Live Hoops Updates: Alabama 89, North Carolina 87; Final
LOS ANGELES – No. 4-seed Alabama (23-11) will face 1-seed North Carolina (29-7) in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament tonight. The game will start at 8:50 p.m. CT on CBS.
The Crimson Tide is playing in back-to-back Sweet 16s for the first time since 1990-91 and looking to advance to the program’s second Elite 8 (2008). Alabama advanced to the West Region semifinal thanks to a 109-96 win over 13-seed College of Charleston in the opening round, followed by a 72-61 win against 12-seed Grand Canyon in the Round of 32.
In five years as the head coach of the Crimson Tide, Nate Oats has a record of 6-3 in NCAA Tournament games, which includes a trio of Sweet 16 appearances (2021, 2023, 2024).
Game links: WATCH | LISTEN | STATS
Follow live updates and analysis in the space below by refreshing this page, and join the game discussion in the following thread on the BamaOnLine Round Table board HERE.
PREGAME
— Clemson upsets Arizona, 77-72. That means Alabama-UNC begins in 25 minutes at Crypto Arena.
— Latrell Wrightsell Jr. (head injury) is not in uniform and will not play tonight.
— Officials: Michael Reed, John Gaffney and Steven Anderson.
— Alabama starters vs. UNC: Mark Sears, Aaron Estrada, Rylan Griffen, Grant Nelson and Nick Pringle.
FIRST HALF
— UNC 12, Alabama 7 (15:49) | UA has four turnovers over the last 3:28, which has led to an 8-0 run for the Tar Heels at the first break.
— UNC 21, Alabama 17 (11:56) | Both teams have made three 3s apiece. Difference is UNC is 5-9 from inside the arc. Tide is 2-7.
— Alabama 32, UNC 31 (7:43) | The Tide has made its last 3 shots and both teams are now shooting 50% or better on the night. We’ve got ourselves a game in LA, folks.
— Alabama 44, UNC 43 (2:56) | Rylan Griffen is up to a game-high 15 points and is 4-of-5 from three. Meanwhile, Mark Sears has 14 and is two away from a UA record.
— UNC 51, Alabama 44 (1:41) | Cormac Ryan drills his fourth 3 of the night, is now 4-for-4. Tar Heels are on an 8-0 run over the last 1:06. Nate Oats calls a timeout.
SECOND HALF
— UNC 55, Alabama 52 (15:30) | Mo Dioubate picked up his third foul prior to the under-16 timeout. Three other UA players have two fouls (Nelson, Sears, Stevenson).
— UNC’s Armando Bacot picks up his third foul with 14:45 left. That’s big.
— Alabama 59, UNC 59 (11:55) | Scoring drought of 2:01 but things are tied up at Crypto Arena. Tide is shooting 41.7% this half, while the Tar Heels are just 2-for-17 (11.8%).
— Nick Pringle has a heel bruise and is probable to return, per a UA spokesperson.
— UNC 70, Alabama 67 (8:10) | After a Bacot dunk drew a raucous reaction from the crowd, Griffen knocked down his fifth 3 to make it a 3-point game. Timeout, Tide.
— Alabama 82, UNC 77 (3:35) | Grant Nelson drills his first 3 of the game, has 7 straight points and has 14 points in the second half to give the Crimson Tide a 5-point lead.
— Alabama 87, UNC 85 (0:35) | Grant Nelson completes the and-1 to give the Tide a 2-point lead. He has 22 points and 17 this half. Timeout, Tar Heels.
— Shot-clock violation. Alabama ball with 8.6 seconds left. UA up 87-85.
You can watch the tournament live on Prime Video. Add on your favorite channels and watch at home or on your phone or laptop at work!
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