WICHITA (AP) — Darius Carter had a game-high 16 points and the go-ahead slam with 11.9 seconds remaining to lead No. 11 Wichita State to a 53-52 victory over Alabama Tuesday.
The Shockers (8-1) trailed by 11 with five minutes to play but rallied behind Ron Baker and Fred VanVleet, who finished with 14 and nine points.
Levi Randolph and Shannon Hale each scored 13 points for Alabama (6-3). The Tide managed just one point in the game's final 5:50.
Alabama took a one-point halftime lead and built on it. Consecutive baskets from Hale were followed by a Randolph 3-pointer with 13:41 remaining, giving the Crimson Tide a 36-28 lead.
Wichita State tried to rally. Alabama would not rattle. Randolph answered a VanVleet 3-pointer with a patient take to the basket for a three-point play and 39-31 lead.
The Shockers got within five points on a Baker 3-pointer and a Rauno Nurger layup. But Alabama answered with a Randolph pull-up jumper and a Ricky Tarrant 3-pointer that gave the Tide a 48-40 lead with 7:54 remaining.
When Hale hit a wide-open 3-pointer for a 51-40 advantage with 5:50 remaining, the crowd fell silent and Alabama's bench began to anticipate the upset.
The Shockers stormed back. A Carter slam was quickly followed by a VanVleet layup while being fouled. VanVleet missed that free throw and the front end of a 1-and-1 12 seconds later, leaving Alabama ahead 51-44.
Baker then found a seam in the lane and scooped in a left-handed shot while being fouled. The three-point play cut the Tide's lead to 51-47 with 3:42 remaining.
Wichita State pulled even behind freshman Rashard Kelly. He hit his only two baskets of the game, both short jumpers in the lane, making it 51-51 with 1:21 to play.
The Tide took the lead again on a Randolph free throw with 32.1 seconds remaining.
But then VanVleet drove, skirted a bounce pass through traffic to Carter, who converted the slam with 11.9 seconds remaining.
Alabama's ensuing possession was a mad scramble for a loose ball, eventually leading to a Tide timeout with 1.2 seconds remaining. Rodney Cooper's hurried shot at the buzzer was an airball.
TIP-INS
Alabama: The Crimson Tide will play its next five games at home, the longest homestand since the 2008-09 season. . Alabama has not won a road game against a top-25 team since defeating No. 4 Mississippi State on Feb. 21, 2004. . Alabama entered the game shooting 78.8 percent from the free throw line, best in the nation through last weekend's games. They were 7 of 12 at the free throw line Tuesday.
Wichita State: Starting forward Evan Wessel had a tip-in with 3:43 remaining in the first half but then crumpled to the floor after injuring his right ankle. He started the second half, though. . The Shockers took a 4-3 lead in the series. The teams played for the fourth time in five seasons.
UP NEXT
Alabama hosts Stillman on Friday
Wichita State plays Loyola Marymount Monday in the Diamond Head Classic in Honolulu.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Big XII Conference
MEN
Tuesday
At Wichita
No. 11 Wichita St. 53
Alabama 52
WICHITA ST. (8-1)
Wessel 1-4 0-0 2, Carter 6-11 4-6 16, VanVleet 4-6 0-2 9, Baker 5-12 1-1 14, Cotton 0-6 0-0 0, Kelly 2-4 1-4 5, Henderson Jr. 0-1 1-2 1, Holland 1-3 0-0 3, Nurger 1-1 0-0 2, Wamukota 0-0 0-0 0, Morris 0-1 1-2 1.
Totals 20-49 8-17 53.
ALABAMA (6-3)
Tarrant 3-8 0-0 7, Kessens 3-4 0-0 6, Taylor 2-2 2-3 6, Randolph 4-6 3-5 13, Cooper 2-7 0-0 4, Norris 1-1 1-2 3, Coleman 0-2 0-0 0, Hale 5-11 1-2 13, Obasohan 0-2 0-0 0.
Totals 20-43 7-12 52.
Halftime_Alabama 25-24. 3-Point Goals_Alabama 5-16 (Randolph 2-2, Hale 2-5, Tarrant 1-5, Coleman 0-1, Cooper 0-3), Wichita St. 5-18 (Baker 3-7, VanVleet 1-1, Holland 1-3, Henderson Jr. 0-1, Wessel 0-2, Cotton 0-4). Fouled Out_Taylor. Rebounds_Alabama 28 (Randolph, Taylor 5), Wichita St. 32 (VanVleet 7). Assists_Alabama 8 (Tarrant 3), Wichita St. 14 (VanVleet 5). Total Fouls_Alabama 16, Wichita St. 12. A_10,506.
