No. 8 Alabama became just the fourth team to beat two different AP No. 1s in the same season.
HOUSTON — No. 8 Alabama could have called it a day when it was trailing by double figures early in the second half.
The Crimson Tide didn’t, and earned another marquee win this season.
Alabama rallied from a 15-point second-half deficit to stun No. 1 Houston 71-65 on Saturday, becoming just the fourth team to beat two different AP No. 1s in the same season.
Noah Clowney had 16 points and 11 rebounds, Jaden Bradley added 12 points and Mark Sears scored 11 points, including nine in the second half for the Crimson Tide (8-1). Alabama shot 50% from the field in the second half and 41% for the game. The Tide went 20-of-32 on free throws, including 15-of-21 in the second half.
« This is one of those character wins that shows that our guys are going to keep fighting no matter what the score is, » Alabama coach Nate Oats said. « We could have easily given up down 15. The start of the second half wasn’t great. We made some changes with the bench guys. Hung in there, kept clawing away at the lead, finally able to take the lead and then we pulled away from them. »
The Crimson Tide beat North Carolina 103-101 in four overtimes on Nov.
