Charleston gamers have been ready for the highlight, however not the offensive firepower. Alabama basketball ended the second-longest energetic profitable streak within the nation on Friday evening, making certain it wouldn’t be the sufferer of an upset from a harmful 13-seed.
The Tide weathered an early stretch, utilizing a mid-first half run to erase a six-point deficit to a 17-point halftime lead and eventual 109-96 last rating. Postgame, head coach Pat Kelsey and his gamers broke down the loss:
“I need to begin off by congratulating Alabama. They’ve an excellent group. Nate (Oats) is a terrific coach,” Kelsey stated. “They performed exceptionally nicely tonight. I simply really feel actually blessed to have coached this group this 12 months.”
Each groups entered with explosive offenses, KenPom predicted 175 factors mixed. They averaged 36 and 34 p.c, respectively from 3-point vary. However whereas Alabama discovered success behind the arc, Charleston’s hustle on second-chance factors made it 6-2 Cougars early after which 17-11. Within the sport’s opening three minutes, the Tide dedicated three turnovers and allowed three offensive rebounds amid a scoreless stretch.
The additional alternatives finally dried up, nonetheless. And the Cougars missed 13 of its preliminary 15 3-point makes an attempt. It saved making an attempt to provoke offense by means of screens or hand-offs behind the arc. Alabama despatched white jerseys additional up-court and clogged passing lanes. Other than Frankie Policelli hitting some deep photographs, the Tide smothered Charleston.
“Clearly, (Alabama is) a brilliant proficient offensive group. Simply type of digging in and making an attempt to get the stops and let the offense circulation a bit bit extra. I feel we did a great job of that early and simply tried and do a greater job of holding that extra constant,” Cougars level guard Reyne Smith stated.
The star of the sport was Mark Sears and Charleston didn’t have a solution for his 30 factors, six assists and 4 rebounds. When UA wanted to cease a run, it was Sears who drove inside, drew a foul and transformed his free throws. He went nine-of-11) from the stripe, scoring Alabama’s a hundredth level late within the second half after beating his defender close to the rim and choosing up one other name.
Sears grew to become the fifth Alabama participant to attain 30 factors in an NCAA Event sport. Ought to Alabama attain subsequent weekend’s regional spherical, Sears may threaten Reggie King’s all-time program document for factors in a season (747 in 1979).
“He gave us a handful tonight and possibly let’s take a bit bit extra satisfaction defensively as a person and actually learning possibly a bit extra on personnel,” Smith stated. “However, yeah, he’s a handful to protect and sadly simply couldn’t get stops after we wanted, fouled a bit an excessive amount of on his drives, type of being a bit too handsy. However acquired to offer him credit score, he’s one hell of a participant.”
“They run actually good actions for him, and he acquired going. You let an awesome participant like that get going early, the rim begins trying actually, actually massive. You let him shoot 15-foot charity stripe photographs to get his confidence up much more. He acquired on a circulation. He had 20 at half, I felt like he had 40,” Kelsey added.
Sears will information Alabama on Sunday at 6:10 p.m. in opposition to upstart No. 12 Grand Canyon.
Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Comply with him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or e mail him at NAlvarez@al.com.