Sweet Sixteen: Alabama & Duke Shoot The Lights Out In Newark

 

Photo by Jason Schott.

On Thursday night at the Prudential Center in Newark, the Alabama Crimson Tide and Duke Blue Devils put on a shooting display that would have rivaled what the New Jersey Devils do with hockey pucks.

Alabama blew past BYU, 113-88, while Duke won the nightcap, 100-93, setting up a highly-anticipated Elite Eight matchup between the top teams in the East Regional of the NCAA Tournament.

No. 2 Alabama 113, No. 6 BYU 88: This was a history-making effort from Alabama, as they drained 25 three-pointers, eclipsing the record 21 from behind the arc by Loyola Marymount on March 18, 1990, against Michigan.

Mark Sears led the way for Alabama, as he put up 34 points, which is impressive enough, but even more so considering he made 10 three-pointers. He shot 11-18 overall, with 10-16 from behind the arc, with eight assists and three rebounds.

Alabama led this one, 51-40, at halftime before taking over in the second half.

From the point they led 68-61 at the 13:23 mark of the second half, they went on a 12-2 run over the next 2:02, capped by an Aden Holloway three-pointer to take an 80-63 lead.

A Sears three-pointer put Alabama up 91-70 with 8:32 left, and another one of his threes put them at the 100 mark, and up 23 points, with 6:30 remaining.

In addition to Sears' remarkable night, Aden Holloway had 23 points off the bench, on 7-14 shooting, with all but one basket a three-pointer, as he shot 6-13 from behind the arc, along with three assists and two rebounds. Chris Youngblood had 19 points (6-12 FG, 5-11 threes), with three rebounds. Clifford Omoruyi was the fourth Alabama player in double figures, as he had 10 points (2-4 FG), with six rebounds and two assists.

BYU was led by Richie Saunders, who had 25 points on 10-14 shooting, including 1-2 on threes, with six rebounds and two assists. 

No. 1 Duke 100, No. 4 Arizona 93: The biggest star on this night, and really the entire season, was Cooper Flagg, and he rose to the occasion, as he put up 30 points on 9-19 shooting, including 3-5 on three-pointers, and 9-10 on free throws, with seven assists, six rebounds, three blocks, and a steal.

Kon Knueppel also had a big night, as he had 20 points (5-7 FG, 2-2 threes, 8-9 FT), four rebounds and three assists.

This game was tied at 42 in the final minute of the first half when Duke's dynamic duo set the tone going into halftime. Knueppel drained a three-pointer with 28 seconds left, and then after Arizona's Caleb Love missed a three with seven seconds left, Flagg buried a one from behind the arc as time expired to give Duke a 48-42 lead at the half.

Khaman Maluach opened the second half with a bang, as he poured in nine points in the first five minutes and thirteen seconds to help Duke go up 15, at 64-49.

Duke maintained that 15-point edge until Arizona pulled within seven (78-71) with 7:47 remaining.

A pair of free throws from Patrick Ngongba II put Duke back up 11, at 84-73, with 6:33 left. Arizona wouldn't go away, as they got as close, as five points, 91-86, with 1:56 remaining, before Flagg drained a trio of free throws to make it 94-86 with 44 seconds left and put the game away.

In addition to Duke's dynamic duo, Sion James had 16 points on 5-6 from the field, including 3-4 on three-pointers, with four assists and three rebounds. Khaman Maluach finished with 13 points (6-8 FG), with six rebounds and four blocks.

Arizona was led by the high scorer of this night in Newark, Caleb Love, who had 35 points on 11-21 shooting, including 5-11 from behind the arc, and a near-perfect 8-9 on free throws, with four rebounds, an assist, and a steal.