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

“We have to make our own breaks,” Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer told the Crimson Tide Sports Network at halftime. “There were some unfortunate things there. Guys are playing hard. There’s no whistle or they don’t hear a whistle. … I trust our guys to be aggressive and go make a play and make some calculated risks. A couple 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 flagged for intentional grounding to make 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 ended 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’re going to play aggressive. Try to be calculated in it. Obviously, they are an opportunistic defense and made a nice play there. We have to be smarter in a couple of situations.”

Milroe has been sacked four times in the first half, and the Tide has been 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 on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.