Houston loses 83-82 at Alabama

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POSTED: December 12, 2021 -- 8:16 a.m. CT

TUSCALOOSA, AL -- (Coleman Coliseum)

The Houston Cougars (14th-ranked Associated Press / 13th-ranked Coaches Poll) battled the Alabama Crimson Tide (9th-ranked in both polls) Saturday night. Alabama won 83-82. A controversial non-call in the closing second is what many people will discuss / debate for days and weeks; however, the teams played one helluva game.

First things first, when the play happened live, I thought Bama freshman guard JD Davison should have been called for goaltending a putback attempt by Houston's Fabian White. Once ESPN2 FINALLY showed a camera angle with a decent (not great) look at the play, I'm not convinced Davison got away with goaltending.

Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson disagrees. His first answer in his postgame press conference Friday night, "IT WAS GOALTENDING!"

Here's a view of the play:

Now, let's be clear: the referees did not go to the sideline for an official review of the play because no called was made during the play. In other words, not one of the referees whistled Davison for goaltending. No call made. No review. Period. That's the rule.

However, here's a tweet with the definition of goaltending:

Since there was no camera angle from the top of the backboard, a better viewpoint is not available to give a definitive answer. Fans will dispute me for saying that. Fine. I'm not a fan. I do not see any angle which definitely shows Davison goaltended.

Next.

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Houston led 76-74 with 3:46 remaining. Thirteen seconds later, Alabama's Jaden Shackelford sank a three-point shot and was fouled by Houston's Taze Moore. Shackelford moved without the ball to get open off a high pick-and-roll. Moore was late just enough to allow Shackelford time to release his shot before Moore fouled him.

Shackelford completed the 4 point play. 78-76, Alabama. 3:33 on the clock.

Twenty-three seconds later, Houston big man Josh Carlton scored a layup on a putback and was fouled. Carlton made the free throw. 79-78, Houston. 3:23 on the clock.

Next, Alabama ran the previous play and, this time, Houston's Jamal Shead was a hair late on the high pick-and-roll. Shackelford drained another 3. 81-79, Alabama. 2:58 on the clock.

Forty-four seconds later, Houston committed a turnover on an inbounds pass. Then, with 1:33 remaining, Shead lost the ball on a drive into the paint.

After Alabama's Keon Ellis was called (correctly) for offensive basket interference, Houston's Marcus Sasser knocked down a tough three-point shot for an 82-81 Houston lead with 52 seconds remaining in the game.

Bama's Jahvon Quinerly missed a long jumper; however, J.D. Davison strolled from three-point line to the hoop for an uncontested putback slam dunk. NO ONE on Houston boxed out Davison.

Davison's putback dunk gave Bama an 83-82 lead with 24.8 seconds on the clock.

ALL of those plays happened before the excitement / agony in the closing seconds of the game.

Sasser scored a game-high 25 points; but, he shot 32.0% (8 for 25) from the floor in the game.

Josh Carlton scored 14 points on 5 for 7 field goals and added 4 for 5 from the free throw line.

Jamal Shead scored 12 points on 5 for 12 field goals. Shead was one of 4 Houston players who had 4 fouls in the game.

Fabian White scored 11 (5 for 9) and added 6 rebounds.

Houston was whistled for 28 fouls; Alabama was whistled for 21 fouls.

Juwan Gary scored 19 points to lead Bama. Jaden Shackelford scored 18.

Bama shot an opponent's season-high 52.0% (26 for 50 from the floor) in the game and 24 for 31 from the foul line. Alabama shot 17 for 20 from the line in the first half.

Houston forward J'Wan Roberts pulled down 9 of his game-high 13 rebounds on offense to help Houston outscore Alabama 23-8 on second-chance points. Roberts was 1 for 6 from the foul line.

Houston's next game is Tuesday, December 14, at home, versus Louisiana. Tip is set for 7 p.m. ESPN+ will stream the game.

CLICK HERE for The HRR's write-ups of Coogs' men's hoops games.