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NCAA Tournament Live Updates from No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 5 Texas Tech

Score updates and analysis from Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, as the Crimson Tide takes on the Red Raiders.
Theodore Fernandez|
Alabama basketball warms up ahead of its Round of 32 matchup with Texas Tech
Alabama basketball warms up ahead of its Round of 32 matchup with Texas Tech | BamaCentral

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Alabama Crimson Tide

TAMPA, Fla. — Alabama is one game away from its fourth-straight Sweet 16.

After handling 13-seed Hofstra on Friday, the Crimson Tide faces Texas Tech in the final game of the Round of 32. The game features one of the best guard matchups of the NCAA Tournament, as AP Third Team All-American point guards Labaron Philon and Christian Anderson go head-to-head with the season on the line.

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FINAL: Alabama 90, Texas Tech 65

Alabama's final box score
Alabama's final box score | BamaCentral

Second Half:

The walk-ons are checking into the game.

3:07: Alabama 90, Texas Tech 58 — Alabama will play in its fourth straight Sweet 16 next week. Latrell Wrightsell has 15 points in this second half alone to carry the scoring. Texas Tech has shot just 4-for-22 from three tonight.

7:47: Alabama 77, Texas Tech 49 — Alabama is on a 14-4 run. Pure domination from the Crimson Tide. Alabama is 7-for-10 from beyond the arc this half. Texas Tech has no answers.

11:55: Alabama 63, Texas Tech 45— Texas Tech has gotten the deficit under 20 points for the first time this half. The Red Raiders have finally started to grab rebounds, holding a 9-5 edge on the glass this half, including six second-chance points. Alabama has not made a field goal in more than three minutes.

15:32: Alabama 58, Texas Tech 35 — Fast start to the second half as shots are falling on both ends. All nine of Alabama's points have been from three, with Wrightsell hitting two and Jemison draining one.

HALFTIME: Alabama 49, Texas Tech 25

First Half:

0:00: Alabama 49, Texas Tech 25 — Alabama is dominating this basketball game. The Crimson Tide is on track to tie its season-high in three pointers made at 22. The team is 11-for-27 from beyond the arc.

3:58: Alabama 37, Texas Tech 19 — Alabama continues to control the game. Noah Williamson got onto the court and made a layup, giving him points in both NCAA Tournament games.

7:55: Alabama 27, Texas Tech 12 — Alabama is outrebounding Texas Tech 24-8. The Crimson Tide has 12 offensive rebounds through 12 minutes. It's been an unfathomable showing on the glass so far for a team that's struggled so much to get boards.

10:30: Alabama 26, Texas Tech 10 — Everything is falling for Alabama. Wrightsell and Philon just hit back-to-back threes to force a timeout. Philon has 7 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists. Philon is already above his season rebounding average.

Everything is falling for Alabama. Wrightsell and Philon just hit back-to-back threes to force a timeout. Philon has 7 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists.

11:50: Alabama 20, Texas Tech 9 — Alabama is all over the Red Raiders early. Christian Anderson is 0-for-3 from the field, and Texas Tech is 1-for-8 from beyond the arc. Seven Alabama players have scored, and the Crimson Tide looks like the physically dominant team right now.

Philon tips an offensive rebound to Sherrell, who gets an easy bucket. It's usually the other way around. Alabama is up 16-9 with 12:49 to play.

14:57: Alabama 10, Texas Tech 7 — Alabama is controlling the boards early. The team has five second-chance points off three offensive rebounds. Houston Mallette just fired the arena up with a three-pointer off an Amari Allen rebound. Mallette has an offensive rebound as well.

Taylor Bol Bowen and Houston Mallette are the first subs in, replacing Latrell Wrightsell and Aiden Sherrell right before the 16-minute mark.

Alabama and Texas Tech have started the game a combined 1-for-8 from the field.

Pregame:

The starters have been introduced and we are about to tip off.

There are four minutes on the pregame clock as of 9:00 p.m. CT

How a Weekly Bible Study Became the Foundation of Alabama's Season

Most of the Florida fans in attendance have left the arena after the loss.

Alabama and Texas Tech will tip off somewhere in the ballpark of 9:10 p.m. CT.

Iowa just took down one-seeded Florida in a thriller. Alvaro Folguerias hit a game-winning three with seconds on the clock to eliminate the defending national champs.

Alabama and Texas Tech have both arrived. Florida and Iowa are about to begin the second half at 8:30 p.m. EST.

How to Watch: 2026 NCAA Tournament Round of 32

Who: 4-seed Alabama (24-9, 13-5 SEC; 0-1 SEC Tournament) vs. 5-seed Texas Tech (23-10, 12-6 Big 12; 0-1 in Big 12 Tournament)

What: Alabama's second 2026 NCAA Tournament game.

When: Sunday, March 22, 8:45 p.m. CT

Where: Benchmark International Arena, Tampa Bay, Florida

TV: TBS

Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network (Play-By-Play: Chris Stewart, Color: Bryan Passink). The pregame show will begin one hour prior to tipoff.

SiriusXM: Channel 84

Series: Alabama leads the series 7-1 since 1962. The Crimson Tide is 2-0 on neutral floors against the Red Raiders and their only loss came in Lubbock in December of 1963. 

Last Meeting: The Crimson Tide defeated the Red Raiders 76-65 in Tuscaloosa in non-conference action in November 2013. Trevor Releford scored 29 points to lead Alabama. He was helped out by Retin Obasohan's 15 points and Levi Randolph's 10 points. The Crimson Tide went 6-of-14 from beyond the arc, showcasing how different Alabama's style is now under Nate Oats. 

Last time out, Alabama: The Crimson Tide defeated 13-seeded Hofstra 90-70 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Alabama saw Labaron Philon score 29 points, while Aiden Sherrell tallied a double-double with 15 points and 15 rebounds. Nate Oats's squad got in transition for 19 fast break points and closed the contest on a 19-4 run to move into the second round. 

Last time out, Texas Tech: The Red Raiders knocked of 12-seeded Akron 91-71 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Red Raiders made 11-of-20 from beyond the arc and outrebounded the Zips 32-25 to advance. Texas Tech's Jaylen Petty led the Red Raiders with 24 points as he made 5-of-7 from 3-point range. 

Alabama Basketball in the NCAA Tournament:

  • 1974-75: Lost in Round of 64 (NCAA Tournament seeding introduced in 1979)
  • 1975-76: Lost in Sweet 16
  • 1981-82: 4-seed, Lost in Sweet 16
  • 1982-83: 6-seed, Lost in Round of 64
  • 1983-84: 9-seed, Lost in Round of 64
  • 1984-85: 7-seed, Lost in Sweet 16
  • 1985-86: 5-seed, Lost in Sweet 16
  • 1986-87 (vacated): 2-seed, Lost in Sweet 16
  • 1988-89: 6-seed, Lost in Round of 64
  • 1989-90: 7-seed, Lost in Sweet 16
  • 1990-91: 4-seed, Lost in Sweet 16
  • 1991-92: 5-seed, Lost in Round of 32
  • 1993-94: 9-seed, Lost in Round of 32
  • 1994-95: 5-seed, Lost in Round of 32
  • 2001-02: 2-seed, Lost in Round of 32
  • 2002-03: 10-seed, Lost in Round of 64
  • 2003-04: 8-seed, Lost in Elite Eight
  • 2004-05: 5-seed, Lost in Round of 64
  • 2005-06: 10-seed, Lost in Round of 32
  • 2011-12: 9-seed, Lost in Round of 32
  • 2017-18: 9-seed, Lost in Round of 32
  • 2020-21: 2-seed, Lost in Sweet 16
  • 2021-22: 6-seed, Lost in Round of 64
  • 2022-23: No. 1 overall seed, Lost in Sweet 16
  • 2023-24: 4-seed, Lost in Final Four
  • 2024-25: 2-seed, Lost in Elite Eight
  • 2025-26: 4-seed, Result TBD

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Published | Modified
Theodore Fernandez
THEODORE FERNANDEZ

Theodore Fernandez is BamaCentral’s baseball beat reporter and a co-host of The Joe Gaither Show. He also works as a weekend sports anchor at WVUA 23 News in Tuscaloosa and serves as one of the station’s lead high school sports reporters. Fernandez is a news media student at The University of Alabama and is pursuing a master’s degree in sports management.

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