March Madness Sweet 16: Alabama beats BYU, 113-88, to advance to Elite 8 in men’s NCAA tournament

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Alabama guard Mark Sears (1) in the first half of game against Saint Mary’s in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

NEWARK, NJ — The Crimson Tide continued one of the most successful runs in program history on Thursday night, clinching a second consecutive Elite Eight berth with a 113-88 regional semifinal win over BYU at the Prudential Center.

Mark Sears led the way for Alabama, catching fire from three-point range and scoring a game-high 34 points. The 5th-year senior nailed a career-high 10 3-pointers. When Sears wasn’t drilling triples, Aden Holloway and Chris Youngblood kept up the hot shooting, hitting 12 of their 25 threes. The guard trio combined for 77 points, including 66 from beyond the arc.

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The victory marks the second year in a row Nate Oats’ team has advanced to at least the regional final in the NCAA tournament, a first for Alabama men’s basketball. The win was also Oats’ 11th in tournament play, breaking a tie with Wimp Sanderson for most in Crimson Tide history.

The two top-25 scoring offenses got out to a break-neck pace, but it was Alabama’s sharpshooting from distance that helped it gain control in the first half and never truly feel threatened. Twelve of the Crimson Tide’s 17 made field goals in the first half came from three-point range. Alabama shot 25-of-51 from distance for the game, breaking NCAA tournament records for both 3-pointers made and attempted.

BYU, despite having the strong three-point shooting pair of Richie Saunders and Trevin Knell, were limited from long range in the first half. After finishing the season No. 11 in the nation in 3-pointers made, the Cougars shot just 1-for-13 beyond the arc in the first half.

Instead, the Cougars leaned on interior scoring from Keba Keita and Fousseyni Traore to stay within striking distance of the Crimson Tide early. Saunders, who entered the game with a top-five shooting…

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Author : Anthony Sulla-Heffinger

Publish date : 2025-03-28 01:31:00

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