No. 18 Alabama palms No. 1 North Carolina 2nd loss in 4OT

PORTLAND, Ore. — Mark Sears had 24 factors, 5 rebounds and 5 assists, and No. 18 Alabama despatched top-ranked North Carolina to a second straight loss with a 103-101 victory in a quadruple-overtime thriller Sunday within the third-place recreation of the Phil Knight Invitational event.

Jahvon Quinerly added 21 factors off the bench for the Crimson Tide (6-1), who knocked off the top-ranked crew for the primary time since upsetting Stanford within the 2004 NCAA event.

“I used to be shedding observe of what number of overtimes we had been in there on the finish,” Crimson Tide coach Nate Oats mentioned. “A whole lot of credit score to our guys. I assumed they confirmed a whole lot of character once we might have folded.”

Charles Bediako had 14 factors, 16 rebounds and three blocks, whereas Brandon Miller additionally scored 14 factors.

Caleb Love led the Tar Heels (5-2) with 34 factors, 9 rebounds, 4 assists and three steals. Armando Bacot contributed 20 factors and 10 rebounds, and R.J. Davis had 19 factors and 9 rebounds within the second four-overtime recreation in North Carolina historical past. The opposite was a victory over Tulane in 1976.

“On the finish of the day, Alabama made yet another play than we did,” North Carolina coach Hubert Davis mentioned. “I walked within the locker room and numerous the blokes had their head down and I informed them to select their head up. I am simply as disenchanted [as the players] when it comes to the ultimate consequence, however I could not be any extra proud about the best way they competed.”

Bediako gave the Crimson Tide the lead for good on a layup with 26 seconds remaining within the fourth extra time.

The Tar Heels, who misplaced to Iowa State within the semifinals, led by as a lot as eight within the second half earlier than Alabama got here again to tie it. The Crimson Tide retook the lead on a pair of free throws from Gurley with 2 minutes remaining and later tied the sport with one other free throw from Sears with 51 seconds remaining in regulation.

Alabama beginning ahead Noah Clowney took a tough fall on a dunk try 4 minutes into the primary half and needed to be helped off the court docket. He didn’t return.

The Crimson Tide had been 16-for-38 (42.1%) from 3-point vary, with Sears making seven.

BIG PICTURE

North Carolina: The Tar Heels determine to take a deep drop within the Prime 25 ballot.

Alabama: The Crimson Tide bounced again properly following their loss to No. 20 UConn within the semifinals.

UP NEXT

North Carolina: The Tar Heels journey to Bloomington to face No. 11 Indiana on Wednesday.

Alabama: The Crimson Tide return residence to face South Dakota State on Saturday.