Mar. 17, 1989 – Southeast Regional First Round – Atlanta, GA
South Alabama 86 – Alabama Crimson Tide 84
The 1988 season was a tough one for the Tide. Losing four of its last five games, including an opening-round SEC Tournament, overtime loss to Ole Miss, the Tide slumped to 14-17.
After a strong 1989 regular season, that included two wins over Kentucky, the Crimson Tide beat Ole Miss, Vanderbilt and Florida to win the SEC Tournament.
Wimp Sanderson’s team was a 6-seed and was pitted against an 11-seed South Alabama Jaguars to open the Big Dance. In an intensely fought contest, the Crimson Tide came up short as USA pulled off the upset. The Jags shot 35 free throws, compared to just 10 for the Crimson Tide.
Michael Ansley with 25 points was tremendous for the Tide, as were Alvin Lee with 18 points and Gary Waites with 17.
Mar. 16, 1990 – West Regional First Round – Long Beach, CA
Alabama Crimson Tide 71 – Colorado State 54
The Tide blistered the nets in the second half, shooting 71 percent, and 62 percent for the game. Every Crimson Tide player got into the game. Robert Horry was the leading scorer with 27 points. James Sanders added 18 points.
Mar. 18, 1990 – West Regional Second Round – Long Beach, CA
Alabama Crimson Tide 77 – Arizona Wildcats 55
The Tide was a 7-seed and Lute Olson’s team was a 2-seed. The Tide pulled off the upset by outshooting the Wildcats overall, including outside the arc and at the foul line, plus dominating the rebounding with a 40-27 advantage. Leading by five at halftime, the second half was all Crimson Tide.
David Benoit led the Tide in scoring with 20 points, followed by Melvin Cheatum and James Sanders with 12 points each.
Mar. 23, 1990 – Sweeet 16 – Oakland, CA
Loyola-Marymount 62 – Alabama Crimson Tide 60
Paul Westhead’s team had averaged 125 points per game and Wimp Sanderson was determined the Crimson Tide would not play at that pace. The strategy almost worked. Westhead’s Lions trailed by eight points with eight minutes to play.
With 26 seconds to go, following a loose ball scramble, Loyola-Marymount scored the winning points with a layup. The Crimson Tide had two chances to tie. A short shot was missed by Melvin Cheatum and a Robert Horry shot at the buzzer bounced off the rim.
Though the Crimson Tide dictated the pace, Westhead’s team did not back off its other key component, intense ball pressure. The result was 24 Crimson Tide turnovers.
Melvin Cheatum and Robert Horry led the Tide in scoring with 21 points each.