Advertisement

No. 15 Texas A&M stunned after missed free throws

By The Sports Xchange

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Alabama used 16 points from senior guard Retin Obasohan to upset No. 15 Texas A&M 63-62 on Wednesday before 11,086 at Coleman Coliseum.

Obasohan put in nine of his 16 points in the second half to help the Tide close things out.

Advertisement

"He's been kind of our Superman all year," Alabama coach Avery Johnson said. "We can depend on him. He does a lot of things for us, and solves a lot of problems."

Texas A&M guard Anthony Collins had a chance to win the game at the line for the Aggies, but missed two free throws with two seconds on the clock.

Collins was 30 for 32 from the free throw line this season prior to his misses.

"That kid was shooting 100 percent -- I think he made 28 out of 28 at the beginning of the year. So it just wasn't meant to be," Texas A&M coach Billy Kennedy said. "He's a great free throw shooter. He's a really, really good free throw shooter, and you know, he missed them."

Advertisement

It was the Crimson Tide's fourth win over a ranked opponent this season. The victory also marked Alabama's third straight SEC victory while the Aggies (18-6, 7-4 SEC) were sent home with their third consecutive conference loss after cracking the top 10.

The Crimson Tide (14-9, 5-6) had three players score in double figures. Forward Riley Norris put in 11 (all in the first half) while forward Shannon Hale provided 10 points off the bench.

Johnson said Hale, who has been dealing with a foot injury, entered the game with a minutes' restriction of 15. He actually played 18.

After being held scoreless in the first half, Texas A&M guard Danuel House scored six of the Aggies first eight points of the second half. The senior finished with 12 points.

Texas A&M scored 11 of the first 16 points in the second half to move in front 38-37, but a 3-pointer by Arthur Edwards gave Alabama the lead for good with16:16 to play.

The Crimson Tide extended the lead to as many as 11 with less than seven minutes to play and held on from there. Trailing by eight with 3:52 remaining, the Aggies closed to within 63-62 and had the final possession.

Advertisement

Key players from each team missed crucial minutes of the second half with foul trouble as Alabama center Jimmie Taylor picked up his fourth with 17 minutes left, and Texas A&M guard Jalen Jones picked up his third with 16 minutes remaining.

Both returned around the seven-minute mark. Jones led the Aggies in scoring with 21 points to go with seven rebounds. Collins added 11 points and five assists.

Norris knocked down three first-half 3-pointers, including one from beyond NBA range just before the break. He also scored eight of the Crimson Tide's first 10 points.

Alabama got seven first-half points from Obasohan, the SEC Player of the Week.

Jones led Texas A&M with 11 first-half points.

NOTES: Alabama F Shannon Hale came off the bench. Hale, who had been battling a lingering foot injury, hadn't played since Jan. 30 at South Carolina. ... The Aggies play at LSU on Saturday while the Crimson Tide visit Florida on Saturday. ...The Crimson Tide last defeated four Top 25 teams in one season in 2001-02.

Latest Headlines