Collin Sexton had the last laugh and gave Alabama another breath.
With its season on life support, the Crimson Tide trailed Texas A&M by one with 4.4 seconds remaining in its opening game of the SEC Tournament on Thursday. Driving the length of the court, Sexton finger-rolled a game-winning layup at the buzzer to give Alabama a 71-70 victory and a chance at earning an NCAA Tournament bid.
Sexton’s game-winning layup came after Texas A&M point guard T.J. Starks hit a deep 3 to put the Aggies up in what looked to be the final blow to Alabama’s season. However, in true roller-coaster fashion, Alabama now extends its run in the SEC Tournament to Friday where it will face No. 1 seed Auburn at noon.
For much of the game Thursday, Alabama exhibited the same detrimental tendencies that seemed bound to end its season without a trip to the NCAA Tournament. The Crimson Tide got off to a slow start from beyond the arc and allowed Texas A&M to dominate the boards 44-33, giving up 17 offensive rebounds and 19 second-chance points.
Still, Alabama’s postseason aspirations remain intact.
The Crimson Tide snapped a five-game losing streak with the victory. Whether that will be enough for Alabama to earn its first NCAA Tournament bid since 2012 is unclear. However, a loss Thursday would have essentially ended all hope.
While Alabama fought for its life, it also has Texas A&M to thank for its extended run in the tournament. The Aggies shot just 31.3 percent from the field in the first half, allowing Alabama to take a 35-28 lead at the break despite its deficiencies on the glass.
The Crimson Tide also took advantage of 17 Texas A&M turnovers, which led to 11 points on the other end. Texas A&M turned the ball over on four straight possessions late in the game during a period when Alabama was shooting 1 of 14 from the floor.
After a 1 of 6 start from the floor, Alabama finished with a solid shooting performance, making 28 of 59 (47 percent) of it shots on the day.
Alabama improved to 18-14 with the win, while Texas A&M fell to 20-12.
LINK
https://alabama.rivals.com/news/sex...to-keep-alabama-s-ncaa-tournament-hopes-alive
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