March Madness: No. 2, the seed, Alabama, avoids a massive discomfort with a strong end

Alabama No. 2 clung to overcome No. 15, planted Robert Morris 90-81 in the first round of the NCAA Male Tournament on Friday at Rocket Arena in Cleveland.

At one point, Alabama climbed 12 points in the first half, but Robert Morris fought to reduce Alabama’s advantage to 40-36 in part time.

Robert Morris continued to fight in the second half and at one time he took an advantage of 65-64 over Alabama with 7:10 to play, putting the crimson tide on annoying alert.

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After that, Alabama had a race 26-16 to close the game and ensure victory.

Mark Sears and Clifford Omoruyi led the way for the crimson tide in victory. Sears had a double with 22 points and 10 assists, while Omoruyi added 17 points in perfect shots of 8 of 8.

Alabama made 58.6% of his shots.

Kentucky coach Mark Pope does the promising good to help cover the fans’s gas money for the NCAA tournament trip

Alabama Crimson Tide guard, Mark Sears, reacts in the second half against Robert Morris’s colonials during the first round of the NCAA tournament in Rocket Arena on March 21, 2025. (Images Rick Osantoski/Imagn)

Amarion Dickerson was one of the four players who scored in double figures for Robert Morris in the defeat.

Dickerson had 25 points while caughting nine rebounds, including six offensive boards. Álvaro Folgueiras also had a double with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Josh Omajafo had 12 points in the defeat.

Robert Morris triggered 42.3% from the field and only 25.9% from the range of 3 points.

Robert Morris’s guard, DJ Smith, reacts against Alabama Crimson Tide during the first round of the NCAA tournament in Rocket Arena on March 21, 2025. (Images Rick Osantoski/Imagn)

Alabama will play the Vanderbilt winner of the tenth seed and St. Mary’s No. 7 St. Mary’s of California in the 32nd round.

Robert Morris ended his season with a record of 26-9.