SEC Hoops: Alabama Holds Off Arkansas, Texas A&M Falls

by:Nick Roush•02/26/23•

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Alabama F Brandon Miller — David Jensen | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The top two teams in the SEC were on the ropes Saturday afternoon. Alabama survived at home amid controversy, while Texas A&M fell for just the third time in SEC play.

The Aggies made only one field goal in the final 14 minutes in Starkville, allowing Mississippi State to take control with a 34-18 run to end the game. The Bulldogs won 69-62 thanks to 17 points from Tolu Smith and 14 from Shakeel Moore. The loss for #25 Texas A&M opens the door for Kentucky to sneak into the SEC Tournament as a 2-seed, but the Cats need A&M to lose out.

Meanwhile in Tuscaloosa, it was a battle between the top two NBA Draft prospects in the SEC’s Freshman class. NBA scouts did not leave disappointed. Brandon Miller and Nick Smith posted identical stat lines, 24 points and 6 rebounds, but it was Miller’s Crimson Tide that outlasted Smith’s Razorbacks for an 89-86 victory.

Arkansas was ahead for most the first half and took a nine-point advantage into the locker room. Alabama retook the lead with a 15-0 run in the second half, but Smith’s heroics got Arkansas back in the game. The Razorbacks scored 20 points in the final 2:48, capped off by a three-pointer from Smith that cut the deficit to two with 10 seconds remaining. Ricky Council‘s potential game-tying three bounced off the rim.

Despite the electric atmosphere for the exciting SEC basketball game, most of the attention was focused on what happened before the game. When the embattled Brandon Miller was introduced to the crowd, he received a standing ovation and a pat-down from his teammates. It’s not a great look for a guy who is entangled in a murder investigation.

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Brandon Miller gets MASSIVE ovation from Alabama fans and then a teammate pats him as if he’s performing a security search.

Absolutely terrible look for Alabama. pic.twitter.com/BNMirpHISw
— David Hookstead (@dhookstead) February 25, 2023

“I think that’s something that’s been going on all year,” head coach Nates Oats said to open his postgame news conference. “I don’t watch our introductions. I’m not involved with them. I’m drawing up plays at that time. Regardless, it’s not appropriate. It’s been addressed, and I can assure you it definitely will not happen again the remainder of this year.”

Other Scores Around the SEC

Every other game on the penultimate regular season Saturday in the SEC was decided by double digits. Kentucky’s most recent opponent got clobbered by its next opponent. Vanderbilt defeated Florida 88-72 thanks to six different Commodores scoring in double figures. Liam Robbins led the way with 18 points, 9 rebounds and 5 blocked shots. Vanderbilt will come to Rupp Arena Wednesday as winners of six of their last seven.

Ole Miss won its first game since they fired Kermit Davis, defeating LSU 82-69 in Oxford. The Tigers have won only two SEC games in Matt McMahon’s first year in Baton Rouge. Tennessee pummeled South Carolina by 40 points and Missouri went on the road and handed Georgia a 22-point loss.