Bama sinks record 25 3-pointers, rolls to Elite 8

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• 40 “/ > Jeff BorzelloMar 27, 2025, 09:45 PM ET Close Basketball recruiting expert.
• Joined ESPN in 2014.
• Graduate of University of Delaware.NEWARK, N.J.– Early in

the 2nd half of Alabama’s 113-88 win over BYU, there were only two questions left to address: whether the Crimson Tide would set the NCAA competition record for 3-pointers in a game– and if they saved some made shots for Saturday’s Elite Eight game.Alabama climaxed on a Mark Sears 3-pointer with 7:41

left in the game, the group’s 22nd made 3, en route to Thursday’s victory over the Cougars.Alabama finished with 25 made 3-pointers. The previous record of 21 was set by Loyola Marymount in 1990. The Crimson Tide will bet the opportunity to go to their second straight Final 4 against Duke, a 100-93 winner over Arizona.”That was an enjoyable game if you like offense, “Alabama coach Nate Oats said after the win.”I liked enjoying

them play,” Oats said of the busy LMU team led by Bo Kimble.”That was my freshman year in high school that year. I remember Bo Kimble shooting left-handed complimentary throws in honor of Hank [Gathers] They got up-and-down. Possibly part of the factor we coach the method we coach.” Sears, who was named a first-team All-American earlier this month, had among the best efficiencies in current NCAA competition

history. He ended up with 34 points, 10 made threes and 8 helps. According to ESPN Research Study, Sears is the first player in NCAA tournament history to have eight 3s and 8 helps in the exact same game. “I was just in a zone,”Sears stated. “Once I saw the first 3 fall in, I felt the basket was as huge as an ocean. And each time I shot, I felt like it was going in. Simply lost myself in the game and simply let whatever else take place.” Alabama’s Mark Sears was 10-of-16 from the 3-point line in Thursday’s win over BYU. He finished with a game-high 34 points. AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson The senior guard had entered the game in a shooting slump, going simply 5-for-35 from 3-point variety in his previous six games.” I’ve got to teach these guys some math,”Oats said.”I informed Sears there’s a thing called regression to the mean.”Alabama opened with six 3-pointers in the first 7

minutes and had 12 made 3s with just under 5 minutes left in the very first half. BYU was matching the Tide shot-for-shot in the very first half, with both groups making 17 basket in the first 20 minutes.The issue for BYU was that 12 of Alabama’s basket were from 3, while the Cougars were simply 1-for-13 from behind the arc. For a team that ranked in the leading 10 nationally in 3-pointers per game, at 10.6 per game, it was a concern.Meanwhile, Alabama was generally doing the opposite of what had brought the Tide success in their first 2 wins of the NCAA tournament. Through the very first weekend, Alabama had

more points in the paint than any group in the field, making a combined 50 2-pointers in wins over Robert Morris and Saint Mary’s. Versus BYU on Thursday, the Crimson Tide made just 10 shots inside the arc.Oats had recognized a weakness in BYU’s ball-screen protections– the Cougars going under the screens and giving the ball handler space rather than chasing him over the top– and put an emphasis on it

in the group’s searching report.”They had been going under ball screens just about every game we saw,” Oats said.”I told both those guys, [Aden] Holloway and Sears,’Guy, I hope they go under us since we’re going to rain ’em.

‘… With their personnel, we knew that as soon as they began going under, they always collapse. They kind of have to. They got away with it against some groups that don’t space like we do. However I informed these guys going in,’ If you move the ball … our offense is designed to beat a defense like this.’ “Editor’s Picks Alabama extended its 11-point halftime result in 16 points early in

the second half,

however BYU was able to suffice to single digits two times midway through the duration. Holloway made 3-pointers to change the momentum both times, and BYU routed by double digits the remainder of the way.Holloway ended up with 23 points and 6 3-pointers off the bench, while Chris Youngblood had 19 points and five 3-pointers.”We seemed like it would be tough for them to sustain that, therefore that’s where you have to give them credit because they did,”BYU coach Kevin Young stated.” That’s where I’m disappointed at myself for not being able to discover an option. However some nights you’re trying whatever, and it doesn’t appear to work.”However that’s a really great basketball team. I imply, it was an all-time night for them. It felt like there was nothing we could

do at times.”Alabama most likely won’t repeat its historic shooting efficiency versus Duke, but the Crimson Tide will hope that Oats'”

regression to the mean” comment doesn’t work the other way in 2 days.”I do not understand that we’re going to duplicate 51 3s attempted,” Oats stated,”but we’re going to have the guys ready to play properly, in my viewpoint, and fresh.”