By DAN GELSTON
NEWARK — Alabama broke the 35-year-old March Insanity document for 3-pointers with 25 and Mark Sears scored 30 of his 34 factors on 3s, a relentless long-range spree that ushered the second-seeded Crimson Tide previous BYU 113-88 on Thursday night time in an NCAA Event East Area semifinal.
Alabama reached the Elite Eight in consecutive years for the primary time in program historical past.
The Crimson Tide made 25 of 51 3-point makes an attempt to interrupt the document of 21 set by Loyola Marymount in 1990. Sears, a first-team All-America guard, hit the record-breaking twenty second 3 late within the recreation to make it 97-66. He obtained a standing ovation from the Alabama followers when he checked out with 10 3s and greater than 4 minutes left to play.
Sears and the Crimson Tide (28-8) confirmed they’re no March fluke below coach Nate Oats. Driving a wave of 3s, Alabama set itself up for a date towards both Duke or Arizona for a shot on the Closing 4.
Richie Saunders scored 25 factors to guide BYU (26-10), which hasn’t performed in a regional ultimate since 1981.
Sears’ 10 3s had been one in need of the document set by Loyola Marymount’s Jeff Fryer in a memorable 149-115 second-round win over Michigan.
The Crimson Tide made their first Closing 4 look in class historical past final season, once they misplaced to eventual nationwide champion UConn.
Alabama liked the three this season, averaging 28 makes an attempt a recreation. Towards sixth-seeded BYU (24-9), Sears and the Crimson Tide feasted on the lengthy ball.
Sears hit 5 within the first half, tenting out behind the arc with out a lot of a hand in his face. Sears and Chris Youngblood hit back-to-back 3s for a 38-30 lead and repeated the feat minutes later for a 44-34 benefit. BYU’s Egor Demin adopted with an airball and Alabama might scent crimson within the water.
Alabama tried 15 2-pointers and made 10 of them.
Sears raised his teammates out of their seats and right into a frenzy when one other 3 early within the second half for a 63-47 lead that despatched the shaken Cougars right into a timeout. The deep, up-tempo Crimson Tide let Sears bury 3 after 3 after 3 with the Elite Eight in sight.
TAKEAWAYS
Alabama continued the Southeastern Convention’s run within the event and coasted in its third straight Candy 16 look.
The photographs — and now, free tater tots — dried up for BYU. Saunders, a descendant of the man who invented tater tots, had fueled BYU’s run to the Candy 16.
BYU was a bust making an attempt match Alabama past the arc. The Cougars missed 12 of 13 3s within the first half.
The Cougars gamely pulled inside placing distance solely to get socked down by, sure, one other Alabama 3. Demin hit a 3 that pulled BYU inside 63-55, just for Aden Holloway to attach once more past the arc for the Tide.
Holloway made six 3s and Youngblood had 5.
UP NEXT
Alabama will attempt to attain solely the second Closing 4 in program historical past.
