It was an entertaining game. It was an overly physical game. Both teams shot uncharacteristically bad. The crowd for Grand Canyon was extremely into the game – as they were super loud. And they were crazy excited with 6 minutes to play when Tyon Grant-Foster hit a jumper to put the Lopes up 58-55. But then a bizarre sequence changed the game.

Alabama missed a three pointer, but Nick Pringer was fouled going for the rebound. Pringer hit the first free throw but missed the second one. But Alabama got the rebound and kicked the ball back out. This time Sam Walters missed the three pointer but Alabama once again got the rebound. Eventually, Mark Sears got fouled trying to score.

Sears also made the first free throw and missed the second, but once again Mouhamed Dioubate got the rebound. Dioubate went back up with the ball, hit the layup and got fouled. Dioubate hit the free throw to essentially wrap up the 42 second 5-point play for the Tide.

This would kick off a 17-3 run where Alabama finished off the 12 seed. Mark Sears probably kept the Tide in the game as he scored 26 points. But it was Dioubate who scored all 9 of his points in the final stretch to lead the Alabama late charge. And Alabama will head to the Sweet 16.