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T20 World Cup: South Africa coach’s ‘cupcake’ jibe after another ‘chokers’ reminder | Cricket News

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T20 World Cup: South Africa coach's 'cupcake' jibe after another 'chokers' reminder
South Africa’s Marco Jansen and teammates (ANI Photo)

TimesofIndia.com in New Delhi: South Africa are on an unbeaten run in the T20 World Cup. Except for the double Super Over against Afghanistan, they’ve steamrolled top teams, including India, whom they beat by 76 runs. On a seven-match winning streak, South Africa hopes to shed their ‘chokers’ tag.The legacy of that tag has followed the Proteas for the past two decades. It started with the 1999 World Cup loss to Australia and persisted until the 2024 T20 World Cup, losing the final to India in the Caribbean.

T20 World Cup: Ashwell Prince press conference before SA vs ZIM

Now, the reigning World Test Championship winners are the team to beat in the T20 World Cup being played in India and Sri Lanka. Their winning run continued with a 5-wicket win over Zimbabwe on Sunday. Coach Shukri Conrad was asked if this brings pressure and the much-dreaded reminder of being chokers?“There’s always pressure. I think it’s what you do with that pressure and how you shift the pressure. As for the C-word [chokers], I think there’s another one for that – ‘cupcakes.’ I’m sure we kind of enjoyed that,” said Conrad.The cupcake reference relates to a TV advert in the lead-up to the India vs South Africa Super Eight match where an Indian fan jokingly told a South Africa supporter about “repeating history” from the 2024 T20 World Cup while teasing them over a cupcake. But after South Africa’s resounding win against India in Ahmedabad, that dig flipped on its head.“No, there’s always pressure and it’s really about embracing that pressure. And we don’t do things any differently. We’re going to prepare exactly the same way for New Zealand. Whether we start as favourites? Probably because we’re the only unbeaten side in the competition. But I don’t know if that adds to the pressure,” continued Conrad.“I think the semi-final is pressure enough. Playing a tough side in New Zealand is pressure enough. So there’s no added pressure.“I’m glad that we’re favourites because I always felt that as a South African team you want to be able to play as a favourite because it’s easy being an underdog. The expectation isn’t that much. But if we can continue doing what we’re doing then we need a little bit of luck along the way as well.“Hopefully that will give us the result on Wednesday and then on to our ‘home ground’ in Ahmedabad,” he finished cheekily.

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Manchester United’s talented winger suffers huge injury blow

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Man Utd youngster Bendito Mantato made his debut in the Premier League a few months ago, but has now suffered an injury.

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Manchester United youngster Bendito Mantato is set to miss the rest of the season due to an ankle injury. Mantato suffered the issue after being introduced from the bench for the Under-21s against Chelsea at the start of the month.

The Manchester Evening News understands Mantato is wearing a protective boot and his season is considered to be over, which is a huge blow for the 18-year-old, who will miss out in the FA Youth Cup.

Mantato started against Peterborough, Derby County and Oxford United in the competition’s early rounds, but was forced to watch from the stands when the U18s beat Sunderland in the quarter-finals.

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The U18s face Crystal Palace in the Youth Cup semi-finals. If the youngsters progress, they could play Manchester City in a mini-Manchester derby final at the Etihad.

Mantato is one of the brightest talents in United’s academy. He formerly played at left-back in academy fixtures, but gradually progressed to play predominantly on the right wing, and his style has already led to comparisons with Bukayo Saka, who also started his career as a defender.

Last season, Ruben Amorim included Mantato in the senior matchday squad for home and away legs of the Europa League semi-finals against Athletic Bilbao. Mantato was subsequently included in the United States tour squad, and was handed his first-team debut against Wolves in December.

The academy graduate will target a return from injury in time to be involved in this summer’s pre-season tour squad, which will feature more young players than usual with the World Cup ongoing.

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Mantato has represented England’s Under-16, Under-17 and Under-18 teams in his career.

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Flames aiming to build winning culture with late-season heater

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The wrong results, at the wrong time, say many.

The fans want entertaining, pedal to the metal efforts, they want lots of offence, and they cherish close losses.

Ryan Strome has heard the narrative ever since he arrived at the trade deadline, but when asked after Sunday’s win over Tampa why it is important in the room to win with regularity, he came up with an answer every bit as impactful as his overtime winner.

“I’ve been through this before, and it’s really, really hard to snap your fingers and just become a winning hockey team,” said the veteran of over 900 games.

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“So I think if you throw these games away, you don’t compete, you don’t play hard, those habits leak into next year. Then all of a sudden you have a group that’s like, ‘okay, we’ve got to start winning,’ and you don’t have the characteristics. You don’t have those qualities and the leadership and all those things that it takes.”

“Hypothetically it’d be great to have the first-overall pick, and you can guarantee this and that, but it’s a team game, and there’s a lot of guys in here playing for jobs and playing for their life, and that’s important,” he said.

“The team is trying to build a culture and a confidence moving forward, and having been a part of this before, I know that it’s a huge piece of it. So I think the traits that we’re showing now are great things that will bleed into next season.”

The goal, as he crystallized, is to keep the culture strong.

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As undermanned as it is, this team will most certainly lose more games than it’ll win down the stretch run of a season in which the Flames are destined to finish in the bottom five. 

Although unable to bottom out enough to fall below the shipwreck long steered into the rocks by a dysfunctional room in Vancouver, they’ll have anywhere between 8.5 per cent and 13.5 per cent chance to win the draft lottery (Vancouver gets a 25 per cent chance).

After catching both the Rangers and Blackhawks with Sunday’s win to sit in a three-way tie for second last (in which the Flames hold the tiebreaker), they’d enter the May 5 lottery with a 9.5 per cent chance to land Gavin McKenna, or whoever is chosen No. 1.

And while many fans cringe with every victory, the leadership of Mikel Backlund, Blake Coleman, Zach Whitecloud, and now Strome, continues to do a good job preserving and growing a culture in which hard work is non-negotiable.   

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Just listen to the game’s best coach for further proof the Flames are moving in a healthy direction.

 “Listen, Ryan (Huska) does a heck of a job here,” said Jon Cooper, whose Lightning had just been stunned 4-3 by the Flames.

“I like the way they play, their structure. There’s guys who played on other teams who weren’t fits, like Stromer. He is a hell of a player. He was just on a hell of a team in Anaheim.

“The Flames lost some big pieces here, but you get the hunger of some of these young guys that come in and want to make impressions this year, but also next. They’ve got a whole boatload of ’em out there. Good on them, they’re a tough team to play against, and I like what they’re doing.”

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There’s plenty for an undermanned mishmash of young and old to be proud of right now.

The backbone of the team’s win Sunday was Devin Cooley, whose 32-save performance was the difference in a game the Flames led 3-1 midway through.

After being scored on early, the Flames’ first goal came from trade deadline throw-in, Victor Olofsson, followed by a sublime finish from Morgan Frost who seems hell bent on proving over the last dozen games he’s capable of being the team’s first-line centre moving forward.

Backlund’s slapper beat Jonas Johansson high, short-side, before a Darren Raddysh point blast beat Cooley to make things interesting.

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The Flames appeared to go up 4-2 later in the period when a nifty backhand feed from Backlund to Coleman got the crowd on their feet, only to have the goal overturned via offside on a coach’s challenge.

It marked the fourth time in their last three games they’ve been so victimized.

Yet, despite that, and a late tying goal by Pontus Holmberg, the Flames managed to win in overtime, thanks to a brilliant play and centring pass by 19-year-old Matvei Gridin to Strome, who buried it.

A perfect illustration of how young and old are collaborating already.

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“For a young guy to have that poise, to hold on to it in overtime and make a nice little slip play is impressive,” said Strome, 32. 

“He’s got a lot of great tools. And you know, a lot of these young guys, you give them a little more open ice in three-on-three, they can make good plays. Backs won the (opening) face off, did his job (was replaced by Gridin), and Grids just put it on a platter for me.

“With these young guys, I think winning is important. To have some confidence and to keep pushing forward here to the end of the year.”

The evening started with a focus on 23-year-old college signing Tyson Gross making his NHL debut in front of a Saddledome crowd he spent his youth sitting in.

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It ended with a 19-year-old making the play of the night, capping a collaborative effort the whole team could feel good about.

Those in attendance got their money’s worth, and the bold new direction the Flames have embarked on includes a healthy approach in which wins are coveted. They should be, as there won’t be too many of them for the next little while.

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Mammoth’s Nick Schmaltz scores twice, including in OT to edge Kings

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NHL: Los Angeles Kings at Utah MammothMar 22, 2026; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty (8) skates with the puck against Utah Mammoth center Nick Schmaltz (8) and left wing Lawson Crouse (67) during the second period at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images

Nick Schmaltz scored his second goal of the game 1:46 into overtime and the Utah Mammoth beat the Los Angeles Kings 4-3 on Sunday night in Salt Lake City.

Schmaltz entered the zone 2-on-1, kept the puck and beat Darcy Kuemper with a wrist shot.

Lawson Crouse had two goals and an assist for the Mammoth (37-28-6, 80 points), who have won three of four and hold the first wild-card spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference. Kevin Stenlund had two assists, and Karel Vejmelka made 33 saves.

Quinton Byfield had a goal and an assist for the Kings (28-25-17, 73 points), who have lost three straight and trail the Nashville Predators by two points for the second wild-card spot in the playoffs from the West. Darcy Kuemper made 30 saves.

The Kings’ Artemi Panarin tied it 3-3 at 16:30 of the third period, scoring in his third straight game. He entered the zone on the rush, briefly lost the puck but recovered it and sent a shot on net from a sharp angle along the right boards and it snuck under Vejmelka’s left pad.

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Crouse gave Utah a 1-0 lead at 7:04 of the first period. John Marino stole the puck from Sam Helenius, skated behind the goal and fed in front to Crouse, who scored on a quick wrist shot from the low slot.

Alex Laferriere tied the game 1-1 just 36 seconds later when he entered the zone 2-on-1, kept the puck and scored on a snap shot from the right circle.

Crouse put Utah up 2-1 at 9:19 when he got a pass at the bottom of the left circle and chipped it up, off Kuemper and into the top of the net.

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Byfield tied it 28 seconds later. Vejmelka made a save on Brandt Clarke’s long shot but couldn’t control the rebound. The goalie poked the puck away, but Byfield got to it and scored from the left circle.

The second period was scoreless until Schmaltz batted in his own rebound at 16:11 after winning a puck battle in front to give the Mammoth a 3-2 lead.

–Field Level Media

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Keely Hodgkinson won gold at World Indoors – but her second performance left her stunned

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Keely Hodgkinson surprised even herself after running an impressive leg in the 4x400m relay less than an hour after securing 800m gold at the World Indoor Athletics Championships in Poland.

Olympic champion Hodgkinson secured her first world title with a dominant performance in her favoured event in Torun, before joining an unconventional British quartet to compete in the relay.

With the British squad short of 400m runners, Hodgkinson and sprinter Dina Asher-Smith stepped in alongside Tess McHugh and Louisa Stoney to record a fifth placed finish in the relay.

Asher-Smith, a 60m finalist, produced a strong time of 51.29sec for her leg before Hodgkinson, not a noted 400m runner, clocked the fastest split of the race clocked the fastest split of the race (50.10sec) in a sign of her excellent form.

Hodgkinson blasted away to clock 23.4sec through 200 metres, a time that left even her taken aback.

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“Sometimes I surprise myself,” the 24-year-old posted on X, formerly Twitter.

The women’s 4x400m relay was won by the United States, their sixth success in the last nine editions of the World Indoors. The Netherlands brought home the baton for silver, with the Spanish quartet pipping Poland to bronze in the final event of the championships.

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A new beginning or an emotional end? Pep Guardiola’s Man City future still unclear

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Pep Guardiola may have added a more cerebral dimension to football management but he had a confession. “I’m not yet artificial intelligence,” said the Manchester City manager. “I’m a human being and I can celebrate.” For Guardiola, the emotion of a Carabao Cup final win was apparent in his own booking for running out of his technical area. Given Guardiola’s unpredictability, replicating his thought process might be beyond even AI.

For the Catalan, defeating Arsenal at Wembley was the sort of result that was rooted in the unexpected element of football. “Not even me gave £1 for the victory today,” he said.

Guardiola has had many a triumph over the years, but few against the odds. He has tended to win with the favourites. His previous two finals at Wembley were upsets because City lost, to Manchester United and Crystal Palace in consecutive FA Cup showpieces. This time he was on the right end of a shock.

Pep Guardiola and his daughter Maria celebrated victory on the Wembley pitch
Pep Guardiola and his daughter Maria celebrated victory on the Wembley pitch (AFP via Getty Images)

For much of his time in Manchester, there was the automatic assumption that whichever piece of silverware he had just collected would lead to more, often swiftly. Now it is not as clear.

Guardiola has his default answer, that he has one year left on his contract. Arsenal’s six-year trophy drought – Community Shields apart – underlines that most sides, even good ones, can find it difficult to collect any medals; in part, of course, because Guardiola’s charges often hoover them up.

Now there is the question if this is the end of something or a new beginning. Guardiola’s greatest rival, Jurgen Klopp, bowed out with a Carabao Cup that meant more to him because it was earned in improbable fashion.

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Jurgen Klopp’s final Carabao Cup with Liverpool was extra special
Jurgen Klopp’s final Carabao Cup with Liverpool was extra special (Getty Images)

There could be another comparison; except that, as Klopp would no doubt point out, Guardiola has won much more than him. One theory is that he would want to bid farewell with one of the big two trophies, and City are already out of the Champions League and nine points adrift of Arsenal in the Premier League.

But there are times when Guardiola seems genuinely excited by the potential of the third team he is fashioning. He believes they are not far off, and that sense may give him greater reasons to stay. “The team has something underneath that I can smell that they can flourish and winning helps to anticipate the process a little bit,” he rationalised.

Whether it is a side that will stay together and win together is another matter. As he stood at the end of the Wembley balcony, looking reflective as he watched his players bounce around in delight, the chances are he derived particular pleasure from seeing Bernardo Silva lift a first trophy as captain. Maybe a last, too, given that the Portuguese is out of contract in the summer and also deflects queries about his future.

Guardiola has plenty to ponder after his latest Carabao Cup triumph
Guardiola has plenty to ponder after his latest Carabao Cup triumph (Reuters)

Then, for different reasons, there are two of those Guardiola singled out for praise. Nathan Ake was parachuted in when Ruben Dias was hamstrung but one of Guardiola’s most solid citizens is probably fifth-choice centre-back now. The future has arrived; indeed, when it is Abdukodir Khusanov, his ally in a partnership of old and young, who does everything at startling speed.

Meanwhile, James Trafford’s early triple save meant the opening when Arsenal, in Guardiola’s words, “suffocated” City brought no breakthrough. Trafford returned to the Etihad Stadium last summer, little expecting City to buy Gianluigi Donnarumma two months later. At least the second-choice goalkeeper has some silverware banked from his second spell at the club but he will surely will be gone soon; he is too good to spend another season on the bench.

The rebuilding job is advanced in some areas, incomplete in others, perhaps complicated by probable departures in still more. At some stage, City may actually sign a right-back, though Matheus Nunes has a Wembley assist to show for his afternoon. Whether Nico O’Reilly will be a left-back in the long term remains to be seen; for now, anyway, he has the enviable tag of cup final hero.

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Of the 13 arrivals in the last three transfer windows, Rayan Cherki and Khusanov may prove the two best. The Frenchman looked a high-class No 10 at Wembley, just as Arsenal, in the absence of Martin Odegaard and Eberechi Eze, lacked one. Guardiola has spent plenty but Cherki, at £31m, is a bargain.

Rayan Cherki could prove to be Guardiola’s best recent signing
Rayan Cherki could prove to be Guardiola’s best recent signing (Action Images via Reuters)

Whether the Wembley way is Guardiola’s new blueprint, with two fast wingers, in Jeremy Doku and Antoine Semenyo, remains to be seen. There are times when, unusually for a Guardiola side, they look undermanned in midfield; it was one of their problems in the Bernabeu.

It would help if Rodri were to return to the dominant form he displayed before his cruciate ligament injury. It is far from certain he will. It is a safer bet Erling Haaland, after just five goals in 20 games, will become prolific again.

They could be fulcrums of a third great Guardiola side; or there may not be one. This might be the platform for more or a one-off win for a team in transition. Like much else at City, it comes back to the issue if Guardiola will stay or go. And if it is the latter, AI can’t replace him.

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Pakistan Armed Group Threatens David Warner, Steve Smith: “Withdraw From PSL Immediately”

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The fate of the 2026 Pakistan Super League (PSL) season appears to be in jeopardy, despite the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) reportedly deciding to host the event in only two cities, and behind closed doors. On Sunday, PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi confirmed the government directive, citing the West Asia conflict and soaring fuel prices as the primary reasons behind the decision. However, there may be more to the development than meets the eye. Reports have emerged suggesting that overseas players scheduled to participate in the PSL have been urged to pull out of the tournament or face dire consequences.

An armed opposition group in Pakistan, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, has issued a public statement warning overseas stars such as David Warner, Steve Smith, and Daryl Mitchell against participating. In a chilling ultimatum, the group stated that players’ safety cannot be guaranteed if they travel to Pakistan for the T20 league. In the note, the armed group asked Warner, Smith and other overseas stars to “withdraw immediately” from the PSL.

Explaining their stance, the group claimed they are not opposed to cricket as a sport, but argued that the prevailing security situation in Pakistan is unsuitable for staging a high-profile tournament involving international players.

“We want to advise the relevant cricket boards not to send their players to Pakistan. If something happens to them, it will not be our responsibility. We have already issued our warning,” a commander of Jamaat-ul-Ahrar told The Sunday Guardian.

When asked how the group would respond if players ignored the warning, the commander added, “We will do whatever is in our capacity, but we will not let the matches happen. We will do our best to ensure that the tournament is disrupted and the players do not take to the field.”

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This year’s PSL features several high-profile internationals, including Australia’s David Warner, Steve Smith, and Adam Zampa, alongside England’s Moeen Ali and New Zealand’s Devon Conway. While the PCB has already implemented strict measures, the recent changes to the 2026 format have not been officially attributed to these threats. With the season set to bowl off on 26 March, all eyes are now on the PCB and the international stars to see how they navigate this developing situation.

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‘Greatest week of my life’

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Eagles most underrated player entering the 2026 NFL season

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Philadelphia is entering a critical 2026 season, and while there have been significant changes on the offensive side of the football, the two most critical components for the defense are at the pass-rusher position. Vic Fangio’s unit has lost multiple free agents, including star pass rusher Jaelan Phillips. The Eagles have breakout contenders at several positions, but none more important and valuable than the continued development of Jalyx Hunt and Nolan Smith. Hunt is the one player to watch, and thankfully, Philadelphia’s most underrated player.

Just two years ago, Hunt was playing football collegiately at Houston Christian as a pass rusher after beginning his career in the Ivy League as a safety. Hunt made a big leap in his second season, winning one-on-one matchups with a great burst off the ball, outstanding technique, and a relentless motor. Still, he offers plenty of upside as a versatile and multidimensional playmaker.

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In 2025, Hunt became the first Eagle to lead the team in both sacks (6.5) and interceptions (3) in the same season. Hunt is the second Eagle to have 6.0+ sacks and 3.0+ INTs in a season, joining Seth Joyner (1991-92).

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This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles’ most overlooked player ahead of 2026 season

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Deep-shooting Alabama overwhelms Texas Tech, moves on to Sweet 16

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NCAA Basketball: NCAA Tournament Second Round-Texas Tech at AlabamaMar 22, 2026; Tampa, FL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide guard Houston Mallette (95) celebrates after a play against the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the first half during a second round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Benchmark International Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Latrell Wrightsell scored 24 points and fourth-seeded Alabama unleashed a relentless 3-point attack in blowing out No. 5 Texas Tech 90-65 in the NCAA Tournament’s second round Sunday night in Tampa, Fla.

Houston Mallette scored all 15 of his points on 3s, Amari Allen had 12 points despite missing his four 3-point attempts and Aiden Sherrell had 10 points. Labaron Philon Jr. contributed nine points and a career-high 12 assists.

Alabama (25-9) meets top-seeded Michigan in the Sweet 16 on Friday night in the Midwest Region at Chicago.

LeJuan Watts’ 16 points and seven rebounds led Texas Tech (23-11), while Donovan Atwell provided 12 points and Leon Horner had 10. The Red Raiders lost four of their final five games, with a once-promising season veering off track after the loss of star JT Toppin to a season-ending injury.

The Crimson Tide led 90-56 with 4:41 remaining and didn’t score again. Substitutes helped finish the job for Alabama in a game that concluded after midnight.

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Led by Wrightsell’s six 3-pointers on nine attempts, Alabama made 19 of 42 shots from 3-point spots (45.2%) compared to Texas Tech’s 4-for-25 shooting from long range (16%).

The Crimson Tide also controlled the boards to the tune of 47-35.

In two tournament games, Alabama didn’t look bothered by playing without suspended guard Aden Holloway, the team’s second-leading scorer. The Crimson Tide reached the 90-point level in both games, speeding past Hofstra on Friday.

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Alabama, fueled by a 13-2 spurt, held a 49-25 halftime lead with seven different players hitting at least one 3-pointer. The Crimson Tide were 6-for-12 on two-point attempts as they relied almost exclusively on perimeter shooting.

The 49 points were the most scored in the first half in any NCAA Tournament second-round game this weekend.

Alabama made 11 shots from 3-point range in the first half, while Texas Tech shot 2-for-13 on first-half 3-point attempts

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–Field Level Media

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Pictured: England 2026 World Cup kit gallery as new Three Lions shirts go on sale

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England’s 2026 World Cup kits have been unveiled ahead of the summer tournament – here’s the best of the pictures of the new collection

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