Baylor has won the first 15 games of this season, rising to the top of the AP poll heading into the new year. However, that momentum has stalled since the calendar flipped.
The fourth-placed bears suffered their third loss of the season on Saturday, when they were overwhelmed by the underrated Alabama, 87-78. All three defeats have come in the last six.
The match started quite smoothly as the teams exchanged nothing but body attacks in the first 20 minutes. The four-man lead Crimson Tide will enter the break after Keon Ellis knocks down all three free throws after being fouled behind the arc.
Both teams entered the game slowly to start the second half, but Alabama quickly took control. Tide took a 15-point lead midway through as Ellis pulled three points to go 57-42 at 11:50.
However, the Bears won’t go down without a fight. They gradually worked their way back up until just four points behind after more than four minutes of play. However, Alabama wouldn’t let it come any closer, retreating in the final minutes for a nine-point win.
Alabama’s Jahvon Quinerly led all scorers with 20. Jaden Shackleford added 19 points, nine rebounds and five assists to Tide, while Ellis dropped 11. Juwan Gary and JD Davison added 15, respectively. and 14 came on from the bench.
Jeremy Sochan led Baylor with 17 points off the bench, and Adam Flagler added 16 points.
Alabama is currently 14-7 after the win, but won’t claim a spot in the conference as the game is part of the 12/SEC Grand Challenge. Baylor slipped to 18-3 and remained half-game back to Kansas No. 5 in the conference.
