credit for their response after their most lopsided loss of the season.

“I think some guys admitted their effort wasn’t where it needed to be (against Florida),” Oats said. “Their mind wasn’t where it needed to be, and we’ve got to turn this thing around. So I think it was more of an internal thing. We’ve got to get internal leadership from players.”

The Crimson Tide had six double-figure scorers and turned the ball over just six times after giving it away 18 times against Florida. They had 19 assists on 31 field goals and made 16 3-pointers in their third straight game with at least 14.

Oats said he wasn’t emphasizing scoring even though Alabama finished with its highest point total against an SEC opponent this season, reaching triple figures for the sixth time overall.

“We weren’t going to talk about scoring this game,” Oats said. “We were going to talk about our effort, our toughness and our playing for each other.”

As of Friday night, Charles Bediako remains eligible. On Friday, the NCAA requested that a court overturn Bediako’s temporary injunction that’s allowed him to return from professional to college basketball. The judge said he anticipates making a ruling “soon.”

Auburn (14-8, 5-4) has had a full week of preparation since a 77-69 loss at Tennessee on Jan. 31. Head coach Steven Pearl said the absence of a mid-week game came “at a great time” for a couple of “banged-up” Tigers.

Leading scorer Keyshawn Hall (20.9 points per game) played against Tennessee with three stitches in a finger on his shooting hand and scored 21.

“He’s one who is never going to complain about a little injury,” forward Sebastian Williams-Adams said of Hall. “Getting stitches is no joke, but he treated it like it was like a paper cut. He’s a warrior. We aren’t obviously in that game without Key.”

Auburn looks to get back on track after the loss to the Volunteers ended a four-game winning streak.

–Field Level Media

LIV Golf spent four seasons promoting 54 holes as a core part of its identity. On Friday in Riyadh, it revealed a new side as the third round concluded with a leaderboard that didn’t decide anything yet. This is the league’s first regular-season event staged over 72 holes, a notable change for 2026.

After three rounds at Riyadh Golf Club, new LIV player Elvis Smylie and original league member Peter Uihlein are tied at 16-under 200, with Talor Gooch a shot back and 19 players within six of the lead.

Under LIV’s old format, Smylie and Uihlein would’ve been headed to a playoff. Instead, they get 18 more holes.

“Yeah, thanks for bringing that up,” Uihlein said, smiling after his 6-under-par 66. “I feel like 72 holes fits me a little better. If you would have told me at the beginning of the week, ‘Hey, you’d be tied for the lead after 54 and you have a chance to win on Sunday,’ that’s where you’d want to be. So I’d take it.”

Smylie is making his first start with Ripper GC and doesn’t have any LIV history with the 54-hole rhythm. He played his way into a tie for the lead with a bogey-free 7-under 65.

“I want to prove my worth in this league,” Smylie said, “and I want to establish myself as one of the best guys in this league, and the best way to do that is by going out and making a statement this week, and that’s what I’m doing a really good job with so far.”

In the team competition, Torque GC moved to 46-under, two clear of Smash GC after matching 65s from Abraham Ancer and Carlos Ortiz. Smash GC is also trying to deliver a win in Gooch’s first event as captain, while Ripper GC sits one shot further back in third.

Ancer, who knows what it’s like to win in the shorter version of LIV, believes the longer tournaments can favor consistent golfers.

“I feel like 54 holes was good enough to figure out who’s playing the best golf. You just feel like it’s a little bit more of a sprint, have a little bit less time for you to make mistakes and come back from them,” Ancer said. “But then playing 72 holes, you feel like if you’re a steady player, that would maybe help you rise to the top of the leaderboard.”

That’s the new LIV reality. The league has added a fourth round. Now it’s about seeing who can handle it.

–Field Level Media

Ryo Hisatsune chipped in for birdie in surprising fashion to cap a back-nine hot streak and overtake Japanese countryman Hideki Matsuyama for the second-round lead at the WM Phoenix Open on Friday in Arizona.

Hisatsune is 11 under for the week after his stellar 8-under-par 63. The 23-year-old is searching for his first win on the PGA Tour.

Hisatsune went birdie-birdie-eagle-birdie-birdie at TPC Scottsdale’s 13th through 17th holes, including an 8-footer for eagle at the par-5 15th and a 7 1/2-foot birdie putt at the “Stadium Hole,” the par-3 16th. The latter tied him with Matsuyama, who was in the clubhouse at 10 under with a 64.

On the short par-4 17th, Hisatsune attempted to drive the green but ended up in the adjacent water hazard. After a penalty drop, he faced about 29 feet to the pin, and his chip tracked straight to the cup for the go-ahead birdie.

First-round leader Chris Gotterup settled for a 71 and is tied for third with Pierceson Coody (68) at 8 under. Si Woo Kim of South Korea had the round of the day, a 9-under 62 that vaulted him to 7 under, where he’s tied for fifth with Akshay Bhatia (67), Sahith Theegala (65) and Englishmen John Parry (65) and Matt Fitzpatrick (70).

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler was in danger of missing the cut after a surprising round of 73 on Thursday. He responded with a bogey-free, 6-under 65 in his second round to climb to 4 under par.

The projected cut line stood at 1 under with just a few groups still finishing their rounds as play was suspended due to darkness.

–Field Level Media