Alabama scores huge comeback win over Vandy, 59-56, in home SEC opener

Alabama orchestrated a big comeback behind star turns from a slew of players and the Tide got its second straight SEC basketball win on a frigid, wintry night in Tuscaloosa against Vanderbilt.

The Tide was down by as much as 14, but rallied in the second half behind a strong defensive performance to get the 59-56 win.

With the win, Alabama moves to an important early 2-0 in SEC play and 9-5 overall.

(Alabama beat Mississippi State 68-58 in the league opener.)

Off the bench, Ar'Mond Davis and Jimmie Taylor had big nights. Davis had a team-high 12 points, with Taylor adding 10 and an aggressive defensive performance including eight rebounds and three blocks.

The Tide held Vandy's normally dominating Fisher-Davis to just seven points.

(Check out the box score from the game.)

From the beginning, the game was one of lopsided runs.

Vanderbilt started the game by going up 6-0, and then started the second half strong again with three straight 3-pointers and stretched to a 42-30 lead after being tied at halftime.

But the Tide stayed in the game, behind Davis' and Taylor's scores as well as Dazon Ingram's 10 and Braxton Key's 7.

They went ahead in the first half, going on a 15-2 run after Vandy's early dominance[ and then also rallied in the second half to tie the game at 49-49 then go ahead with just over eight minutes to go in the game after trailing by 14.

During that comeback stretch, Davis came up big as he scored a pivotal three-pointer. The defense orchestrated two steals that led to points during the run.

Alabama stayed poised and put on the defensive pressure in the game's final moments.

With thirty seconds to go, Vanderbilt had a chance to tie the game at 58 but the Tide forced a bad pass; on the other end of the court, Ingram was fouled and connected on one-of-two free throws. Vandy made an ill-advised three-pointer, and Alabama closed out the win.