Alabama Basketball: Complete Crimson Tide NCAA Tournament History

Mar. 16, 1995 – East Regional First Round – Baltimore, MD

Alabama Crimson Tide 91 – Pennsylvania 85 (OT)

Assuming a small school, from a big city in the northeast cannot compete, is often a mistake. Penn came close to proving that against the Tide in 1995. The Quakers had won 22 games before taking on Alabama Basketball. They led by one at halftime.

Starting the second half, Penn missed its first 11 shots. The Crimson Tide could not take control of the game. One reason was Jamal Faulkner was 1-for-10 in regulation. Going into overtime, the Tide had an 11-0 run, but the Quakers fought back. The two teams combined for 42 overtime points. Without Antonio McDyess, Penn would have beaten the Crimson Tide. McDyess finished with 39 points and 19 rebounds, allowing the Tide to escape the upset.

Mar. 18, 1995 – East Regional First Round – Baltimore, MD

Oklahoma State 66 – Alabama Crimson Tide 52

The Cowboys were 24-9 going into the game and had been ranked inside the Top 20 through most of February. Eddie Sutton’s team had three easy wins in the Big Eight Tournament and had crushed Drexel in their opening NCAA Tourney game.

Antonio McDyess was ready for the Cowboys. He played great against Oklahoma State big, Bryant ‘Big Country’ Reeves. McDyess did not get much help from his teammates. The Tide big man finished with 22 points and 17 rebounds. Jason Caffey was the only other Tide player in double-digits, with 10 points and seven rebounds. The Crimson Tide shot 20, threes and made two.

Big Country had 26 points for the Cowboys. With the Tide shooting so poorly at 36 percent for the game, a 43-30 rebound advantage could not cure the shooting woes.