TAMPA, Fla. — Latrell Wrightsell, Jr. scored 24 factors and fourth-seeded Alabama earned a fourth straight journey to the Candy 16 with a 90-65 second-round rout of No. 5 seed Texas Tech within the NCAA Match on Sunday night time.

The Crimson Tide (25-9), who additionally bought 15 factors from Houston Mallette, superior to the Midwest Area semifinals towards top-seeded Michigan in Chicago subsequent Friday night time. They constructed an early double-digit lead towards the Pink Raiders (23-11), exploiting a measurement benefit inside to dominate the backboards and making 11 3-pointers on the best way to main 49-25 at halftime.

Texas Tech, which reached the Elite Eight a 12 months in the past, did not get nearer than 18 the remainder of the best way. Alabama, two years faraway from a Remaining 4 run, led by 34 within the second half.

“That is the fourth straight Candy 16 we have been to, these guys know what it takes,” Alabama coach Nat Oats mentioned. “Proper out of the gate … we had been able to play.”

Each groups entered March Insanity short-handed. The Pink Raiders had been taking part in with out injured All-American JT Toppin, who tore the ACL in his proper knee final month, and Alabama performed with out star guard Aden Holloway, who was suspended indefinitely after being arrested on a felony drug cost final week.

Texas Tech, which had a school-record 4 wins over top-10-teams this season, struggled down the stretch after dropping Toppin and easily had no solutions for Alabama’s suffocating protection or the Crimson Tide’ velocity.

The Pink Raiders shot simply 34.4% from the sphere, together with 4 of 25 on 3-point makes an attempt, and had been outrebounded 47-35, with Alabama amassing 12 offensive rebounds alone within the first half.

Alabama solely bought 9 factors from Labaron Philon, Jr. after its main scorer had 29 in a first-round win over Hofstra. However with Wrightsell making six 3-pointers and Mallette ending with 5, Alabama did not want any extra scoring. Philon did lead his workforce with 12 assists.

“We got here on the market with an power and energy that wasn’t matched (by Texas Tech). We performed for one another. We performed to maneuver on, however we additionally performed one possession at a time,” Wrightsell mentioned. “We did not take it with no consideration. … It was by no means wanting on the larger image, by no means wanting on the rating.”

LeJuan Watts led Texas Tech with 16 factors. Donovan Atwell had 12.

“What a troublesome night time for our workforce,” Pink Raiders coach Grant McCasland mentioned. “Alabama was superior. They had been a lot extra aggressive on each ends of the ground.

“This one is on me. I did not have us able to go,” McCasland added. “We ran right into a workforce that was extra decided, that was more durable than we had been, and that is all the time our commonplace for profitable.”

The groups mixed to shoot 67 3-pointers, with Alabama going 19 for 42 and Texas Tech ending 4 of 25.

Alabama superior to the Candy 16 for the twelfth time, fifth underneath Oats. Texas Tech made it out of the primary weekend of the match every of the previous two years underneath McCasland.

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AP March Insanity bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and protection: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness