Newark, N.J. • The BYU Cougars knew they needed to hit threes to keep up.
They couldn’t have guessed how many.
The Alabama Crimson Tide set an NCAA Tournament record with 25 made 3-pointers en route to beating BYU 113-88 in Thursday night’s Sweet 16 matchup.
“I’m disappointed in myself and my staff that we could not put our players in a better position to find answers,” BYU head coach Kevin Young said. “But they made plays and we didn’t, so kudos goes to them.”
The Tide took 51 attempts from behind the arc, making 49% of them.
“That was a fun game if you like offense,” Alabama coach Nate Oats said. “It was fun for the fans, at least the Alabama fans.”
BYU, meanwhile, went dormant with a trip to the Elite Eight on the line.
The Cougars started 1-of-13 from deep in the first half and managed just six triples all night on 30 attempts.
(Julia Demaree Nikhinson | AP) Brigham Young center Fousseyni Traore (45) pulls down a rebound against Alabama forward Jarin Stevenson (15) during the first half of a Sweet 16 round NCAA college basketball tournament game, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Newark, N.J.
Before the game, BYU guard Trevin Knell said he’d be shocked if either team broke 100 points in a meeting of two of the country’s top offenses. Alabama did it with six minutes to spare, as BYU’s season came to a close.
“It kind of went their way tonight,” Knell said afterward.
Richie Saunders tried to make up for the difference with 25 points, almost entirely from the paint. But it was no match for Mark Sears, the Tide’s All-American guard, who buried 10 triples en route to 34 points.
Three Alabama players hit at least four threes. Aden Holloway went 6-of-13 from behind the arc. Chris Youngblood added four.
(Julia Demaree Nikhinson | AP) Brigham Young forward Richie Saunders (15) puts up a shot against Alabama guard Mark Sears (1) and forward Grant Nelson (4) during the first half of a Sweet 16 round NCAA college basketball tournament game, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Newark, N.J.
“They had been going under ball screens just about every game we watched,” Oats said. “I told both those guys, Holloway and Sears, ‘Man, I hope they go under us — because we’re gonna rain ‘em.”
Alabama’s 25 3-pointers broke an NCAA Tournament record that had stood since Loyola Marymount hit 21 in a win over Michigan in 1990.
BYU point guard Egor Demin had 15 points and seven assists. Keba Keita had 13 points and six boards. Knell added 10 points.
The Cougars kept Alabama within arm’s reach for most of the first half but went into the locker room down 10.
Then, Sears led an 8-0 run out of the intermission that broke the game open. He banged a three off an offensive rebound and then pulled up in transition for a second. Young called a timeout, but the Cougars never slowed Alabama’s shooting.
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The loss brings BYU’s impressive season to a close. The Cougars went 26-9 in Young’s first season in Provo.
“This is a team that was picked ninth in the Big 12 and we’re one of the last 16 teams standing,” Young said. “I’m incredibly proud of these guys.”
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