The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
No. 6 Bama rallies to top Tennessee
Bad as Alabama looked while trailing by 15 points, Herbert Jones still believed the Crimson Tide could shift momentum by stringing baskets and stops together. The SEC’s best player had a huge role in achieving both goals, and his teammates joined in to help them reach the doorstep of their biggest prize in 30 years.
Jones scored 15 of his 21 points in the second half, and No. 6 Alabama rallied from a big deficit in the final 17 minutes to beat Tennessee 73-68 Saturday in the SEC Tournament semifinals in Nashville, Tenn.
“At halftime, we decided to just come out and play our brand of basketball,” said Jones, chosen last week as the league’s top defender and player. “We came out and competed on the defensive end and that led to our offense.”
Jahvon Quinerly added 19 points, including two free throws with 15.5 seconds left, to help the Crimson Tide hang on. Top-seeded Alabama (23-6) faces LSU in today’s championship in search of its first SEC Tournament title since 1991. Tennessee (18-8) awaits an NCAA Tournament seeding today.
The Vols trailed 69-68 when Davonte Gaines missed two foul shots with 25 seconds left. Down 71-68, Victor Bailey Jr. missed a 3-point try with nine seconds to go.
Behind 48-33 with 16:56 remaining, the Tide stormed back with help from a 14-0 run to lead 60-59 with 5:26 left, their first edge since the opening basket. They went ahead with just over four minutes left as Jones whipped a pass out to behind the arc to wide-open Keon Ellis for a tiebreaking 3-pointer to put Alabama up for good.
Jones made one of two free throws with 3:24 to make it a two-possession game before later feeding Quinerly in the lane for a layup and a 69-65 lead. Yves Pons’ 3-pointer got Tennessee within 69-68 with 41.4 seconds left, but Quinerly added two free throws and Ellis two more with 3.7 seconds left to seal the win.
Jones also had 13 rebounds and four assists for the Tide, who won despite shooting 37%. They held the Vols to 35% shooting after halftime.
Keon Johnson had 20 points and Jaden Springer 18 for Tennessee.
LSU 78, No. 8 Arkansas 71: Cameron Thomas scored 21 points, and the third-seeded Tigers (18-8) upset the Razorbacks to reach the SEC Tournament championship for the first time since 1993. LSU has won this tournament only once — in 1980. Javonte Smart added 19 points for LSU.
Arkansas (22-6) snapped a 12-game SEC winning streak that tied the program record. Marcus Moody tied his season high with 28 points for Arkansas, 20 of those in the first half.
No. 9 Ohio State 68, No. 4 Michigan 67: Duane Washington Jr. scored 24 points, E.J. Liddell had 18, and the Buckeyes held off the Wolverines in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals in Indianapolis. The Buckeyes (21-8) will play their fourth game in four days against Illinois today. Michigan managed to cut a 13-point deficit to one in the final 4½ minutes. Hunter Dickinson had 21 points and eight rebounds for the Wolverines (20-4).
No. 3 Illinois 82, No. 5 Iowa 71: Kofi Cockburn scored 18 of his 26 points in the first half, and the Illini advanced to the Big Ten title game. The Illini (22-6) have won six straight, with three coming against top-10 foes. Luka Garza had 21 points and 12 rebounds for Iowa (21-7). Jordan Bohannon scored 20 points.