Texas A&M’s Tyler Davis (34) collides with teammate T.J. Starks (2) while reaching for a rebound as Alabama’s John Petty (23) watches during the first half in an NCAA college basketball game at the Southeastern Conference tournament Thursday, March 8, 2018, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Alabama’s Dazon Ingram (12) heads to the basket past Texas A&M’s Tyler Davis (34) and Savion Flagg, right, during the first half in an NCAA college basketball game at the Southeastern Conference tournament Thursday, March 8, 2018, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Alabama’s Collin Sexton, center, is congratulated by teammates after making the game-winning basket at the buzzer to defeat Texas A&M 71-70 in the Southeastern Conference tournament Thursday in St. Louis.ST. LOUIS – Collin Sexton wasn’t quite ready to put the Alabama men’s basketball team’s postseason chances in the hands of the NCAA tournament selection committee.
Instead, the standout freshman took the Crimson Tide’s fate into his own hands – a plan that kept their hopes of reaching the Big Dance alive for another day.
Sexton drove the length of the court in the final seconds and hit a floater at the buzzer to give ninth-seeded Alabama a 71-70 win over Texas A&M on Thursday. He did so just moments after T.J. Starks hit a 3-pointer to put the Aggies up 70-69 with 4.4 seconds remaining, taking the inbounds pass after a timeout and rocketing up the court for the winner.
“Coach (Avery Johnson) just told me to race it up the floor to get to the basket,” Sexton said. “He knew how fast I could get there, so he said, ‘Just get to the basket, get a layup for us.'”
Sexton finished with 27 points, none bigger than his final two. Alabama (18-14) led by 12 in the second half before the No. 8 seed Aggies (20-12) rallied.