SEC Basketball

Wichita State rallies past Alabama

Wichita State's Darius Carter shoots in front of Alabama defenders during an NCAA college basketball game in Wichita, Kan., on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2014. (AP Photo/The Wichita Eagle, Travis Heying)

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Darius Carter dunked with 11.9 seconds left, capping No. 11 Wichita State's rally from an 11-point deficit in the final six minutes to edge Alabama 53-52 Tuesday night.

The Shockers (8-1) trailed 51-40 with 5:50 left, but held Alabama (6-3) to one point the rest of the way.

Freshman Rashard Kelly made his only two baskets of the game, both short jumpers in the lane, to pull Wichita State even at 51 with 1:21 left.

After Alabama's Levi Randolph hit a foul shot with 32.1 seconds remaining, Fred VanVleet drove the lane for the Shockers and threw a bounce pass through traffic to Carter for the slam.

The Crimson Tide's final possession turned into a mad scramble for a loose ball. Alabama called a timeout with 1.2 seconds left, and Rodney Cooper's hurried shot at the buzzer was an airball.

Carter finished with 16 points, Ron Baker had 14 and VanVleet had nine.

Randolph and Shannon Hale each scored 13 for Alabama.

The Crimson Tide entered the game shooting 78.8 percent from the foul line, best in the nation through last weekend's games. They were 7 of 12 on free throws against the Shockers.

TIP-INS

Alabama: The Crimson Tide will play its next five games at home, the team's longest homestand since the 2008-09 season. ... Alabama has not won a road game against a Top 25 team since defeating No. 4 Mississippi State on Feb. 21, 2004.

Wichita State: Starting forward Evan Wessel had a tip-in with 3:43 remaining in the first half but then crumpled to the floor after injuring his right ankle. He started the second half, though. ... The Shockers took a 4-3 lead in the series. The teams played for the fourth time in five seasons.

UP NEXT

Alabama hosts Stillman on Friday.

Wichita State plays Loyola Marymount Monday in the Diamond Head Classic in Honolulu.