03/22/26 11:37:00
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03/22 23:36 CDT Wrightsell scores 24 to help Alabama rout Texas Tech 90-65 to
reach Sweet 16 for 4th straight season
Wrightsell scores 24 to help Alabama rout Texas Tech 90-65 to reach Sweet 16
for 4th straight season
By FRED GOODALL
Associated Press
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) --- Latrell Wrightsell, Jr. scored 24 points and fourth-seeded
Alabama earned a fourth straight trip to the Sweet 16 with a 90-65 second-round
rout of No. 5 seed Texas Tech in the NCAA Tournament on Sunday night.
The Crimson Tide (25-9), who also got 15 points from Houston Mallette, advanced
to the Midwest Region semifinals against top-seeded Michigan in Chicago next
Friday night. They built an early double-digit lead against the Red Raiders
(23-11), exploiting a size advantage inside to dominate the backboards and
making 11 3-pointers on the way to leading 49-25 at halftime.
Texas Tech, which reached the Elite Eight a year ago, didn't get closer than 18
the rest of the way. Alabama, two years removed from a Final Four run, led by
34 in the second half.
Both teams entered March Madness short-handed. The Red Raiders were playing
without injured All-American JT Toppin, who tore the ACL in his right knee last
month, and Alabama played without star guard Aden Holloway, who was suspended
indefinitely after being arrested on a felony drug charge last week.
Texas Tech, which had a school-record four wins over top-10-teams this season,
struggled down the stretch after losing Toppin and simply had no answers for
Alabama's suffocating defense or the Crimson Tide' speed.
The Red Raiders shot just 34.4% from the field, including 4 of 25 on 3-point
attempts, and were outrebounded 47-35, with Alabama collecting 12 offensive
rebounds alone in the first half.
Alabama only got nine points from Labaron Philon, Jr. after its leading scorer
had 29 in a first-round win over Hofstra. But with Wrightsell making six
3-pointers and Mallette finishing with five, Alabama didn't need any more
scoring. Philon did lead his team with 12 assists.
Lejuan Watts led Texas Tech with 16 points. Donovan Atwell had 12.
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AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and
coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness
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