Alabama basketball holds off late Texas A&M rally for close victory
The final three minutes for the Alabama basketball team were nerve-wracking, terrible, perilous -- and just enough.
The Crimson Tide saw most of an eight-point lead evaporate in the last 3:54 of the game only to survive in a most improbable way as Texas A&M's Anthony Collins -- a 92 percent foul shooter on the year -- missed two free throws with 2.3 seconds remaining, allowing UA to hang on for a 63-62 victory at Coleman Coliseum on Wednesday night.
"It just wasn't meant to be," said Texas A&M coach Billy Kennedy. "(Collins) had just had a streak of 28 (free throws) in a row. He's a great free throw shooter and he missed them."
Alabama had an eight-point lead, 62-54, with Retin Obasohan at the line and 3:54 left to play. But Obasohan missed the free throw and A&M began a comeback that grew scarier as the Crimson Tide struggled to get a good shot on offense. With 87 seconds to go, A&M was within four points, 63-59, and Alabama launched an airball. Collins then hit a clutch 3-pointer with 53 seconds to go, and Alabama answered with another errant shot, giving the Aggies, down by one point, a chance at a game-winning possession.
Alabama defended well, but with 2.3 seconds to go, Collins drew a foul on Donta Hall. However, both foul shots went awry and the ball went out of bounds on the Aggies. The Crimson Tide was able to inbound the ball following a time out and seal the win.
Alabama players credited a strong UA student crowd with affecting the free throws.
"What was going through my mind was how loud the student section got," Obasohan said. "It was crazy, louder than it had been all game. We can't say enough how much we love our students."
"Collins made a three and it was a tough three," Alabama coach Avery Johnson said. "He is a good foul shooter. We caught a lot of breaks tonight. That's why we're not going to celebrate too much right now, but we are going to appreciate this win. If you had told me in June that we would beat Texas A&M, I'd have walked to Birmingham barefoot."
Johnson was also hesitant to criticize his team too harshly for the narrow escape.
"Let's give Texas A&M some credit," he said. "They raised their defense to another level in the last four minutes. Yes, I will work on some of the things that were problematic. But we're talking about a team that was No. 5 in the country and might be a 2-seed (in the NCAA Tournament.)"
Obasohan led Alabama (14-9, 5-6 SEC) with 16 points. Riley Norris added 11, all in the first half. Shannon Hale, playing for the first time in three games, came off the bench to score 10 points and freshman reserve center Donta Hall added six points and 10 rebounds.
Jalen Jones led Texas A&M with 21 points.
The win over the No. 15 Aggies was Alabama's fourth victory over a ranked opponent this year.
"It's huge for this program, this staff," Obasohan said. "It shows that we're going in the right direction."