Bama Tops Colorado, Advances To NIT TItle Game

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Anthony Grant’s team relied on its defense once again last night in Madison Square Garden.  And once again, its defense came through in the clutch.

Trevor Releford hit a layup to put Alabama up 62-61 with 12.6 seconds to play against Colorado in last night’s NIT semifinal.  The Crimson Tide then held on as CU leading scorer Alec Burks missed a jumper at the buzzer.

The Tide will now face Wichita State in the NIT finals at 7pm ET on Thursday.

“Defense is what gives this team a chance to win,” Grant said after the game.  “That’s what won for us tonight.”  But Bama’s coach also credited his freshman point guard, Releford.

With leading scorer JaMychal Green fouled out, Releford cut through the Buffaloes’ defense for the game-winning bucket.  “Trevor is a playmaker,” his coach said.  “As a freshman, he’s had to grow into that.  But at the end, I wanted to have the ball in his hands.  He read the play, they were cheating to the screen so he was able to rip the baseline and make the shot.”

And the Crimson Tide rolls on.