NCAA BASKETBALL: Deep-shooting Alabama overwhelms Texas Tech, moves on to Sweet 16

Alabama’s Latrell Wrightsell scored 24 points, leading the Crimson Tide’s dominant 3-point barrage as they routed Texas Tech 90-65 to reach the Sweet 16. Alabama made 19 of 42 shots from beyond the arc and will face top-seeded Michigan next.

FIELD LEVEL MEDIA / Reuters

March 23, 2026

Alabama Crimson Tide guard Latrell Wrightsell Jr. (3) celebrates after a play against the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the second half of a second-round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Benchmark International Arena, Tampa, Florida, March 22, 2026.

Matt Pendleton / Reuters

Latrell Wrightsell scored 24 points as fourth-seeded Alabama dominated No. 5 Texas Tech 90-65 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament Sunday night.

Houston Mallette added 15 points, all from 3-pointers, while Amari Allen had 12 points despite missing all four of his 3-point attempts. Aiden Sherrell contributed 10 points, and Labaron Philon Jr. recorded nine points along with a career-high 12 assists.

Alabama (25-9) advanced to the Sweet 16 for the fourth consecutive year and will face top-seeded Michigan on Friday night in the Midwest Region at Chicago.

For Texas Tech (23-11), LeJuan Watts led the team with 16 points and seven rebounds, Donovan Atwell scored 12, and Leon Horner added 10. The Red Raiders struggled late in the season, losing four of their final five games after star JT Toppin suffered a season-ending injury.

The Crimson Tide held a commanding 90-56 lead with 4:41 remaining and did not score again. Substitutes helped close out the game, which ended after midnight.

Wrightsell connected on six of nine 3-pointers as Alabama shot 19 of 42 from beyond the arc (45.2%), compared to Texas Tech’s 4-for-25 (16%).

“Wrightsell sets the tone for us,” Alabama coach Nate Oats said.

Alabama also controlled the boards, 47-35, and showed resilience despite missing suspended guard Aden Holloway, the team’s second-leading scorer. The Crimson Tide reached the 90-point mark in both tournament games, following a victory over Hofstra on Friday.

“We’ve dealt with probably more adversity than any other program in the country this year,” Mallette said. “I think we’ve been really well equipped and not focusing on what’s happened to us, but more so our response.”

Alabama opened the game with a 13-2 run and led 49-25 at halftime, with seven different players making at least one 3-pointer. The Crimson Tide relied heavily on perimeter shooting, making 11 3-pointers in the first half while Texas Tech managed just 2-for-13. Alabama’s 49 first-half points were the most scored in any second-round game this weekend.

—Field Level Media/Reuters