Alabama Tops Virginia Tech, Advances in NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament

(Photo Courtesy: Robert Sutton, Alabama Athletics)

PITTSBURGH, Pa. (WCBI/UA Athletics) – The No. 9-seeded Alabama men’s basketball team edged No. 8 seed Virginia Tech, 86-83, in the second round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament at PPG Paints Arena on Thursday night.

The Crimson Tide (20-15) earned its first NCAA Tournament win since 2006, after defeating the Hokies (21-12). The Tide is now 19-19 all-time in tournament games.

Freshman Collin Sexton poured in a game-high 25 points to go along with six assists, while fellow freshman John Petty was red-hot from beyond the arc, going 6-of-8 from three-point range and finishing with 20 points off the bench. Junior Donta Hall finished with 10 points on a perfect 5-of-5 shooting from the floor and sophomore Dazon Ingram had nine points, seven rebounds and four assists in the win.

The Tide shot a scorching 60 percent (30-of-50) from the field, including knocking down eight three-pointers in the contest. UA got significant help from its bench with its reserves outscoring the Hokies bench 36-24, while also outrebounding VT, 26-22 for the game.

Alabama advances to the Round of 32 to take on No.1 seed Villanova on Saturday in PPG Paints Arena.  The time and network for the game has yet to be determined.