Madness ends: Alabama falls to UConn 72-86, ending a historic run to the Final Four
Being an Alabama basketball fan can feel crazy at times.
But this? This was Madness.
After back-to-back-to-back appearances in the early rounds of the NCAA Tournament and a historic, first-time run to the Final Four, the Crimson Tide has fallen to the University of Connecticut Huskies.
UConn kept its bid to repeat as national champion intact by surviving its first true test of the NCAA Tournament, getting 21 points from freshman Stephon Castle while clamping down defensively in the second half of an 86-72 win over Alabama in the Final Four on Saturday night.
The top-seeded Huskies (36-3) had put on a March Madness show before arriving in the desert, a stretch that included a 30-0 run in a decimation of Illinois in the Elite Eight.
This was more of a slow burn, with UConn withstanding an early wave of 3-pointers before holding the Crimson Tide (25-12) without a field goal during a five-minute second-half stretch.
The Huskies鈥� Final Four win certainly wasn鈥檛 as easy as the final score indicated.
Alabama held its own in the program鈥檚 first Final Four appearance, going toe to toe with a team that trailed 28 total seconds in its first four NCAA Tournament games.
Crafty point guard Mark Sears did his best to keep Alabama in it, scoring 24 points. Grant Nelson had another big game in March Madness, finishing with 19 points, 15 rebounds and over Clingan.
Even that wasn鈥檛 enough against a UConn team that鈥檚 among the most efficient at both ends of the floor.
>> Road to the Title: Everything you need to know about Alabama's Final Four faceoff with UConn
>> Bama by the numbers: How the Tide stacks up to previous Final Four teams
Next up for the Huskies will be what should be a much more physical test against 7-foot-4, 300-pound Zach Edey and Purdue in Monday鈥檚 national championship game. They have their own accomplished big man in 7-2 Donovan Clingan, who finished with 18 points and four blocked shots.
Survive that matchup, and UConn will be the first repeat national champion since Florida in 2006-07.
LIVE UPDATES
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Second Half:
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- Alabama falls to UConn 86-72.
- Alabama slips further behind with a minute left. 83-70 UConn.
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- At 67-58, UConn claims the largest lead of the night.
- Alabama enters the third minute of a late game scoring drought. 56-64 UConn.
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- Alabama puts up another 7-0 scoring run as Grant nelson draws another foul. 54-55 UConn.
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- The Huskies are shown the 'Full Nelson' as Grant Nelson attacks the rack with a vicious dunk. 52-55 UConn.
- UConn responds with a 7-0 scoring run of its own. 47-55 UConn.
- Alabama hits the sweet spot with a 7-0 scoring run. 47-48 UConn.
- UConn starts the second half strong, scoring 4 points off the rip. Alabama's Aaron Estrada drains a 3 to help close the gap. 43-48 UConn.
First Half:
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- A scalding-hot start allows Alabama to hold the Huskies within single digits at the half. 40-44 UConn.
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- Wrightsell drains a 3 from deep to reclaim the lead but UConn fires back just as fast. 31-33 UConn.
- Pringle sets Estrada up for a tight 3 to beat the shot clock, tying the game 28-28.
- Alabama's Nick Pringle is fouled, crashes to the floor off of a failed dunk attempt. 25-24 Bama.
- Alabama's Rylan Griffen buries a 3 from the top of the key. 23-18 Bama.
- Alabama takes the lead for the first time off of a 3 from Latrell Wrightsell. 18-15 Bama.
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- Minutes into the first half, Alabama's Grant Nelson is benched after 2 fouls. 13-15 UConn.
- Alabama's Aaron Estrada ties up the score 13-13.
- The Crimson Tide trails UConn 8-13 going into the first media timeout. Sweet 16 hero Grant Nelson accounts for 5 of those points.
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- Alabama's Aaron Estrada sinks a 3 to score the first points of the game. UConn quickly fires back. 3-6 UConn
- UConn takes control on the tip-off.
- Alabama hits the hardwood for a pre-game warmup in their first ever appearance in the Final Four.
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