Alabama takes down Texas A&M in shooting slugfest
Aden Holloway scored 20 points to help Alabama outlast Texas A&M and come away with a thrilling 100-97 victory Wednesday in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Holloway scored 16 of his points in the second half, making 9 of 12 free throws to overcome a 1-for-6 perimeter performance, and also had six rebounds and four assists for Alabama (15-7, 5-4 Southeastern Conference).
Labaron Philon Jr. added 17 points, Latrell Wrightsell chipped in 16 with four made 3-pointers, and Amari Allen and Houston Mallette tallied 12 points apiece to lead the Crimson Tide, who won despite being outshot from the floor (49.2% to 44.9%) and 3-point range (41.9% to 33.3%).
Rylan Griffen, whose career began at Alabama, scored 17 points with nine rebounds but missed a game-tying three at the buzzer for Texas A&M (17-5, 7-2), which had its four-game winning streak snapped.
Rashaun Agee contributed a game-high 21 points for the Aggies, and Marcus Hill added 18 on 8-of-13 shooting with six rebounds.
The battle of two of the three highest-scoring offenses in the SEC lived up to the slugfest hype. The teams combined for 29 made three-pointers and 12 turnovers, and the game saw 28 lead changes and 13 ties, with neither team ever holding a double-digit-point lead.
Trailing 77-71 with 8:44 left, the Crimson Tide went on a 19-6 run capped off by an 8-0 surge in 1:18 of game time to take a 90-83 lead with 4:29 left.
The Aggies bounced back immediately with a 10-2 run to reclaim the lead, 93-92, with two minutes left before Alabama's final surge to take a 99-95 lead with 22 seconds left on Holloway's layup.
A first half predominantly played within a one-score margin fittingly entered halftime tied at 46 after Wrightsell's buzzer three.
That was also a fitting end to the half considering each finished the opening 20 minutes with nine made 3-pointers. Wrightsell led the Crimson Tide with three, while Griffen, Agee and Hill made two apiece for the Aggies.
Texas A&M was far more efficient from the floor (52.9%) than Alabama (38.9%) in the first half, but the Crimson Tide made up the difference by holding a 13-4 free-throw attempt advantage.
London Jemison led Alabama with 10 first-half points on 4-of-4 shooting, and Hill led the Aggies with 10 points.