Alabama turns Texas A&M away on their first visit to Tuscaloosa

O n occasion, Texas A&M’s first visit to Coleman Colesium was as ugly as a Honey Boo-Boo family portrait.

Bama trailed by 11 at the break, scoring only 15. It’s hard to say it was the ugliest half of basketball this season when your resume includes a loss to Mercer. Try 5-18 from the field for 28%.

Then as the second half began, Bama exploded for 17 in the first five minutes to take a 4-point lead, a 15-2 run.

The Tide went scoreless for almost ten minutes in the first half, and another six in the 2nd. So if you’re scoring at home, that’s sixteen (16) minutes of basketball with no points to show for it.

But once A&M responded to the explosion, Bama and the Aggies were in for a fight that would go into the game’s final seconds.

With 18 seconds left Texas A&M’s Fabyon Harris hit a floater to give the Aggies a 1-point 49-48 lead. Bama inbounded, crossed halfcourt and called timeout to draw up their last hope at not repeating A&M’s inaugural visit to Tuscaloosa in football.

Seconds later, Trevor Lacey would hit a clutch 18-footer with 8 seconds left in regulation to take the 50-49 lead. Lacey finished with 14 on the night. He was 0-8 inside the arc before that shot, having made four three pointers beforehand. The Tide overall shot 57% from the 3-point line for the game, shooting 44% overall.

After an Aggie turnover on the ensuing inbound, the turnover would be enough as Bama would cap its day of celebration with a dramatic come-from-behind victory.

The win lifted Alabama to 11-6 on the year, 3-1 in conference play, while A&M fell to 12-5 and 2-2. Bama returns to action Tuesday night as they host Kentucky.

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