Latrell Wrightsell scored 24 points and fourth-seeded Alabama unleashed a relentless 3-point attack in blowing out No. 5 Texas Tech 90-65 in the NCAA Tournament’s second round Sunday night in Tampa, Fla.
Houston Mallette scored all 15 of his points on 3s, Amari Allen had 12 points despite missing his four 3-point attempts and Aiden Sherrell had 10 points. Labaron Philon Jr. contributed nine points and a career-high 12 assists.
Alabama (25-9) is going to the Sweet 16 for the fourth year in a row, meeting top-seeded Michigan on Friday night in the Midwest Region at Chicago.
LeJuan Watts’ 16 points and seven rebounds led Texas Tech (23-11), while Donovan Atwell provided 12 points and Leon Horner had 10. The Red Raiders lost four of their final five games, with a once-promising season veering off track after the loss of star JT Toppin to a season-ending injury.
The Crimson Tide led 90-56 with 4:41 remaining and didn’t score again. Substitutes helped finish the job for Alabama in a game that concluded after midnight.
Led by Wrightsell’s six 3-pointers on nine attempts, Alabama made 19 of 42 shots from 3-point spots (45.2%) compared to Texas Tech’s 4-for-25 shooting from long range (16%).
“Wrightsell sets the tone for us,” Alabama coach Nate Oats said.
The Crimson Tide also controlled the boards to the tune of 47-35.
In two tournament games, Alabama didn’t look bothered by playing without suspended guard Aden Holloway, the team’s second-leading scorer. The Crimson Tide reached the 90-point level in both games, speeding past Hofstra on Friday.
“We’ve dealt with probably more adversity than any other program in the country this year,” Crimson Tide guard Mallette said. “I think we’ve been really well equipped and not focusing on what’s happened to us, but more so our response.”
Alabama, fueled by a 13-2 spurt, held a 49-25 halftime lead with seven different players hitting at least one 3-pointer. The Crimson Tide were 6-for-12 on two-point attempts as they relied almost exclusively on perimeter shooting.
The 49 points were the most scored in the first half in any NCAA Tournament second-round game this weekend.
Alabama made 11 shots from 3-point range in the first half, while Texas Tech shot 2-for-13 on first-half 3-point attempts
–Field Level Media
