Alabama Basketball: Complete Crimson Tide NCAA Tournament History
By Ronald Evans
Mar. 15, 1975 – NCAA West Region – Tempe, AZ – Round One
Arizona State Sun Devils 97- Alabama Crimson Tide 94
For the third consecutive season, C.M. Newton’s Alabama Basketball team won 22 games in the 1974-75 season. The Crimson Tide shared the SEC regular-season championship with the Kentucky Wildcats. Both teams qualified for the NCAA Tournament.
The Tide bench was not deep but Newton had strong players, Leon Douglas, Charles Cleveland, T.R. Dunn, Boonie Russell, Anthony Murray, Ricky Brown and Johnny Dill. Douglas led the team in scoring and rebounding. Cleveland was an outstanding athlete, who Paul Bryant described as the best athlete at the University of Alabama.
The Tide drew Arizona State and the Sun Devils had the advantage of playing at home. A tight Crimson Tide struggled to score in the first half and Arizona State led by 19 points at the half, 55-39. In a strong second half, the Tide outscored the Sun Devils by 16 points and lost 97-94. Leon Douglas finished the game with 29 points and 21 rebounds.
The furious Tide comeback might have stalled late due to fatigue. Without a deep bench for Newton to utilize, Leon Douglas and T.R. Dunn played 39 minutes and Cleveland was on the court for 38 minutes before fouling out.