JD Davison’s dunk with 25 seconds left rallied No. 9 Alabama to a wild 83-82 win over No. 14 Houston on Saturday night in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Davison was also involved in the game’s final sequence, swatting away a final tip try as time expired. Cougars coach Kelvin Sampson gesticulated for a goaltending call and followed the officials almost to the tunnel, protesting their no-call.
Kyler Edwards forced a 3-pointer under heavy pressure with about four seconds left that missed. A tip-in attempt by Fabian White fell off the front iron, and Davison spiked a second tip to improve the Crimson Tide’s record to 8-1 after one of the best games of the season’s first month.
Juwan Gary scored 19 points to lead four Alabama players in double figures. Jaden Shackelford added 18, Jahvon Quinerly chipped in 17 points and eight assists, and Davison finished with 10 points.
Marcus Sasser scored a game-high 25 points for Houston (8-2), drilling a 3-pointer with 53.1 seconds left for an 82-81 edge. Josh Carlton added 14 points and six rebounds, while Jamal Shead contributed 12 points and White hit for 11.
In one of the weekend’s most-anticipated matchups, the teams served early notice the hype was warranted by scoring on their first three possessions. That set the tone for an entertaining first half in which Houston played on mostly even terms at Alabama’s faster pace.
Shackelford’s 3-pointer gave the Crimson Tide an 18-11 lead at the 13:26 mark, but the Cougars responded. Edwards’ 3-point connection with 6:26 remaining in the half brought them within 27-26.
Noah Gurley’s three-point play in transition boosted Alabama to a 38-30 advantage with 3:55 remaining, but Houston answered with seven straight points. The Tide got the last say when Davison sank two foul shots four seconds before intermission for a 44-41 edge.
The foul line was the major difference in the first half. Alabama converted 17 of 20 at the stripe, while the Cougars were only 4 of 7.
–Field Level Media