Alabama knocks off second No. 1 of season in historic win over Houston
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Alabama has done it again. Nate Oats’ Crimson Tide squad went to Houston and took down the No. 1 Cougars 71-65.
The win makes the Crimson Tide only the second team of the AP Poll (since 1948) era to defeat 2 different top-ranked teams in the season. Last month, UA defeated a No. 1-ranked North Carolina team. Oklahoma was the first to beat a pair of No. 1 teams. Duke beat a No. 1 UCLA team twice in consecutive days during the 1965-66 season. That Duke team was the last to pick up 2 wins over No. 1 in a season before the New Year.
It was 31-27 Houston at the half. The Cougars opened up a 44-29 lead, their largest of the game, at the 17:23 mark of the second half. Instead of folding, the Crimson Tide went to work on mounting an epic comeback.
It was truly a team effort in the second half for Alabama. MArk Sears led the way with 9 points while Noah Clowney and Brandon Miller each chipped in 8. Jaden Bradley added 7 points, with Rylan Griffen scoring 6 in a 44-point half.
Noah, who finished with a team-high 16 points, came up clutch late to secure a 65-63 lead.
NOAH FOR THE LEAD!
?: https://t.co/HG8bKRxZMi#RollTide | #BlueCollarBasketball pic.twitter.com/zHqqlH8ZFP
— Alabama Men’s Basketball (@AlabamaMBB) December 10, 2022
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
