Early on during Alabama basketball’s Wednesday’s matchup with Clemson in the ACC/SEC Challenge , it seemed the Crimson Tide would roll easily. Instead, the Tigers made the game far more interesting than it needed to be.

Alabama won 90-84, but blew a massive lead in the process. At one point, Nate Oats’ team led by 19 points.

“Happy we get the win,” Oats said afterward. “We’re gonna have to work on our defensive mentality playing with a lead.”

The Crimson Tide got to the lead right out of the gate. By the under-eight timeout in the first half, Alabama led 35-19.

UA was shooting the ball well at that point in the action, having made 61% of its attempts from the field and an impressive 54% from three-point range. Clemson was having major trouble offensively, making just seven of its 2

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