Late-game run propels Aggies past Alabama in Tuscaloosa

A late 12-0 run followed by six clutch free throws in the final 18 seconds propelled Texas A&M to a 74-68 Southeastern Conference basketball victory over Alabama on Wednesday night in Tuscaloosa.

The Aggies allowed 16 shots from 3-point range, committed 19 turnovers and gave up 11 offensive rebounds that resulted in 13 second-chance points.

However, they compensated by shooting extremely well at both lines. The Aggies hit 11 treys and converted 21 of 27 free throws. They also allowed Alabama just 16 points in the paint.

Further, Alabama, which leads the SEC in 3-point goals, converted only 2 of 8 attempts from behind the arc in the last three minutes.

“The only chance we have to be in a game since Christmas is to play incredibly hard and to play with a level of toughness that is above our talent level,” A&M coach Buzz Williams said. “Our guys have been willing to accept that.”

Quenton Jackson, who started in place of Andre Gordon, scored nine of his team-high 20 points in the final 3:27 to lead the way for the Aggies (13-12, 7-6), who with the victory exceeded their SEC win total from last season.

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Wendell Mitchell was one of four Aggie players who scored in double figures against the Crimson Tide.

“Q has continued to gain traction in what we do,” Williams said. “He gets fouled at a high rate for us.

“He had earned the right to start. Not necessarily because Dre had done anything wrong. Dre turned his ankle on Monday at practice. Literally 10 minutes before he turned his ankle, I told the team that Q was going to start and move (Wendell) Mitchell to the point.”

Mitchell hit four 3-pointers en route to notching 18 points. Josh Nebo scored 14, and Savion Flagg had 12.

Alabama (14-12, 6-7) was led by Jaden Shackelford with 24 points, Kira Lewis with 16 and John Petty with 11.

Alabama led by as many as nine points early in the second half but could not pull away from the stubborn Aggies. Still, the Tide held a 62-56 lead when Shackelford converted a three-point play with 4:16 remaining.

But A&M dominated from there.

Nebo registered a three-point play with 3:57 left to launch the 12-0 run. Jackson capped the rally with a 3-pointer from beyond the top of the key to stake the Aggies to a 68-62 lead with 57.7 seconds remaining.

Alabama forward Alex Reese drilled a 3-pointer to cut A&M’s margin to 68-65. But Lewis and Shackelford missed 3-point attempts that could have forced a tie.

Jackson rebounded Shackelford’s miss and was quickly fouled. He hit two free throws with 17.8 seconds remaining to boost A&M’s lead to 70-65.

Lewis responded with a leaning 3-pointer that brought Alabama within 70-68 with 10.7 seconds left. Jackson was fouled on the ensuing possession and again made both free throws for a 72-68 lead.

The Aggies couldn’t yet breathe easy, though. Shackelford was fouled on a 3-point attempt with 3.8 seconds left and went to the free throw line with a chance to bring the Tide within one point.

Instead, he missed all three attempts. Nebo rebounded the third miss and was fouled. He made both ensuing free throws to close out the A&M victory.