Tulane wins 4th in a row 53-50 over Alabama

Tulane wins 4th in a row 53-50 over Alabama

Published Dec. 30, 2012 6:28 p.m. ET

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) -- Jordan Callahan hit back-to-back 3-pointers in the final 1:55 to lift Tulane to a 53-50 win over Alabama on Sunday for the Green Wave's fourth consecutive victory.

Josh Davis had 18 points and 12 rebounds for Tulane (11-3), which trailed by six points with just over 4 minutes left. Kendall Timmons hit two free throws and Davis added another one in the final 18 seconds.

Trevor Lacey drained a quick 3-pointer from the right corner with 11 seconds left and the Crimson Tide (7-5) quickly fouled Davis, who missed the second one. That gave Alabama a chance to tie it, but Rodney Cooper's 3-pointer from the top of the key bounced off the rim.

Alabama has dropped five of its last six games and three straight at Coleman Coliseum.

Callahan scored 12 points on 4-of-10 3-point shooting and came up with the two big ones.

Davis was 6-of-9 shooting but also committed seven of Tulane's 13 turnovers.

Nick Jacobs scored a season-high 12 points in his first start for the Crimson Tide. Lacey also had 12 points for Alabama, which made just 3 of 15 3-pointers.

Leading scorer Trevor Releford had just six points , 10 below his season average

Callahan answered with a 3 after Releford's basket put Alabama ahead 45-39 with 4:19 to play to begin his hot finish.

Alabama led by seven points in the opening minutes of the second half before Tulane scored 12 consecutive points for its first lead, 36-31 with 11:54 left. The Green Wave dominated inside with three offensive rebounds before Davis' put-back and adding back-to-back 3-pointers by Tarrant and Ben Cherry.

Alabama made one basket in the opening 9 minutes of the second half before Jacobs got hot. He scored six points during Alabama's 11-0 answering spurt sparked by full-court pressure that forced a couple of turnovers and fast-break baskets for a 42-36 lead with 7:14 to play.

The final basket of the run was also the most dramatic. Levi Randolph swiped a pass near midcourt and fired it to Lacey under the basket. Lacey found a driving Retin Obasohan for a dunk.

It was the first tight game during Tulane's winning streak with the first three victories coming by a collective 69 points.

The Tide led 25-20 at halftime, holding Tulane to three points below its previous first-half scoring low. The Green Wave was just 7-of-25 shooting (28 percent) in the half.

Tulane solved some of its offensive problems in the second half, going 11 of 25 (44 percent).

This was a rare meeting in a once regular rivalry. It was the 84th time Tulane and Alabama have played but the first since 1998.

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