Kelvin Sampson reaches out to Alabama staff after controversial finish

Houston basketball coach Kelvin Sampson reached out to Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne and basketball coach Nate Oats Sunday, according to a social media post from Byrne. The post claims the veteran coach sincerely apologized for his team’s actions at the end of their 83-82 road loss in Tuscaloosa.

Just received a call from Kelvin Sampson, someone I’ve known since I was in high school,” Greg Byrne posted. “He sincerely apologized for how things ended after last night’s game in Coleman. He also called Nate Oats. Thanks Coach Sampson for reaching out.”

During the game, point guard JD Davison saved the game with a tip-in dunk as the clock wound down, giving Alabama the lead. The freshman then blocked an attempted tip which some believe to be a goaltend.

When the final buzzer hit on the highly anticipated Alabama against Houston game on Saturday night, the Cougars were not done. Sampson and several Cougars players followed the officials off the court to plead their case for a goaltend.

“It was goaltending,” Kelvin Sampson said after the game.

The no-call from the officials sent the Houston staff into hysterics, leaving the Crimson Tide head coach standing on the court, holding out an empty handshake.

“If I was in their shoes, I would be looking for a goaltending call too,” Oats said.

Video surfaced later that night of a Houston staff member and more players breaking chair and flipping trash cans onto the floor as they made their way back into the locker room. Another video then showed sophomore guard Jamal Shead picking up the debris on his own, placing pieces of garbage back in the trash can before joining his teammates in the locker room.

More about Alabama basketball

With the win, the Alabama Crimson Tide move to 8-1 on the season while the Houston Cougars are 8-2. Nate Oats leads his squad up against Memphis, Jacksonville State and Colorado State before opening SEC play versus No. 13 Tennessee.

Alabama has bounced back in a major way from a Nov. 25 loss to Rick Pitino’s Iona Gaels. They beat Gonzaga 91-82 — and amassing a 51-35 first-half lead — behind Jaden Shackelford’s 28-point performance. Shackelford went six-of-eight from deep and helped Alabama to climb back up in the AP Top 25 poll. Previously ranked at No. 16, the Crimson Tide have since moved back up to No. 9 and should move even higher after the win versus Houston.