Grand Canyon basketball loses 'war' vs Alabama in March Madness NCAA Tournament game

A 10-0 run to end the game propelled Alabama to a 72-61 win over Grand Canyon in a hard-fought, physical second-round NCAA Tournament game in Spokane, Washington on Sunday night.

With 5:25 left, Grand Canyon held a 58-57 lead, but the Antelopes were outscored the rest of the game, 15-3, to end their NCAA Tournament run.

GCU beat Saint Mary's in the first round for its first-ever March Madness victory on Friday. The team is now 1-3 all-time in the NCAA Tournament.

For a moment, it seemed like it could move to 2-2.

The Antelopes had all the momentum, but the tide turned with a four-point possession from Alabama making a 58-56 deficit for the Crimson Tide into a 60-58 advantage with 5:21 left.

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One of the analysts on TV called the game a "war" and while we don't like battle analogies in sports, it might have been suitable for this game.

GCU was called for 21 fouls in the game. Alabama was whistled for 27.

The Antelopes didn't help their cause, going 23-for-37 from the free throw line. Alabama went 16-for-22.

Grand Canyon struggled offensively all night, ending up shooting just 18-for-56 from the field and 2-for-20 from 3.

It only had five assists in the game.

Alabama was 24-for-65 on its field goal attempts and 8-for-31 from 3.

Mark Sears led Alabama with 26 points and 12 rebounds. GCU was led by Tyon Grant-Foster, who scored 29.

Alabama will face No. 1 seed North Carolina in the Sweet 16. Grand Canyon ended its season with a 30-5 record overall and as the WAC regular season and tournament champions.

Final score: Alabama 72, Grand Canyon 61

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Alabama extends lead vs. Grand Canyon

GCU had an impressive run to get the lead in this game, but its been Alabama that appears to have made the run when it counts.

The Tide went on a 13-2 run to build its lead in the final minute. It has scored eight straight points.

It was Alabama that has executed down the final stretch of this game.

Score: Alabama 70, Grand Canyon 61 (:38 left in second half)

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Alabama has huge possession vs. Grand Canyon

GCU had all the momentum in this game, but then couldn't get a rebound, resulting in a big change in the scoreboard.

Alabama made a free throw, then missed one, but got an offensive board. Mouhamed Dioubate then scored on a putback, but was fouled, and he made the free free, turning a 58-56 deficit into a 60-58 lead for the Crimson Tide.

That hurt.

Grand Canyon has 15 offensive rebounds in this game. Alabama has 18.

Can anyone box out?

Score: Alabama 62, Grand Canyon 61 (3:51 left in second half)

Grand Canyon on a run vs. Alabama, thanks to ... running

GCU has found its answer to its rough play in the offensive half of the court: Just keep running.

The Antelopes have increased their speed in this game and are forcing the issue on offense, running the ball to the hoop on each possession.

It is working.

GCU has taken a 58-55 lead with 5:40 left because of its fast-break baskets.

The Antelopes are on an 8-0 run.

Score: Grand Canyon 58, Alabama 55 (5:40 left in second half)

Foul trouble for Grand Canyon vs. Alabama

Two of GCU's starters have four fouls in this game as Ray Harrison and Gabe McGlothan are one foul away from fouling out for the Antelopes.

Lok Wur has three fouls for Grand Canyon.

Jarin Stevenson has fouled out for Alabama, while Nick Pringle and Rylan Griffen each have three fouls.

How big of a factor will fouls play down the stretch?

Score: Grand Canyon 55, Alabama 55 (6:45 left in second half)

'This is just a wild basketball game' between Grand Canyon and Alabama

One of the announcers on TV just summed up this game, saying: "This is just a wild basketball game."

Indeed.

Grand Canyon and Alabama are battling in the second half of a physical, tightly contested game in Spokane, with each team trying to will itself to a win the second-round NCAA Tournament game.

Which team will find the way?

Tyon Grant-Foster is up to 21 points for GCU. Mark Sears has 20 for Alabama.

Grand Canyon is shooting 31.9% from the field. Alabama is at 35.2%.

We've got 7:54 left in the second half and the intensity is rising.

Stay tuned.

Score: Alabama 52, Grand Canyon 48 (7:54 left in second half)

Grand Canyon trying to fight back vs. Alabama in second half

The Antelopes are now 12-for-42 from the field in this game. They are 2-for-16 from 3. They have just four assists. They have turned the ball over nine times.

And somehow, they only trail by six points.

Alabama is now 16-for-48 from the field and 6-for-23 from 3. It has 11 assists and six turnovers.

The score might be tighter if GCU could take advantage of its free throw advantage. The Antelopes have attempted 24 free throws, while the Crimson Tide have 10 free throw attempts.

But Alabama has made 7, while GCU has made just 13 of its attempts.

This has been an ugly, physical, wild game.

And there is still 12 minutes left.

Score: Alabama 45, Arizona 39 (12:01 left in second half)

Grand Canyon not helping itself on offense amid shooting struggles vs. Alabama

It's no secret that Grand Canyon has struggled offensively in this game, but the Antelopes aren't really helping their chances with the way they are playing.

The team has struggled with its spacing and moving without the ball on offense. Many of its shots are contested attempts with defenders right on them.

The team is not creating easier opportunities for scores.

Want proof? The Antelopes only have three assists in this game. Yes, three.

That's not going to get the job done, if GCU wants to have any chance of advancing to the Sweet 16.

Alabama has done a better job of distributing the ball on offense. The Crimson Tide have 10 assists.

GCU has just three points so far in the second half. Alabama has four.

Score: Alabama 42, Grand Canyon 33 (15:59 left in second half)

Alabama takes 8-point lead into half vs. Grand Canyon

The first half of the Alabama vs. Grand Canyon March Madness second-round game Sunday night in Spokane, Washington was a physical, rough 20 minutes.

It was also really tightly contested until Alabama went on a 10-2 run to end the half and take a 38-30 lead at the break on GCU.

GCU is just 9-for-31 from the field and 2-for-12 from 3-point range. The Antelopes have helped their cause by shooting 18 free throws, but they aren't shooting well there, either, having made just 10 of them.

Alabama is 13-for-34 from the field and 5-for-15 from 3. It is 7-for-10 from the free-throw line.

Tyon Grant-Foster has 12 points to lead Grand Canyon, while Mark Sears and Rylan Griffen each have 13 points for Alabama.

Grand Canyon made history winning its first NCAA Tournament game on Friday against Saint Mary's. It is obviously going to have to start shooting better against Alabama if it wants to win its second March Madness game.

Halftime score: Alabama 38, Grand Canyon 30

Alabama's Latrell Wrightsell Jr. out for game vs. Grand Canyon

In a big loss for Alabama, the Crimson Tide announced that Latrell Wrightsell Jr. would be out for the rest of the game with a head injury.

Alabama is rallying without him, however, as it has built a 38-30 lead on Grand Canyon at the half.

The score was tied at 28-28, but the Crimson Tide went on a 10-2 run to end the first half with an 8-point lead.

Alabama players were shown consoling Wrightsell Jr. in the hallway when they headed back to the locker room at halftime.

Score: Alabama 38, Grand Canyon 30 (halftime)

Grand Canyon ties game with Alabama on Tyon Grant-Foster 3

Tyon Grant-Foster just hit a 3-pointer to tie the game against Alabama late in the first half.

GCU is 2-for-12 from 3-point range in this game, but Grant-Foster is 2-for-3.

The Antelopes are 8-for-29 from the field.

Coach Bryce Drew has to be happy that his team is somehow tied with Alabama amid its shooting struggles.

Alabama isn't much better from the field, as the Crimson Tide are 10-for-31 from the field and 4-for-14 from 3.

Score: Grand Canyon 28, Alabama 28 (2:27 left in first half)

About Alabama not being happy with the officiating vs. Grand Canyon ...

Nick Pringle on the Alabama bench just threw a clipboard on the floor and the Crimson Tide were assessed another technical foul for it.

It is their second technical foul of the game.

Grand Canyon is now 10-for-16 from the free throw line. That and the team's second chance points (seven offensive rebounds) are keeping GCU in this game amid its 5-for-25 shooting from the field.

Score: Alabama 24, Grand Canyon 21 (4:05 left in first half)

More: Referees hand Nate Oats technical foul in Alabama-Grand Canyon game in 2024 NCAA Tournament

Block party for Grand Canyon against Alabama

Grand Canyon is up to five blocks in this game, which has helped them stay with Alabama amid the Antelopes' dismal shooting.

Latrell Wrightsell Jr. just exited the game after landing on Gabe McGlothan's foot when Wrightsell Jr. fouled McGlothan on a 3-point attempt.

This game has been pretty chippy, as the officials have allowed both teams to play physically.

Alabama has been whistled for nine personal fouls, however, to just four for Grand Canyon, and Crimson Tide coach Nate Oats and some of his players are not happy about it.

Score: Alabama 21, Grand Canyon 16 (5:37 left in first half)

Grand Canyon, Alabama starting to heat up in second-round NCAA Tournament game

Both the Antelopes and Crimson Tide still aren't shooting particularly well overall, but they are starting to heat up in Spokane.

GCU is now 5-for-22 from the field. Alabama is 6-for-22.

Both of these teams love the long ball, but one has a distinct advantage early. Alabama is 4-for-12 from 3. Grand Canyon is 1-for-10.

Collin Moore has returned for Grand Canyon after missing some time after taking an elbow to the nose.

"We've got to move more on offense, we've got to spread it more," GCU coach Bryce Drew told TBS at a break.

Score: Alabama 17, Grand Canyon 13 (8:12 left in first half)

Mark Sears propels Alabama back to lead vs. Grand Canyon

Mark Sears scored 30 points against the College of Charleston in Alabama's first-round NCAA tournament win.

How many will he get in this game?

The guard just hit back-to-back 3-pointers to give Alabama a 13-9 lead.

He is 3-for-3 from 3-point range in the game and has nine of Alabama's points.

Alabama may be just 4-for-19 in this game, but it is 4-for-11 from 3-point range, buoyed by the three from Sears.

Score: Alabama 13, Grand Canyon 9 (10:14 left in first half)

Defense sparks GCU to first lead vs. Alabama

A pair of blocks, followed by a transition 3 by Tyon Grant-Foster, has given the Antelopes their first lead against the Crimson Tide with 11:48 left in the first half.

Grant-Foster has five of Grand Canyon's nine points. He also had a big block, as did Gabe McGlothan.

The announcers for the game commented that GCU "is a mid-major team, but it has high-end talent."

Alabama coach Nate Oats was assessed a technical foul for complaining to the officials after Grant-Foster's 3.

Score: Grand Canyon 9, Alabama 7 (11:37 left in first half)

Grand Canyon's Collin Moore exits game after elbow to the face

Grand Canyon's Collin Moore took an inadvertent elbow to the face from Alabama's Nick Pringle and exited the game with what appeared to be a bloody nose.

Trainers were shown working on Moore on the GCU bench. Officials reviewed the play and did not assess a foul on Pringle.

The shooting continues to be abysmal for both teams in this second-round March Madness game.

GCU is now 2-for-14. Alabama is 2-for-12.

Score: Alabama 7, Grand Canyon 5 (12:40 left in first half)

Slow start to Alabama vs. Grand Canyon March Madness game

Alabama put up 109 points in its NCAA Tournament opening win over the College of Charleston.

Grand Canyon scored 75 against Saint Mary's.

The teams have combined for just nine points at the first break in action in Spokane, with Alabama holding a 6-3 lead.

GCU is just 1-for-11 from the field in the game. Alabama is 2-for-10.

Is it nerves? Is it just bad shooting?

No matter what it is, we expect the shooting, and the score, to heat up in this game. Both of these offenses are too good.

Score: Alabama 6, Grand Canyon 3 (15:00 left in first half)

What the odds say about Grand Canyon vs. Alabama March Madness game

Alabama is a 5.5-point favorite over Grand Canyon in the game Sunday, per odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook.

The Crimson Tide are -250 on the moneyline. The Antelopes are +200.

The over/under (point total) for the game is set at 172.5 points.

Interestingly, in their pregame picks for the game on TBS, Clark Kellogg, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley all picked Grand Canyon to win the game against Alabama.

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About those Grand Canyon basketball fans in NCAA Tournament ...

How did Grand Canyon get so much fan support in Spokane?

It starts with a great deal: For $28, fans of the team (called Havocs) got a "Let's Dance" shirt, a chartered flight to and from Spokane, tickets to both games and two nights in a hotel.

For just $28?

Richard Obert has the details from Spokane here.

More: Lucky Grand Canyon students get March Madness experience for $28

Here's how Grand Canyon can advance against Alabama in NCAA Tournament

The Arizona Republic's Richard Obert, who is in Spokane covering the Grand Canyon basketball team, analyzed how the Antelopes can upset Alabama in March Madness.

One of the keys to the game? The fans.

The winner of this game will advance to face No. 1 seed North Carolina in the Sweet 16.

North Carolina defeated No. 9 seed Michigan State on Saturday, 85-69.

You can read Obert's story here.

More: Here's how Grand Canyon can advance against Alabama in NCAA Tournament

How to watch Grand Canyon vs Alabama in NCAA Tournament

When: Sunday, March 24, 4:10 p.m. Pacific time (7:10 p.m. ET)

Where: Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena, Spokane, Washington

TV channel: TBS

Announcers: Lisa Byington (play-by-play), Steve Smith, Robbie Hummel (analysts), Lauren Shehadi (reporter)

Streaming: Sling TV

STREAM THE GAME: Watch Alabama vs. Grand Canyon live with Sling TV

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: GCU basketball loses to Alabama in March Madness NCAA Tournament 'war'