Alabama Survives Scare by Robert Morris in First Round of NCAA Tournament

Cleveland, Ohio. - The Crimson Tide started the match well, with Clifford Omoruyi making his NCAA Tournament debut in an Alabama jersey with an emphatic slam to open the scoring on the day. Followed up by a bucket from Chris Youngblood, Alabama was doing what it needed against inferior competition in the Round of 64 in the NCAA tournament.

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The Tide continued to push its lead in the second frame, rotating all but Mark Sears in the lineup. Derrion Reid, a former five-star McDonald's All-American, looked well-rested and refreshed, scoring four points and collecting three rebounds in his first four minutes of action. Reid's opening bucket on his first possession was the first points he had scored since February 15 against Auburn.

Alabama's center, Clifford Omoruyi, got excellent looks underneath the basket, allowing him to continue to pile up the "not so sexy" scores. Easy layups, a couple of slams, and a backdoor cut extended the Tide's lead as we moved through the halfway point of the first half.

As the game continued toward halftime, the Colonials were able to eat into the Crimson TIde's lead. Alabama was scoring 1.333 points per possession, coinciding with the typical Alabama offense. The defense, on the other hand, was allowing 1.161 points per possession to Robert Morris, led by big man Amarion Dickerson with 13 points. For the Tide, Clifford Omoruyi was a mismatch nightmare, leading Alabama in scoring in the first half with 15 points (three away from his Alabama career high).

To start the second half, the Crimson Tide tried to get the guard leaders involved in the scoring, although to no avail in the first four minutes of the second half. Sears only had one made three-point shot with 15 minutes left in the game.

The Tide quietly pushed the lead back to 10 points with 12 minutes left in the contest. It was not a pretty match, but Alabama was tinkering with the lineups while Grant Nelson was not playing (he had previously been reported as available for the game) and the leading scorer, Sears, having an off day. Alabama needed points any way it could get them, and it came at the hands of Mouhamed Dioubate and Clifford Omoruyi.

Robert Morris, bound and determined to do the unthinkable against Alabama, took its first lead of the game with seven minutes left in regulation.

Grant Nelson, who checked into the game with just seven minutes left in the second half, gave Alabama the lead back with 6:32 remaining and the Crimson Tide, although sloppy, never looked back.

Alabama trailed for only 30 seconds. But those 30 seconds forced the hands of Nate Oats to unlock Grant Nelson's glass case and lead Alabama to a win over Robert Morris. The Crimson Tide would go on to build a 12-point lead, the highest of the game, as the Colonials' comeback attempt fell just short of the biggest upset in the tournament.

It was not pretty, and the Tide broke the glass on Grant Nelson playing on Friday, but Alabama advances to the Round of 32 with a 90-81 victory over Robert Morris.

Alabama will play the winner of Vanderbilt and Saint Mary's on Sunday.

Alabama Stat Leaders

Points: Mark Sears - 22 points
Rebounds: Mouhamed Dioubate - 10 rebounds
Assists: Mark Sears - 10 assists

Alabama Players With Double-Digit Points

Clifford Omoruyi - 17 points
Mouhamed Dioubate - 18 points
Mark Sears - 22 points

The Sportsbook at Pearl River Resort sponsors our coverage of the NCAA tournament. Located at Golden Moon Hotel & Casino, it offers traditional sports betting, where guests can bet on all professional league sports and major collegiate sporting events.

Taco Casa also sponsors our coverage of the NCAA tournament. Under the biggest cactus in town, Taco Casa serves authentic, great-tasting food and award-winning sweet tea in Tuscaloosa. The quality, taste, and tradition that truly are Tuscaloosa. 

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.