TAMPA — Tattooed up and down Labaron Philon Jr.’s left arm are detailed pictures of horror movie villains. Michael Myers is there, as is Chucky and the ghostface killer from Scream. Inscribed in between them are two words: Bad Guy.
Philon certainly played the part of villain Friday, taking over in the second half for No. 4-seeded Alabama to foil an upset bid from No. 13 seed Hofstra and putting on one of the most electrifying performances of the NCAA men’s tournament to date in the process. His final stat line: 29 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and three steals, with 21 of those 29 coming after halftime. That helped the Crimson Tide finally get some separation after trailing by 10 early and entering the halftime locker room up just two. Philon simply wasn’t going to let Alabama’s March Madness run end early.
