Saturday’s loaded college basketball slate delivered pace-heavy matchups, comeback pushes and strong showings from freshmen across the Top 25. Alabama and St. John’s traded runs before the Crimson Tide closed strong. Houston survived an uneven offensive night. Duke, BYU and Tennessee rolled. Michigan State and Arkansas battled through late pressure. Gonzaga controlled Oklahoma in the paint. Bettors tracked possessions, shooting swings and lineup returns with live updates on Odds & Scores as early-season form continued to sharpen.

No. 15 Alabama 103, No. 5 St. John’s 96

Labaron Philon Jr. scored 25 points and Alabama held off a late push at Madison Square Garden. Aden Holloway added 21 in his return from a wrist issue. Latrell Wrightsell Jr. scored 17.

St. John’s used a 17–6 run to take an 81–80 lead, but Alabama answered with a 9–0 surge to regain control. Zuby Ejiofor scored 27 for the Red Storm, including 20 before halftime. St. John’s saw its 12-game home streak at MSG end.

No. 2 Houston 65, Towson 48

Kingston Flemings scored 20 points and Chris Cenac Jr. grabbed 13 rebounds as Houston improved to 2–0. The Cougars built a 14-point lead but saw Towson cut it to three before tightening defensively.

Joseph Tugler added 15 points. Houston shot 8-for-32 from deep but forced 18 turnovers leading to 22 points. Jack Doumbia Jr. led Towson with 16.

No. 6 Duke 95, Western Carolina 54

Cameron Boozer scored 25 and twin Cayden Boozer added 14 as Duke won its 44th consecutive home opener. The Blue Devils opened the game with a 17–0 run and never looked back.

Julien Soumaoro scored 14 for Western Carolina. The Catamounts shot 4-for-26 from three.

No. 8 BYU 98, Holy Cross 53

BYU shot 61.9% from the field and dominated the paint 62–28. Richie Saunders scored 20. AJ Dybantsa added 17. Robert Wright III scored 15.

Holy Cross trailed by more than 30 for the entire second half.

No. 22 Michigan State 69, No. 14 Arkansas 66

Freshman Cameron Ward posted 18 points and 10 rebounds off the bench as Michigan State held off Arkansas. Coen Carr added 15 points and seven boards.

Darius Acuff Jr. and Meleek Thomas each scored 16 for the Razorbacks. Arkansas missed chances late to tie.

No. 18 Tennessee 95, Northern Kentucky 56

Freshman Nate Ament scored 23 as Tennessee dominated. Ja’Kobi Gillespie had 20. J.P. Estrella added 17 and 11 rebounds.

The Volunteers finished on a 14–0 run and won the glass 47–25. Northern Kentucky shot 30% from deep and 38.5% at the line.

No. 21 Gonzaga 83, Oklahoma 68

Graham Ike posted 19 points and 11 rebounds as Gonzaga controlled the final 27 minutes. Tyon Grant-Foster scored 14 off the bench. Braden Huff added 13 and nine rebounds.

Oklahoma shot 39.7% and 6-for-26 from three. Xzayvier Brown scored 21 but committed five turnovers.

Capper Insight: Sas Insider — up $10,457 over 14 days — continues to grade interior-dominant matchups as early-season edges, a trend that aligned with Gonzaga’s paint control and showed sharply on the Picks Leaderboard.

Capper Insight: Computer Picks — up $4,772 over 14 days — has elevated fast-pace totals and transition-heavy teams across early analytics, a profile that matched Alabama–St. John’s throughout Saturday and remains a staple of projections seen on the Handicappers page.

Handicappers Roundup

Sas Insider continues its dominant run with $10,457 over the last 14 days. Knup Sports – POTD follows at $6,163, while Computer Picks remains strong at $4,772. Sports Hub – Free Picks added $3,271 to round out one of the site’s best two-week cycles of the season.

Players can refine their edge with strategy guides inside the Bettors Handbook and explore matchup breakdowns on the Sportshub Blog.

Start your Saturday card with today’s Free Service Plays.