TUSCALOOSA, Ala.— The No. 4 Alabama basketball team made good on the first phase of freshman guard Labaron Philon’s word Tuesday night, protecting home court against a Vanderbilt squad with momentum from a weekend upset.

The Crimson Tide outscored the Commodores 54-32 in the paint and won the battle on the glass 44-39 while holding Vanderbilt to nearly 10% below its usual field goal percentage of 47.1. It started inside as Alabama came out as the more aggressive and physical team, and the Tide didn't let up through all 40 minutes.

A big reason behind Alabama’s win was their performance in the first half, where the Crimson Tide carried a 48-31 lead into the break. The Crimson Tide also shot an impressive 58.1% from the field in the first half, 36.4% from three, and 80% at the free throw line.

Alabama showed off its high-octane offense yet again in Tuesday night's dominant victory over Vanderbilt in Tuscaloosa.

Vanderbilt basketball saw a common theme against No. 3 Alabama that it did in its previous losses in its 103-87 loss Tuesday at Coleman Coliseum. The Commodores got off to a very poor start in the first half,

The shortest team in the SEC, Vanderbilt, faced one of its tallest tests yet in Alabama basketball. How does the rest of the league measure?