Tide knocks off 4th ranked team this season
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Retain Obasohan scored 16 points and Alabama overcame a big rally from No. 15 Texas A&M for a 63-62 victory Wednesday night, the Aggies’ third straight loss.
The Crimson Tide (14-9, 5-6 Southeastern Conference) beat its fourth ranked opponent of coach Avery Johnson’s debut season despite missing its final three shots. Anthony Collins was fouled on a drive with 2. 3 seconds left but missed both free throws for the Aggies (18-6, 7-4). They’ve lost four consecutive SEC games since a 7-0 league start, tumbling from a programbest No. 5 ranking.
Texas A&M had its chances after wiping out most of an 11-point deficit over the final 6:34
Riley Norris had 11 points for Alabama and Shannon Hale scored 10. Obasohan had five assists and three steals. It’s the first time Alabama has beaten four Top 25 teams in a season since 2001-02.
Jalen Jones had 21 points and seven rebounds for Texas A&M. Danuel House overcame a slow start to score 12 points, and Collins finished with 11 points and five assists.
Alabama twice had to settle for 3-point attempts after working most of the shot clock down in the final minutes. House was fouled and made two free throws after the first miss and Collins pulled up for a 3-pointer with 53 seconds left after the second, cutting the margin to 63-62.
Then Obasohan missed an off-balance shot against Collins from just inside the line.
Collins got the ball back after a couple of passes and drove toward the basket, drawing the foul.
After the misses, Obasohan took the ball downcourt and ran the clock out before the Aggies could foul him.
SEC
South Carolina 94, LSU 83 at Columbia, S.C.: Sindarius Thornwell scored 24 points, and Michael Carrera had 14 of his 16 points in the second half as South Carolina gained a share of first place in the league by holding off Ben Simmons and LSU.
Simmons had 20 points, six rebounds and six assists, but the Gamecocks (21-3, 8-3) used a 17-8 run in the second half fueled by freshmen P.J. Dozier and Raymond Doby to take control after LSU had tied the score at 60.
The Tigers (15-9, 8-3) got as close as 85-81 after Simmons’ foul shot in the final minute. But the Gamecocks made 7 of 8 free throws after that to move into a first-place tie in the SEC with the Tigers and No. 22 Kentucky.
Vanderbilt 86, Missouri 71 at Nashville: Wade Baldwin IV scored 17 points in leading five starters in double figures, and Vanderbilt routed the Tigers for its second win in three games.
Luke Kornet scored 13 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for the Commodores (14-10, 6-5).
Ryan Rosburg scored a careerhigh 24 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for the Tigers (8-16, 1-10).
AAC
Tulsa 82, No. 16 SMU 77 at Dallas: Shaquille Harrison had 21 points, Pat Birt hit a crucial 3-pointer and scored 12 of his 17 points after halftime and Tulsa rallied from eight points down in the second half.
Nic Moore scored 27 to lead the Mustangs (20-3, 9-3). They lost for the first time in 13 home games and are 2-3 since their 18-0 start to a season that won’t include postseason play because of NCAA sanctions.
Moore twice hit 3-pointers to pull SMU within a point in the final minute, but Birt answered the first with a 3-pointer and James Woodard followed the second with two of his six free throws in the final 1:04.
The Golden Hurricane (16-8, 8-4) ended a four-game losing streak against SMU with their eighth win in 10 games since an 0-2 conference start.
Tulane 100, East Carolina 92 (3OT) at Greenville, N.C.: Louis Dabney tied a career high with 32 points and Tulane did not lead by more than two points until the third overtime as the Green Wave beat East Carolina.
Dabney had seven points in the third overtime as Tulane (916, 2-10) outscored the Pirates 15-7.
Prince Williams and B.J. Tyson each scored 25 for East Carolina (10-14, 2-9).
TOP 25
Texas Tech 85, No. 14 Iowa State 82 (OT) at Lubbock, Texas: Zach Smith made two free throws with 18 seconds left in overtime to lead Texas Tech. Deonte Burton had a season-high 20 points to lead the Cyclones (17-7, 6-5 Big 12). Aaron Ross had 20 for the Red Raiders (14-9, 4-7).
Marquette 96, No. 20 Providence 91 (2OT) at Milwaukee: Former Southwind star Jajuan Johnson scored 16 points and hit a key 3-pointer with 1:16 left in double overtime to help Marquette outlast the Friars. Johnson was 5 of 10 from the field in 42 minutes and added seven rebounds.
The Golden Eagles (16-9, 5-7 Big East) overcame 42 points by Providence’s Ben Bentil.
No. 21 Baylor 82, Kansas State 72 at Manhattan, Kan.: Al Freeman scored 21 points, Taurean Prince had 18 and Baylor beat cold-shooting Kansas State. The Bears (18-6, 7-4) opened on an 8-2 run, led by as many as 14 in the first half and never trailed the rest of the way. The Wildcats (14-10, 3-8) got 19 points from Justin Edwards.