It wasn’t fairly, and it rattling certain wasn’t simple, however the 2nd ranked Crimson Tide basketball crew clinched their second SEC Championship within the final three years on Wednesday evening.
The Tide beat Auburn 90-85 in time beyond regulation, regardless of trailing by as many as 17 factors midway by means of the second half. Bama confirmed loads of pluck and grit to tug out the win, because it improved to 26-4 on the season and 16-1 within the league.
If the win on Senior Night was not dramatic and candy sufficient, the loss dropped the Tigers to 19-10 (9-7 SEC), with most pundits placing the reeling Tigers squarely on the Bubble.
Again.
RECAP
The Tide used their regular beginning lineup of Mark Sears, Jaden Bradley, Charles Bediako, Noah Clowney, and Brandon Miller.
Bama was sluggish beginning, as has been their undesirable customized the previous few video games, and trailed 10-2 with 14:18 left within the half. Jahvon Quinerly entered for Bradley and hit a 3 pointer to shut the rating to 10-7 with 13:26 left. The Tide made a few surges to shut the hole, however every time the Tigers would go on a run to stretch the rating out. Auburn hit a late three pointer to shut the half and lead by a rating of 40-33 on the intermission.
At the half, the Tide was fortunate to solely be down by seven contemplating that Auburn shot 14-26 for 54% and 6-8 from three level vary for 75% and added 6-9 from the free throw line. Meanwhile Bama shot solely 11-28 for 39% together with 3-13 for 23% from deep whereas making 8-11 free throws. The Tigers lead on the boards my a margin of 17-14 and turnovers plagued each groups, 10 for AU and 9 for the Tide. Quinerly had 9 factors, Miller eight, and Clowney seven on the break.
In the second half, Coach Nate Oats had Quinerly begin rather than Bradley. Things began off significantly better for the Tide, with Sears hitting a 3 pointer, adopted by one from Clowney, and one other for Sears to tie the sport at 42 with 18:25 left.
However, the tide shortly turned, as Auburn went on a 20-4 run and with 11:32 left Bama trailed 62-45. It appeared just like the Tigers had lastly begun to tug away.
But, Alabama continued to chip away.
Miller hit a few free throws, adopted by a 3 from Quinerly, and layup from Sears to make it 66-58 across the eight minute mark.
That’s when tempers received out of hand on an evening when the Tigers had been already taking part in chippy
Quinerly flew into the lane to seize a rebound from Auburn large man Johni Broome. Broome hit the ground out of bounds, and earlier than Quinerly may observe swimsuit, threw the ball off of the Auburn participant to avoid wasting possession for the Tide.
A melee virtually started, with some pushing and shoving occurring. Broome was referred to as for his fifth foul on the play as an alternative of the cost, and the officers went to replay for a reasonably prolonged session.
After some 10-Quarter-hour, the outcomes had been a lot the identical: foul on Broome, two free throws for Quinerly. Technical fouls on Quinerly and Auburn’s Wendell Green. And Bama’s Charles Bediako and Rylan Griffen hit the showers early, after leaving the bench to hitch the melee.
Once play lastly began again Quinerly hit each free throws to chop the result in 66-61 with 6:25 left within the recreation. Meanwhile the Coleman crowd was in a frenzy.
Miller saved hitting clutch free throws, together with an quaint three level play from Quinerly.
With the rating 73-73 with 1:37 left Bama took their first lead of the evening as JQ knocked down one other big shot for a 75-73 lead. AU tied issues again up with 55 seconds left.
With 45 seconds on the sport clock, and 22 on the shot clock, the Tide referred to as a trip and ended up with no shot try by stepping out of bounds. Auburn answered with simply as ugly a possession, and the sport was headed to time beyond regulation.
Because basketball this ugly demanded an additional 5 minutes.
The Tide’s offense had been a bit higher In the second half, as Bama shot 14-28 (4-16 from three), with 10-13 free throws. Auburn shot 12-29 for 41% with 4-9 from three for 44% and 7-11 on the line.
Oats caught with Bradley, Sears, Quinerly, Clowney, and Miller for the additional interval.
A Clowney dunk and Sears three pointer put the rating at 80-75 with 4 minutes left. Miller made a steal and seemed to be on a breakaway to potential ice the sport, however Bradley was referred to as for a foul 20 toes behind the play sending the Tigers to the road.
Auburn made each free photographs to shut inside 80-77 however Miller answered with a hoop on the opposite finish. The Tigers threw in one other three pointer with 3:14 left. Allen Flanigan fouled out with 3:04 left for Auburn, which was nice for the Tide. Flanigan was having a fantastic recreation on the time.
Bradley drove the lane, made the basket, and was fouled for Jaylin Williams, banishing Williams to the bench with 5 fouls. Bradley , who has had troubles on the stripe these days, calmly made the and one for an 85-80 lead. With a lead of 85-83 and 45 seconds left Bradley went again to the road and made each free throws for and 87-83 lead.
Auburn made a hoop with 22 seconds left to place the strain again on the Tide. Bradley was fouled once more and made 1-2 photographs, for a rating of 88-85. On a steal and breakaway Bradley drove and tried to dunk however could not get the ball to go down.
Miller grabbed the rebound and was instantly fouled. The 83% free throw shooter with ice water in his veins knocked down each photographs with six seconds on the clock. Auburn missed on the buzzer and the Tide had claimed a season sweep of the Tigers and an SEC Championship in a single fell swoop.
In time beyond regulation the Tide shot 4-10 from the sphere, 1-2 from deep, and 6-7 on the line. The Tigers shot 3-8 from the sphere, 2-3 from three, and 2-4 on the charity stripe.
Overall Bama completed 29-66 for 44%, 8-31 from three for 26%, and 24-31 on free throws for 77%. The Tide had 38 rebounds, 13 offensively, 16 assists, 5 blocks, 10 steals, and dedicated 14 turnovers. Auburn completed the sport 29-63 for 46%, 12-20 from three for 60% (got here in making lower than 30% of their makes an attempt on the season) and 15-24 from the stripe for 63%. The Tigers completed with 39 rebounds, 13 offensively, 13 assists, seven steals, no blocks, and 18 turnovers.
Individually it was Quinerly’s evening.
The senior scored 24 factors in 36 minutes on 7-12 capturing and had six assists, three steals, and ZERO turnovers. It was a foul evening for Jelly haters. Clowney had 17 factors, eight rebounds, two blocks, and a steal. Miller scored 17 regardless of solely capturing 3-12 within the recreation. The celebrity freshman added eight rebounds, two assists, three blocks, and a steal. Sears shot 7-14 and likewise scored 17 factors. Bradley was subsequent within the scoring column with six factors — all large ones, all in time beyond regulation — and added 5 rebounds and 4 assists. KD Johnson scored 21 for the Tigers to guide that crew.
TL; DR
What a win! What a season…thus far.
The Tide completed 15-0 within the pleasant confides of Coleman Coliseum.
Bucking custom, Bama got here out of their regular highway, Crimson, uniforms. After a white-out final recreation followers had been inspired to put on Crimson to the sport, and if you’re the superstitious sort that may have appeared like a foul concept.
However this robust, proficient, crew wasn’t going to lie down.
There cannot be sufficient mentioned about how nicely Quinerly has tailored to his function this season. He stepped up large tonight and turns into a two-time SEC Champion in his three years taking part in for the Tide. The crew loved a ceremony and a few image taking earlier than bringing out the ladder to chop the nets down.
Quinerly was the final participant to snip the nylon, and Oats and his youngest daughter did the honors of bringing all of it the best way down. Much of the promote out crowd stayed to witness the celebration.
UP NEXT
Next up is a recreation at Texas A&M on Saturday at 11 am. The contest shall be proven on CBS, and a win or a loss shouldn’t have an effect on the Tide in some way. I nonetheless vote for win, a 17-1 SEC report can be candy, and likewise put the crew a lot nearer to claiming the general primary seed within the upcoming NCAA Tournament.
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