No. 1 seed Alabama beats Maryland 73-51 in drama-free game
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) Before Alabama took the court, two No. 1 seeds had fallen and a third had to rally from a double-digit deficit.
By comparison, the Crimson Tide had a drama-free night.
Jahvon Quinerly scored 22 points, Brandon Miller heated up with 19 and top overall seed Alabama brushed aside Maryland 73-51 behind a dominant second half Saturday.
The second-round romp followed a 21-point blowout of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in the Tide's tournament opener.
“I feel like our job’s not done,” Miller said. “We’re here to win a national championship.”
The Crimson Tide (31-5) advanced to their second Sweet 16 in the past three tournaments and ninth overall. Alabama will face fifth-seeded San Diego State in the South Region semifinals Friday in Louisville, Kentucky.
Before the late-night game, Purdue and defending national champion Kansas had lost, and No. 1 seed Houston trailed Tide rival Auburn by 10 points at halftime earlier at Legacy Arena before pulling away.
“Of course we watched those games and that was crazy,” Quinerly said. “But Coach (Nate Oats) didn’t really address the team.
“We all know anybody can win in March. We just kind of focused on the task at hand.”
Alabama and Miller got off to a slow start, but the All-America freshman and top NBA prospect wound up with a more typical performance after going scoreless in the first-round game. Miller has been nursing a groin injury and missed his first nine shots of the tournament.
“It seems the more he goes, the looser it got,” Oats said. “He didn’t have the same pop. He was 3 of 11 on 2s. A lot of those were at the rim. His finishing has been really good. He definitely wasn’t 100%. He’s a tough kid. He’s playing through some stuff. He doesn’t let people know he’s hurt.”
Quinerly had a big game on the one-year anniversary of his left knee injury early in a second-round loss to Notre Dame, which still limited him early this season. He shot 4 of 6 on 3-pointers.
Maryland coach Kevin Willard had offered the New Jersey native a scholarship while at Seton Hall when Quinerly was just a ninth-grader.
Charles Bediako had 10 points and 10 rebounds. Alabama's starters hit the bench with a couple of minutes left to chants of “Sweet 16” in the friendly crowd.
“It’s been unbelievable to play in front of our hometown fans to have a chance to go to the Sweet 16,” Oats said.
Julian Reese had 14 points for Maryland (22-13) before fouling out. Jahmir Young scored 12.
Reese scored seven quick points but picked up his second foul three minutes into the game and only played four minutes in the first half, picking up a quick third.
“His first foul was a foul. But the second one was mysterious, and the third one was the game,” Willard said. "You can’t call that second foul in a physical game. It was a horrible call. It changed the game.
"I’ll elaborate as much as you want. Do you want me to get in a little bit of trouble or a lot of trouble? But the second call was a terrible foul call. A horrible call. It changed our whole game plan. We were gonna pound it inside, pound it inside.”
The Tide wound up with a 44-32 rebounding advantage.
Alabama had an easy time in the end, unlike the other No. 1 seeds.
No. 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson toppled top-seeded Purdue 63-58 on Friday night in only the second such upset. Then No. 8 seed Arkansas beat the Jayhawks 72-71 earlier Saturday. Houston ultimately pulled away from Auburn as the Tide waited for their opportunity.
The first half was more to Maryland's liking - other than the 28-23 deficit - for a team that came in giving up just 63 points a game.
BIG PICTURE
Maryland: The 2002 national champion Terps failed to make their 15th trip to the Sweet 16 in Willard's first season. They also lost to Alabama in the second round two years ago under former coach Mark Turgeon. Maryland's defense was on point enough that it kept the lead for much of the first half despite a stretch of nine straight misses.
Alabama: It was the largest win in NCAA Tournament history by a team that shot under 40% overall and under 30% on 3-pointers, according to STATS. ... Alabama's depth has been on display so far. The Tide controlled the game despite not getting much scoring from starters Mark Sears and Noah Clowney or Nick Pringle, the star of the opening game against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
UP NEXT
Alabama faces a San Diego State team making its first Sweet 16 appearance since 2004, which was also the year of the Tide's only Elite Eight run. The Crimson Tide have never reached the Final Four.
“I know San Diego State’s defense is elite,” Oats said.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Julian Reese vs. Charles Bediako (Crimson Tide gains possession) | |||
19:44 | Hakim Hart blocks Brandon Miller's two point layup | |||
19:42 | Hakim Hart defensive rebound | |||
19:22 | +2 | Julian Reese makes two point layup (Hakim Hart assists) | 2-0 | |
19:07 | Noah Clowney turnover (lost ball) (Don Carey steals) | |||
18:47 | +2 | Jahmir Young makes two point jump shot | 4-0 | |
18:37 | +2 | Jahvon Quinerly makes two point jump shot | 4-2 | |
18:14 | +2 | Julian Reese makes two point hook shot (Don Carey assists) | 6-2 | |
17:42 | Julian Reese blocks Jahvon Quinerly's two point layup | |||
17:40 | Julian Reese defensive rebound | |||
17:32 | +3 | Don Carey makes three point jump shot | 9-2 | |
17:21 | Julian Reese shooting foul (Brandon Miller draws the foul) | |||
17:21 | +1 | Brandon Miller makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 9-3 | |
17:21 | +1 | Brandon Miller makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 9-4 | |
17:06 | Hakim Hart misses two point layup | |||
17:04 | Noah Clowney defensive rebound | |||
17:02 | Julian Reese personal foul | |||
16:52 | Brandon Miller misses three point jump shot | |||
16:50 | Charles Bediako offensive rebound | |||
16:47 | +3 | Jahvon Quinerly makes three point jump shot (Charles Bediako assists) | 9-7 | |
16:23 | Mark Sears shooting foul (Donta Scott draws the foul) | |||
16:23 | +1 | Donta Scott makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 10-7 | |
16:23 | +1 | Donta Scott makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 11-7 | |
16:10 | Ian Martinez shooting foul (Charles Bediako draws the foul) | |||
16:10 | Charles Bediako misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
16:10 | +1 | Charles Bediako makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 11-8 | |
15:53 | Jahmir Young misses two point layup | |||
15:53 | Crimson Tide defensive rebound | |||
15:53 | Patrick Emilien personal foul | |||
15:53 | TV timeout | |||
15:37 | Brandon Miller misses three point jump shot | |||
15:35 | Donta Scott defensive rebound | |||
15:26 | Noah Gurley personal foul (Donta Scott draws the foul) | |||
15:14 | Ian Martinez turnover (lost ball) (Jaden Bradley steals) | |||
15:11 | Jaden Bradley turnover (lost ball) | |||
14:50 | Hakim Hart offensive foul | |||
14:50 | Hakim Hart turnover (offensive foul) | |||
14:37 | Noah Gurley misses three point jump shot | |||
14:35 | Noah Clowney offensive rebound | |||
14:30 | +2 | Noah Clowney makes two point layup | 11-10 | |
14:14 | Noah Clowney shooting foul (Patrick Emilien draws the foul) | |||
14:14 | Patrick Emilien misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
14:14 | +1 | Patrick Emilien makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 12-10 | |
13:50 | Jaden Bradley misses two point layup | |||
13:48 | Patrick Emilien defensive rebound | |||
13:20 | Donta Scott misses three point jump shot | |||
13:19 | Terrapins offensive rebound | |||
13:19 | Terrapins turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
13:07 | Noah Gurley misses two point jump shot | |||
13:05 | Ian Martinez defensive rebound | |||
12:47 | Ian Martinez misses two point jump shot | |||
12:45 | Caelum Swanton-Rodger offensive rebound | |||
12:41 | Caelum Swanton-Rodger misses two point layup | |||
12:39 | Rylan Griffen defensive rebound | |||
12:32 | Rylan Griffen misses two point layup | |||
12:30 | Caelum Swanton-Rodger defensive rebound | |||
12:11 | Nimari Burnett blocks Don Carey's two point layup | |||
12:09 | Crimson Tide defensive rebound | |||
11:55 | Jahari Long blocks Nimari Burnett's two point layup | |||
11:55 | Jahari Long defensive rebound | |||
11:55 | TV timeout | |||
11:31 | Julian Reese misses two point hook shot | |||
11:29 | Charles Bediako defensive rebound | |||
11:21 | Jahvon Quinerly misses two point jump shot | |||
11:19 | Jahari Long defensive rebound | |||
11:00 | Donta Scott turnover (lost ball) (Rylan Griffen steals) | |||
10:53 | Jahvon Quinerly turnover (bad pass) (Hakim Hart steals) | |||
10:34 | Jahvon Quinerly personal foul | |||
10:22 | Donta Scott misses two point jump shot | |||
10:20 | Brandon Miller defensive rebound | |||
10:12 | Brandon Miller turnover (lost ball) (Jahmir Young steals) | |||
9:55 | Hakim Hart misses three point jump shot | |||
9:53 | Patrick Emilien offensive rebound | |||
9:36 | Ian Martinez turnover (bad pass) (Charles Bediako steals) | |||
9:25 | +2 | Charles Bediako makes two point dunk (Mark Sears assists) | 12-12 | |
9:03 | Brandon Miller personal foul | |||
8:56 | +2 | Jahmir Young makes two point jump shot | 14-12 | |
8:50 | Julian Reese shooting foul (Brandon Miller draws the foul) | |||
8:50 | +1 | Brandon Miller makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 14-13 | |
8:50 | Brandon Miller misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
8:50 | Donta Scott defensive rebound | |||
8:32 | Donta Scott misses two point jump shot | |||
8:30 | Mark Sears defensive rebound | |||
8:19 | Charles Bediako turnover (traveling) | |||
8:04 | Jahmir Young misses three point jump shot | |||
8:02 | Crimson Tide defensive rebound | |||
7:32 | +2 | Mark Sears makes two point jump shot | 14-15 | |
7:30 | TV timeout | |||
7:01 | +2 | Hakim Hart makes two point layup | 16-15 | |
6:45 | +2 | Brandon Miller makes two point layup | 16-17 | |
6:15 | Mark Sears personal foul (Donta Scott draws the foul) | |||
6:15 | Donta Scott misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
6:15 | +1 | Donta Scott makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 17-17 | |
6:03 | Jahvon Quinerly misses two point jump shot | |||
6:01 | Charles Bediako offensive rebound | |||
5:58 | +2 | Charles Bediako makes two point layup | 17-19 | |
5:41 | Hakim Hart misses three point jump shot | |||
5:39 | Charles Bediako defensive rebound | |||
5:22 | Brandon Miller misses two point layup | |||
5:20 | Donta Scott defensive rebound | |||
5:03 | Hakim Hart turnover (bad pass) (Noah Clowney steals) | |||
4:55 | Mark Sears turnover (lost ball) (Hakim Hart steals) | |||
4:47 | Jahmir Young misses two point jump shot | |||
4:45 | Mark Sears defensive rebound | |||
4:29 | +2 | Brandon Miller makes two point jump shot | 17-21 | |
4:19 | Terrapins 30 second timeout | |||
4:19 | TV timeout | |||
3:58 | Jahmir Young misses two point jump shot | |||
3:56 | Noah Clowney defensive rebound | |||
3:51 | Don Carey shooting foul (Nimari Burnett draws the foul) | |||
3:51 | TV timeout | |||
3:51 | +1 | Nimari Burnett makes regular free throw 1 of 3 | 17-22 | |
3:51 | +1 | Nimari Burnett makes regular free throw 2 of 3 | 17-23 | |
3:51 | +1 | Nimari Burnett makes regular free throw 3 of 3 | 17-24 | |
3:34 | Don Carey misses two point jump shot | |||
3:32 | Noah Clowney defensive rebound | |||
3:20 | Brandon Miller misses two point layup | |||
3:18 | Brandon Miller offensive rebound | |||
3:15 | +2 | Brandon Miller makes two point layup | 17-26 | |
2:53 | Charles Bediako blocks Donta Scott's two point layup | |||
2:51 | Donta Scott offensive rebound | |||
2:47 | Donta Scott misses two point jump shot | |||
2:45 | Donta Scott offensive rebound | |||
2:29 | Ian Martinez misses two point layup | |||
2:27 | Charles Bediako defensive rebound | |||
2:05 | Noah Clowney misses three point jump shot | |||
2:03 | Terrapins defensive rebound | |||
2:03 | Charles Bediako personal foul (Patrick Emilien draws the foul) | |||
2:03 | Patrick Emilien misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
2:02 | Noah Clowney defensive rebound | |||
1:39 | Jahvon Quinerly misses three point jump shot | |||
1:37 | Jahmir Young defensive rebound | |||
1:35 | Brandon Miller shooting foul (Jahmir Young draws the foul) | |||
1:35 | +1 | Jahmir Young makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 18-26 | |
1:35 | +1 | Jahmir Young makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 19-26 | |
1:07 | Hakim Hart blocks Rylan Griffen's three point jump shot | |||
1:05 | Crimson Tide offensive rebound | |||
1:05 | Crimson Tide turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
0:46 | +2 | Don Carey makes two point layup | 21-26 | |
0:25 | +2 | Jahvon Quinerly makes two point layup | 21-28 | |
0:01 | +2 | Jahmir Young makes two point jump shot | 23-28 | |
0:00 | End of period |