While other students celebrated with family and enjoyed a break, the Crimson Tide basketball team competed against not one, but three ranked teams over the Thanksgiving break.

Alabama ended the tournament on a high note, defeating back-to-back ranked opponents for the first time since 2006 to claim fifth place in the AdvoCare Invitational. 

Alabama fell on Thursday to No. 23 Xavier 64-45. On Friday the Crimson Tide bounced back to beat No. 20 Wichita State 64-60. It snapped a 21-game losing streak in games against ranked opponents. It was the program’s first win over a ranked team since Jan. 18, 2011.

“You’ve got to give our team credit,” coach Avery Johnson said after the game. “That was a complete team victory. When we can get a minimum of three of our guys in double figures, we are a much better team. It was another outstanding defensive effort by our team just like yesterday, but the difference between the two games was our offense.”

On Sunday, Alabama picked up where it left off beating Notre Dame 74-73. Johnson used two timeouts in the final thirty seconds of the game to set up Alabama’s final offensive play. 

With 12.6 seconds remaining Retin Obasohan headed for the hoop and scored the game-winner with eight seconds remaining. The Irish were unable to respond in time. 

Shannon Hale led the Crimson Tide in scoring all three games to finish the weekend with 49 points. None of his teammates finished the trip with 30 points. 

Dazon Ingram led Alabama in rebounding in the first two games. He finished the tournament 21 total rebounds.