TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Brandon Miller scored 24 points, including 21 in the second half, to lead No. 4 Alabama to a 91-88 win over Memphis on Tuesday night.
Miller hit a 3-pointer and then dunked after rebounding his own miss on the next possession in the final two minutes for the Crimson Tide (9-1), sporting the program's highest ranking in 15 years.
Led by Kendric Davis' 30 points, the Tigers (8-3) stayed alive most of the way for a second upset of a Top 10 Alabama team in as many years and closed the gap in the final seconds.
Alabama had just climbed into the Top 5 after becoming the first team to beat two No. 1 teams — North Carolina and Houston — before January since Duke in the 1965-66 season.
Miller had eight rebounds, five assists and four 3s to help the Tide fight off the challenge this time. Marc Sears scored 12 of his 18 points in the first half and was 9 of 13 from the free throw line.
Noah Clowney, who has won the past two Southeastern Conference freshman of the week honors, fouled out with 11 points and nine rebounds. Jaden Bradley scored 10.
DeAndre Williams had 15 points and nine rebounds before fouling out with 6:18 left for Memphis. Davis also fouled out late.
Keonte Kennedy made Memphis's first 3-pointer and his only basket with less than a second left. Damaria Franklin scored six points in the final 25 seconds.
Memphis starting center Malcolm Dandridge was helped off the court with 12 minutes left and didn't return. Dandridge finished with seven points and eight rebounds.
BIG PICTURE
Memphis: Flirted with a second straight upset of a ranked SEC team after beating No. 19 Auburn in Atlanta last weekend. Memphis is still 3-1 against SEC opponents this season.
Alabama: Avoided a repeat of last year's meeting when the Tide was ranked No. 6 before losing to the Tigers.
BURNETT OUT
Alabama announced before the game that guard Nimari Burnett is out indefinitely with a left wrist injury. Barnett, who was averaging 7.9 points a game and has nine starts, underwent surgery on Tuesday afternoon in Birmingham and is expected to return this season.
UP NEXT
Memphis hosts Texas A&M on Saturday night.
Alabama plays No. 15 Gonzaga Saturday in Birmingham.