Alabama’s first SEC title in 19 years will have to wait a little longer.
Crimson Tide lost its chance to win Wednesday night in a 81-66 loss in 20th place in Arkansas. Therefore, the first league title bid since 2002 will move on to Saturday night’s trip to the State of Mississippi after a frustrating visit to Fayetteville.
Alabama (18-6, 13-2) lost about 16 after gaining momentum briefly at the start of the second half. A 15-2 Razorback race finally sank Alabama’s chance to win the conference title, as the problem followed the tide from the first moments.
The 66 points were the fifth lowest number of points scored by Alabama this season and the defeat ended a three-game winning streak.
“Arkansas has overtaken us,” said coach Nate Oats. “They were ready to go. It felt like every lost ball they were getting. “
RELATED: Nate Oats talks about dirty issues, what happened at the ejection of John Petty
Tide was called for 32 fouls, the biggest of the season, for Arkansas 18, while the Razorbacks hit 27 of 43 fouls. Alabama had 3-to-8 from the line, while Tide guard John Petty was sent off with 1:01 to play after suffering his second technical foul in the game. Alabama’s total fouls were the highest in the program since a 2017 game against Memphis.
Herbert Jones and Jaden Shackelford were fouled, while Juwan Gary finished with four fouls.
“The charges are difficult,” said Oats. “(Jones is) taking the ball down the hill, but some of the other things you’re out of position … I think we missed 3-point shooters three times – at least three times. This is basketball’s worst move. “
The three-point shots were fickle all night and failed at Tide when Arkansas made its run in the second half. The result was 4 in 16 after the break and 11 in 33 in the game, with Jordan Bruner offering a brief respite from the problems.
The game started with some nightmare scenarios for Alabama. Not only did he lose his first nine points out of 3, but serious problems first sealed his top scorer. Shackelford went on the bench with his third foul at 10:28 the end of the first half, while the Razorbacks maintained a comfortable, but not overwhelming, advantage for most of the first half.
The deficit reached 12 in the middle of the first half, before Tide began a slow tracking that accelerated just before the break.
Bruner had a lot to do with this.
Yale’s graduation transfer playing only his second game, after losing the previous seven with a knee injury, suddenly couldn’t miss the perimeter. After entering the game with 30.8% of shots in 39 previous attempts, Bruner hit 4 out of 6 in the 3 point range in the first half. His last blow in the final seconds reduced the deficit to just 39-38, despite shots from 52% of the Hogs.
As a team, Alabama made seven of its last eight 3-point shots to close a first half that started with Tide missing the top nine.
The tide streak extended to 10-0 after the break, but the Razorbacks recovered after asking for a timeout, when Alabama led 45-39 in less than two minutes from the break.
This post will be updated.
Michael Casagrande is a reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or in the Facebook.