Pitino’s Iona upsets top-ten Alabama

Rick Pitino's Iona Gaels upset top-ten ranked Alabama on Thursday night during the ESPN invitational.

The matchup was a rematch of Alabama's first-round NCAA tournament victory last season.

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November 26, 2021 - 9:56 AM

Head coach Rick Pitino of the Louisville Cardinals reacts to their 69-73 loss to the Michigan Wolverines during the second round of the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 19, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Joe Robbins/Getty Images/TNS) Photo by TNS

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — Nelly Joseph and Walter Clayton Jr. made key free throws in the final seconds to lift Iona over No. 10 Alabama 72-68 in an opening-round game at the ESPN Events Invitational on Thursday night.

Clayton got an offensive rebound and made one of two free throws to make it 70-68 with 20 seconds left. After Jahvon Quinerly missed a shot for Alabama, Joseph secured the win with two free throws with 9 seconds remaining,

Joseph and Clayton both finished with 15 points.

“I’m happy for the guys,” Iona coach Rick Pitino said. “They are great guys to coach. I’m really, really excited, happy for them.”

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