McMillan sees promise despite dropping a road shootout to Alabama

Game #22: Alabama 100, Texas A&M 97
Records: Texas A&M (17-5, 7-2), Alabama (15-7, 5-4)
Box Score

In a classic Southeastern Conference basketball shootout, Alabama just had a little more ammunition in a 100-97 victory over Texas A&M on Wednesday night in Tuscaloosa.

A&M (17-5, 7-2) came close to forcing overtime, but Rylan Griffen’s desperation 3-point attempt at the buzzer came up just a tad short.

“It was such a great game,” Texas A&M head coach Bucky McMillan said. “At the end of it, we had one of our good shooters right there to tie it. They held their breath.”

An earlier overturned call was just as vital.

In a game that featured 28 lead changes, the Aggies were trying to protect a 95-94 lead when Alabama’s Labaron Philon Jr. was short on a jumper. The rebound went out of bounds on the baseline. Possession was originally awarded to A&M.

But the call was quickly and accurately overturned. Alabama capitalized with Latrell Wrightsell Jr. drilling a 3-pointer from the corner to give the Tide a 97-95 lead it would not surrender.

“We’re scrapping for a loose ball there,” McMillan said. “If we pick it up, we might win the game right there. Kick it out and make a three or whatnot. It could have gone either way.”

Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News

Rylan Griffen scored 17 points and shot 3-of-5 from 3-point range in his return to Coleman Coliseum.

The Aggies held a 77-71 lead after Griffen hit three consecutive free throws with 8:44 to play.

However, no lead was safe in this crazy offensive extravaganza.

Alabama, boosted by two Philon 3-pointers, hit six consecutive shots to push out to a 90-83 lead.

But the Aggies fought back to take the lead on a Rashaun Agee layup with 1:33 to play.

That was A&M’s final lead, though the Aggies stayed in contention until the last shot.

Agee was at the foul line with 3.4 seconds remaining. He purposely missed an attempt, and the ball ricocheted back past the free-throw line.

Rubén Dominguez tapped the ball to Griffen, who was tantalizingly close on the final shot.

Agee scored 21 points to lead three players in double figures. Marcus Hill had 18, and Griffen finished with 17.

Alabama (15-7, 5-4) was just too hot, though. The Crimson Tide hit 16 times from behind the arc and shot 51.5 percent (17 of 33) overall in the second half.

It was a wild, fast-paced game from the onset. Both teams hit nine times from 3-point range in the first half.

Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News

Texas A&M has lost its last four contests with Alabama, with its last win coming against the Crimson Tide on March 4, 2023, in College Station.

Alabama opened a nine-point lead, 28-19, on a dunk by London Jemison, who had 10 points off the bench.

A&M responded with a 10-0 run to regain the lead, 29-28, on a 3-pointer from Zach Clemence with 7:15 left in the half.

The Aggies were just getting warmed up. They hit 11 of 12 field goal attempts during a seven-minute stretch, which featured three dunks and a 3-pointer from Jamie Vinson.

That hot streak, which ended with Agee’s second 3-pointer, lifted the Aggies to take a 45-40 lead.

However, the Aggies managed just one free throw for the remainder of the half. Alabama forged a 46-46 tie on Wrightsell’s second-chance 3-pointer just before the buzzer.

A&M shot 52.9 percent (18 of 34) but was only 1-for-5 at the free-throw line in the first half.

The second half was more of the same, with neither team leading by more than seven points.

Though there’s obvious frustration to come so close in a loss on the road, McMillan took a positive approach after the game.

After all, halfway through the SEC schedule, A&M remains in first place in the league standings with defending national champion Florida visiting Reed Arena on Saturday night.

“There’s some layups that we missed. There’s some dumb fouls that we had in the full court that we’ve just got to avoid,” McMillan said. “And in spite of that, it’s a one-possession game here on the road vs. a good offensive team.

“We played pretty good, so that’s promising for us.”