After trailing by as many as 16 in the second half, LSU managed to cut the lead to 8 with a little over two minutes to play.
With the shot clock running out, and momentum rising for the home team, senior guard Latrell Wrightsell took a 3 from the top of the key. A stop not only gave the Tigers the ball back, but it put them in position to get a major come-from-behind win and end Alabama’s five-game win streak.
Enter Houston Mallette.
Ahead of the 2025-26 season, Mallette’s role was a major unknown for Alabama.
In his lone season with the Crimson Tide, Mallette only appeared in six games before suffering an injury and medically redshirting.
After a blowout win over North Dakota to start the season, head coach Nate Oats called Mallette the “hardest-playing guy on the floor.”
This was just the beginning for the guard, who in a short time with the program has become the poster child for Blue Collar Basketball, with his defining moments consistently being in the clutch.
Against Arkansas Mallette was a non-factor most of the night, missing his only shot in regulation before turning it on in the biggest moments, hitting two triples in overtime to help Alabama to the 117-115 win.
The graduate transfer from Pepperdine picked up right where he left off against LSU, hitting his first two triples in the first half; however, for the most part, Mallette disappeared in the second half.
When Wrightsell’s 3 rattled off the rim, the scrappy Mallette skied for the offensive rebound, allowing more time to burn off and stalling LSU’s momentum.
Later in the same possession, Mallette grabbed another big-time offensive rebound that led to a London Jemison dunk to extend the lead back to 10.
Thanks to the heroics of Mallette, Alabama was able to waste 52 seconds of game time and put away the Bayou Bengals, 90-83.
“They were trying to make a comeback push, getting bucket after bucket. They were about to get a stop,” Alabama guard Aden Holloway said. “I think Houston really won the game for us today, for sure.”
Mallette finished a plus-14 in 22 minutes against LSU, hitting 2/3 from behind the arc and collecting four rebounds. He was also named the co-hard hat recipient with teammate Aiden Sherrell.
Mallette and the Crimson Tide will be back in action Wednesday at home versus Mississippi State. Tip off is set for 8 p.m. CT on ESPNU.
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