- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 406,873
- Reaction score
- 43
You must be registered for see images attach
NEWARK, N.J. (ABC4 Sports) – Alabama broke the 35-year-old March Madness record for 3-pointers with 25 and Mark Sears scored 30 of his 34 points on 3s, a relentless long-range spree that ushered the second-seeded Crimson Tide past BYU 113-88 on Thursday night in an NCAA Tournament East Region semifinal.
Richie Saunders led BYU with 25 points, but the Cougars made just 6 of 30 three-point attempts, as their season came to an end with a record of 26-10.
The Crimson Tide made 25 of 51 3-point attempts to break the record of 21 set by Loyola Marymount in a second-round game against Michigan in 1990. Sears, a first-team All-America guard, hit the record-breaking 22nd 3 late in the game to make it 97-66 and received a standing ovation from the Alabama fans when he checked out with 10 3s and more than four minutes left to play.
BYU expects shootout against Alabama in Sweet 16
“It was an historic shooting performance that was hard to overcome for us,” said BYU head coach Mark Pope. We felt like we made a little dent, and it started going the other way. We felt like it would be hard for them to sustain that, and that’s where you have to give them credit because they did.”
“They were shooting tough shots,” Saunders said. “It’s hard to come back or to combat them when they’re just hitting everything.”
BYU missed a chance to advance to the Elite 8 for the first time since 1981.
Sears’ 10 3s were one short of the record set by Loyola Marymount’s Jeff Fryer in that memorable 149-115 win over Michigan. Sears was 1 of 9 from 3 in the first two NCAA Tournament games.
He missed only seven times against BYU.
“I felt like the basket was as big as an ocean,” Sears said. “I lost myself in the game.”
BYU fans celebrate Sweet 16 bid with Cougars
“He shot the ball really well,” said BYU point guard Dallin Hall. “Credit to them for their game plan. We didn’t adjust in time, and I think that’s why I saw the way it ended.”
Alabama loved the 3 this season, averaging 28 attempts a game. Against BYU, Sears and the Crimson Tide feasted on the long ball.
Sears hit five in the first half, camping out behind the arc without much 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 advantage. BYU’s Egor Demin followed with an airball and Alabama could smell crimson in the water.
Alabama attempted 15 2-pointers and made 10 of them.
“We’ve been working all week to prepare to get our shot right,” Sears said.
Sears raised his teammates out of their seats and into a frenzy when another 3 early in the second half opened a 63-47 lead that sent the shaken Cougars into a timeout. The deep, up-tempo Crimson Tide let Sears bury 3 after 3 after 3 with the Elite Eight in sight.
Alabama’s previous 3-point record was 23 against LSU in 2021. John Petty Jr., twice hit 10 3s, the latter time against Samford in 2019.
Holloway made six 3s and Youngblood had five. Collectively, Alabama shot 53% from the floor and it also made 18 of 21 free throws.
Egor Demin scored 15 points and dished out seven assists for the Cougars. Keba Keita added 13 points and six rebounds, while Trevin Knell finished his BYU career with 10 points.
BYU headed to Sweet 16 after 91-89 win over Wisconsin
“It’s been awesome to represent BYU on my chest the last six years,” Knell said. “These are my boys, my family. That makes it the wins a lot sweeter. When you’re with a program, you stick it out.”
BYU was a bust trying match Alabama beyond the arc. The Cougars missed 12 of 13 3s in the first half.
“You’re trying everything and nothing seemed to work. But this is a team that was picked ninth in the Big 12, and we’re one of the last 16 teams standing. So I’m incredibly proud of these guys.”
The Cougars gamely pulled within striking distance only to get socked down by, yes, another Alabama 3. Demin hit a 3 that pulled BYU within 63-55, only for Aden Holloway to connect again beyond the arc for the Tide.
Now comes an off-season of questions, namely if Demin will enter the NBA Draft after finishing his NBA season strong. Demin is projected to be a lottery pick, but may be tempted to play with the #1 high school recruit in the country next season in AJ Dybantsa.
“I’m not trying to make any decision right now,” Demin said. “I’m not even trying to think about it, because I just want to take some time to enjoy the moment with my team.”
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
Continue reading...
