Alabama basketball won its fifth straight SEC game in dramatic fashion in what was the SEC game of the season in a 117-115 win against Arkansas in double overtime.
“A lot to learn from, but it’s great to learn from a win. And this is big,” said coach Nate Oats after the win.
Alabama was down by 10 and as much as 14 in the second half before it went on a 17-2 run to get the lead back.
Taylor Bol Bowen was back for the Tide, but was only able to give 10 minutes of playtime before limping off the court onto the bench.
Arkansas had seven healthy players who get minutes on a nightly basis without Karter Knox or Isaiah Sealy who were out because of injury.
Billy Richmond III, Nick Pringle and D.J. Wagner all fouled out and it caused the Hogs to have to bring in Elmir Dzafic and Jaden Karuletwa off the bench, who appeared in less than three games each.
Houston Mallette only had six points tonight, but hit the game winning shot to put the Tide up four in the final minute of double overtime and had a big three during the first overtime.
Maleek Thomas was unconscious from behind-the-arc with 24 points and 6-8 from deep while fouling out in the first overtime.
Both teams were ranked in this game with the Tide at 25 and the Razorbacks at 20.
Alabama is now 9-4 in conference play and is now tied for second after being 4-4 at one point.
Since the 2022-2023 season, Alabama Basketball is 8-0 in overtime games.
32 NBA scouts were on hand to watch the game.
At one point Alabama shot 86 percent from the floor in the later parts of the second half.
Darius Acuff Jr. vs. Labaron Philon Jr.
With both guards leading the charge for their respective teams and both mocked in the first round on many draft boards, this was must see television and it delivered.
Darius Acuff Jr. had everything working and was able to get to his spots at will early on into the game and especiallly into crunch time. The freshman ended up with 49 points on 16-27 from the floor and 11-12 from the free throw line. Acuff did not check out of the game once and played all 50 minutes.
“I said, you think you might have to miss this game? And Darius said, ‘Are you nuts,” said John Calipari after the game when Acuff was in a boot prior to the game.
Labaron Philon Jr. did not outplay Acuff Jr., but put his team on his back whether it be off of switches downhill to draw fouls or make layups or setting up his teammates with seven assists on the game. Philon Jr. finished with a career-high 35 points on 11-21 shooting. and now has eclipsed past Brandon Miller for most 20-point or more games in a single season.
“We’ve been through a lot of adversity this season. I told my guys don’t break we can flip this in a hurry,” said Philon.
Crazy end of regulation plus overtime
Down the stretch of regulation Alabama was in control and had chances to close the game down with clutch free-throw making by Aden Holloway, but Acuff Jr. had a little bit of space and was able to knock down a deep three to force the first overtime.
“Just lead your team to a win,” was Oats message to Philon before the game in regards to the matchup against Acuff.
In the first overtime both teams were trading stops and buckets like a heavyweight boxing match where the Hogs had another good chance to win after a poor possession for the Tide, but Acuff Jr. just rimmed out on a middy.
“We, the staff, the guards that are out there, we have to do a better job of getting him more shots. Everybody believes in him,” said Oats on Mallette’s big shots in overtime.
The second overtime had it all from goaltendings getting reversed where the Razorbacks again had a chance to force a third overtime with a missed floater from Acuff and missed putback dunk from Malique Ewin.
Amari Allen and Aiden Sherrell’s big game on both ends of the floor
Despite the team not getting many stops in the first half defensively, Amari Allen nearly had a double-double at halftime and then got it with 18:42 left in the second half. Whether it be shots around the rim or clutch free throws Allen delivered and finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds.
Aiden Sherrell who has continued to answer the bell after the Charles Bediako news had his best offensive performance of the season with 26 points on 10-13 shooting off of mainly dunks and layups.
“He played hard. He played well,” said Oats on Sherrell’s performance.
Sherrell won the hardhat and played a season-high in minutes with 39 and did not have any cramps or injuries which had been a problem for some games this season.
Next for Arkansas (19-7): vs. Missouri (Sat., Feb. 21 at 4 p.m. EST)
Next for Alabama basketball (19-7): at LSU (Sat., Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. EST)