The SEC Tournament finals saw a matchup between two rivals, No. 6 Alabama and LSU. LSU paved its way to the championship game by defeating Ole Miss and the then No. 8 Arkansas. On the other hand, Alabama defeated Mississippi State and Tennessee to earn a spot in the finals. LSU and Alabama met two times in the regular season; both times, Alabama would win in blowout fashion.
Alabama won the SEC regular-season championship with a 23-6 record. With a win on Sunday, they would claim their first SEC Tournament championship since 1991. LSU hasn’t won the SEC Tournament since 1980.
First half
The first half was back and forth and looked much more competitive than the first two times the teams met. Both teams are great on offense and showed it in Sunday’s championship game. Alabama shot 41.8% from the field and made 6 three-pointers in the first. LSU did not shoot as well, only 36.1% from the field. Although they did make 7-8 free throws compared to Alabama missing their only free throw attempt in the first. The tight first half was reflected on the scoreboard with Alabama holding a 40-37 lead at the break.
Alabama’s Jahvon Quinerly had a big first-half scoring 10 points off the bench. Quinerly also grabbed 4 rebounds in the first. LSU had 2 players step up big time in the first; Cam Thomas and Trendon Watford. Both players scored 13 points in the first, Watford also grabbed 5 rebounds.
Second half
The second half saw more of the same from the rivals. Both teams repeatably hit big shots going blow for blow with one another. The lead would change hands 16 times in total. Both teams would finish the game by shooting better than 40% from the field and making double-digit three-point shots.
The last-minute of the game saw both teams giving their best efforts to try to pull out a win. LSU’s Watford would make a layup and get fouled, with 27.6 seconds left to give LSU a 1-point lead. SEC Player of the Year Hebert Jones would score a go-ahead bucket for Alabama with 19.5 seconds left on the very next possession, giving them a 1-point lead.
With 19.5 seconds left, LSU found themselves down just 1 point and could hold the ball for the last shot and potentially a win. After a timeout, LSU’s Javonte Smart missed a three. Smart’s three was rebounded by Watford, whose shot was blocked out of bounds by Alabama’s Keon Ellis. Watford would force a three off the inbound that was missed. Aundree Hyatt grabbed the offensive rebound but couldn’t finish the put back as time expired. LSU had 4 shots in the final 19.5 seconds to try to win the game but couldn’t get one to fall. Alabama would hold on to win their first SEC Tournament since 1991 by a score of 80-79.
Alabama was led by Jaden Shackelford, who scored 21 points. Keon Ellis and Jahvon Quinerly both added 14. Quinerly was named SEC Tournament MVP.
LSU’s Trendon Watford scored 30 points, a career-high, in the loss. Javonte Smart added 21 and Cam Thomas scored 18.
What’s Next?
After a great SEC Championship game, both teams will look forward to the NCAA Tournament. Alabama will be a 2 seed and face 15 seed, Iona. LSU will be an 8 seed and face 9 seed St. Bonaventure.
