Alabama Rewrites NCAA Tournament Record Book Against BYU

NEWARK, N.J. – BYU basketball was on the wrong end of a historic shooting performance as they faced the No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide in the Sweet 16 on Thursday.

Alabama set an NCAA Tournament record with 25 made threes. The previous record was set by the 1990 Loyola Marymount team, who knocked down 21 triples against Michigan.

Alabama set the record for most made 3s in an NCAA Tournament game.

22 three-pointers and there’s still 7:14 remaining.

Bama passed LMU’s record of 21 threes against Michigan.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 28, 2025

That wasn’t the only record, though. Mark Sears set the Alabama record for threes in a game with 10. The previous record was eight.

BYU has been one of the most prolific shooting teams in college basketball this season. The Crimson Tide gave them a taste of their own medicine, and then some.

It didnt help that the Cougars were ice cold from deep at the Prudential Center. They shot just 22 percent compared to almost 50 percent from Alabama.

MARK SEARS HITS HIS 10TH TRIPLE 😱#MarchMadness @AlabamaMBB pic.twitter.com/pK7Pt3DHWJ

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 28, 2025

BYU Basketball Faces Alabama In March Madness Sweet 16

BYU Basketball is playing in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 14 years, and the No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide stands between them and an appearance in the Elite 8.

The Cougars come off of back-to-back close games in the opening rounds at Ball Arena in Denver. They opened their run with an 80-71 victory over the VCU Rams and followed that with a narrow two-point victory over the Wisconsin Badgers to keep the dance alive.

Alabama also won their first-round matchup by just nine points, but they built up their confidence a bit by smacking Saint Mary’s, 80-66, in the Round of 32.

The Crimson Tide are favored going into the matchup, but few teams in college basketball have been playing better than BYU in March.

BYU Gameday Reading

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• BYU To Hold Sweet 16 Watch Party For Fans At Marriott Center
• BYU Football Cheers On Sweet 16 Hoops Squad With Tater Tots
• Ore-Ida Changes Name To Recognize BYU Star Richie Saunders
• Kevin Young Discussed BYU’s NIL Donors During NCAA Tournament

Follow BYU and the NCAA Tournament on KSL Sports

The Cougars received a No. 6 seed in the East Region and will continue their “Big Dance” in Newark on Thursday against the No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide.

Follow the BYU Cougars with KSL Sports here.

Chandler Holt is a co-host of the Jazz Notes podcast, a Locals In The NFL Insider, and Digital Sports Producer for sports.ksl.com. Follow Chandler on X for Utah Jazz and Locals In The NFL updates.

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