Alabama Advances to Sweet 16, Defeats Texas Tech 90-65
TAMPA, Fla. – The Alabama Crimson Tide secured their fourth consecutive trip to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament with a dominant 90-65 victory over the Texas Tech Red Raiders on Sunday night. The game, played at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida, saw Alabama build a significant lead in the first half and maintain control throughout the second.
Wrightsell Leads Alabama to Victory
Latrell Wrightsell Jr. Led the Crimson Tide with a stellar performance, scoring 24 points and grabbing four rebounds. He shot an impressive 7-for-10 from the field and 6-for-9 from the three-point line. Houston Mallette nearly recorded a double-double with 15 points and eight rebounds, even as LeJuan Watts contributed 16 points and seven rebounds in 25 minutes of play.
Texas Tech Struggles
Texas Tech struggled to find its rhythm, shooting just 34.4% from the field and a dismal 4 of 25 from beyond the arc. Donovan Atwell led the Red Raiders with 12 points. The Crimson Tide’s size and speed proved to be too much for Texas Tech, outrebounding them 47-35, including 12 offensive rebounds in the first half alone.
Alabama’s First-Half Dominance
Alabama established a commanding lead early in the game, going into halftime with a 49-25 advantage. They continued to extend their lead in the second half, leading by as many as 34 points. Alabama remains in control of Texas Tech in the second half, leading 63-45 with 11:55 left in the second half.
Holloway’s Absence
Alabama played without second-leading scorer Aden Holloway, who was arrested on two felony charges on March 16th for possession of 2.1 pounds of marijuana. The University of Alabama removed Holloway from campus and he will not return to the team until the university’s office of student conduct completes its investigation.
Sweet 16 Matchup
With the win, Alabama (25-9) will advance to the Midwest Region semifinals to face the No. 1 seed Michigan in Chicago next Friday night. Texas Tech concludes its season with a 23-11 record.
Game Details
- Final Score: Alabama 90, Texas Tech 65
- Date: March 22, 2026
- Location: Benchmark International Arena, Tampa, Florida
Worth a look