Mark Sears, Alabama sink BYU with 3-point bombardment

NEWARK, N.J. -- Mark Sears led a historic 3-point barrage with 10-of-16 shooting from deep, racking up 34 points to power No. 2 Alabama to a 113-88 victory over No. 6 BYU in the Sweet 16 on Thursday.

Alabama (28-8) made 25 3-pointers on 51 attempts, breaking NCAA Tournament records with both marks. The Crimson Tide advance to the Elite Eight in the East Region and will face either No. 1 Duke or No. 4 Arizona as they eye their second straight Final Four appearance.

Sears added eight assists and came one triple shy of tying the individual tournament record (Jeff Fryer, 1990 Loyola Marymount). Aden Holloway joined in with 23 points on 6-of-13 shooting from deep, Chris Youngblood had 19 points (five 3-pointers) and Clifford Omoruyi scored 10.

Richie Saunders paced BYU (26-10) with 25 points. Egor Demin contributed 15 points and seven assists, Keba Keita had 13 points and Trevin Knell added 10.

Alabama's bombs-away mentality was clear from the get-go. In one stretch, the Crimson Tide attempted 14 consecutive 3-pointers without a 2-point try, making eight. That run ended when Grant Nelson (six points, 10 rebounds) flushed a fastbreak dunk for a 32-26 lead with 9:16 left in the half.

Alabama made 12 of 27 from the arc by halftime and led 51-40. Sears was 5 of 7 from deep, totaling 17 points.

Sears drilled two more treys early in the second, bookending an 8-0 run for Alabama's largest lead yet at 63-47. On the latter, Holloway set Sears up with a no-look, backwards bounce pass in transition, and the guards celebrated as BYU called timeout.

Demin scored nine straight BYU points, and the Cougars got within seven on Mawot Mag's 3-pointer with 13:23 to go. Holloway answered with a trey on the next possession, and four minutes later, the Tide had stretched the lead to 20 for the first time.

There was still 6:30 remaining when Alabama reached 100 points, fittingly, on Sears' 10th 3-pointer.

--Adam Zielonka, Field Level Media