Mark Sears three sets new NCAA record for Alabama basketball in made 3-pointers

A 35-year NCAA Tournament record has fallen. Mark Sears drained a three with 7:30 to play in the second half against BYU to set a new NCAA Tournament record for made three-pointers for a team. The previous record was set by Loyola Marymount in a 1990 tournament game against Michigan with 21.

Sears had been in a prolonged shooting slump, making 5-of-35 from three over the last five games and just 1-of-9 in Alabama's first two NCAA Tournament games. Against the Cougars, Sears broke out of that slump, connecting on a new Alabama record in an NCAA Tournament game with 10 made threes.

Kevin Young and BYU's defensive strategy was to keep the Crimson Tide out of the paint. The Cougars packed the paint and dared Alabama to shoot threes. Nate Oats' team happily obliged.

Alabama connected on 12-of-27 from deep in the first half as Alabama took an 11-point lead into the locker room. Most pundits wondered if the Crimson Tide could continue at that pace, but with BYU's defensive strategy, Alabama had a plethora of wide-open opportunities.

Sears finished one three-pointer away from a new NCAA Tournament record. Aden Holloway wasn't far behind, connecting on 6-of-13 attempts from deep, including 5-of-6 in the second half as he got hot from deep.

Chris Youngblood hit five threes, and Labaron Philon connected on two. For the game, Alabama hit 25-of-51 from downtown on the way to a resounding win over BYU to advance to the program's third-ever Elite Eight and the second in a row.

Alabama will advance to play the winner of 1-seed Duke and 4-seed Arizona in Saturday's Elite Eight. The Sweet 16 glass ceiling that had been hovering over this program for its entire history has been completely shattered by Oats and company.

Last season's win over North Carolina felt cathartic. This year's win over BYU felt normal.