3 takeaways from Alabama Basketball’s exciting victory at Arkansas

After a week’s free of his Midweek Bye, Alabama Basketball returned to action without losing speed on Saturday and beat Arkansa’s 85-81 in Fayetteville. The victory did not come easily, with razorbacks that mounted a furious late comeback.

The victory moved Crimson Tide to 20-3 on the season, 9-1 in Sec Play. The UA probably takes over the No. 1 place in the AP vote with the victory.

Alabama will be back in action Tuesday against Texas. Before this is here three takeaways from Saturday’s victory.

The opportunity

Alabama found out earlier on Saturday that it will host ESPN’s College Gameday next week at Coleman Coliseum when Auburn comes to town. Entering Saturday’s action was ranked ranked No. 1 in the nation, followed by Duke, with Crimson Tide, who was in third place.

Then Auburn fell to Florida at home. Later in the day, during the opening mine of Alabama-Arkansas-Matchup, Duke went down on Clemson.

Suddenly, all the Crimson Tide needed to do to presumably seize the top location in the Associated Press Media vote was to take razorbacks. It was still easier said than done.

John Calipari’s team came in playing his best basketball in the season, fresh by wins in Kentucky and Texas. Bud Walton Arena is also one of the toughest environments in SEC basketball.

Either way, the tide got it done. Alabama is likely to be the No. 1 team in the country.

Revenue tides

Alabama shot the ball far better than razorbacks in the first half. However, Crimson Tide spread a chance to take a big lead due to revenue.

After turning the ball over 20 times in his last game, against Georgia, Alabama was back on it early. At the break, the tide had turned the ball over nine times against a physical Arkansa team.

Fortunately for Alabama, Razorbacks remained icy from the field and went into the break after making only 35% of their field goals compared to UAS 59%. Arkansas was only able to score seven points from the first half of revenue.

Arkansas held it close and never let Alabama get more than 10 points ahead through half. Crimson Tide went to the dressing room up 40-34 after Mo Diouubate made a short jumper to finish half.

Alabama had another five revenue in the second half. However, Arkansas could not capitalize, scoring only 13 points from the turnover throughout the game.

No sure thing

Razorbacks cut it close. With 6:29 back, Crimson Tide had led with 18 points and seemed to be rolled back to Tuscaloosa with an easy win.

Then Arkansas began to roll. Razorbacks went on 12-0 running late in the game and eventually cut Alabama’s lead to only three points.

After the lead ran between three and five, Zvonimir Ivisic hit a layup to make it 83-80, and Nate Oats took a timeout with 38.3 seconds left before Aden Holloway missed a three and Razorbacks got one last chance with 10.6 seconds left. When his team got the ball across the half -lane, Calipari took a timeout with 7.3 back.

Sears Breed Ivisic, who missed the first and hit the second free throw. Chris Youngblood hit one of two, but Ivisic lost rebounds outside the borders, and after a successful UA-in-depth, Youngblood added a free throw to seal the 85-81 victory.

Grant Nelson led Crimson Tide with 15 points. Ivisic led all scorers with 27 points, and also grabbed seven rebounds.