South Carolina scored three times in the final 97 seconds of the first half to erase a 14-0 deficit and come within 14-12 of No. 7 Alabama on Saturday in Tuscaloosa.

“We have to take our own breaks,” Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer told the Crimson Tide Sports Network at halftime. “There were some unfortunate things there. Boys play hard. There is no whistle or they don’t hear a whistle. … I trust our guys to be aggressive and make plays and take some calculated risks.” A few of them backfired on us.”

That might be the understatement of the year.

On fourth-and-9, LaNorris Sellers hit Mazeo Bennett Jr. for a 36-yard touchdown with 1:37 left in the half. Jalen Milroe was sacked in the end zone on Alabama’s ensuing possession and was flagged for intentional grounding, making the score 14-9.

After Alabama forced a turnover, Milroe gave it right back when his pass was intercepted by Jalon Kilgore at the 50 and returned 31 yards to the Alabama 19. Alex Herrera closed the half with a 37-yard field goal as time expired.

“I trust our guys,” DeBoer told ABC at halftime. “I want to attack. We are going to play aggressively. Try to be calculated in this regard. Obviously they are an opportunistic defense and made a nice play there. We have to be smarter in some situations.”

Milroe was sacked four times in the first half and the Tide was penalized five times for 36 yards.

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard daily on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile app from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.