UNC vs Alabama live score, NCAA bracket updates: March Madness

UNC basketball’s Harrison Ingram, Tar Heels talk win vs Michigan State

Following UNC basketball’s win against Michigan State in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, Harrison Ingram was among the Tar Heels to speak with reporters.

LOS ANGELES — The North Carolina Tar Heels basketball team continues March Madness against the Alabama Crimson Tide on Thursday in the West Regional of the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

Tipoff between the Tar Heels (29-7) and the Crimson Tide (23-11) is set for approximately 9:39 pm ET at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, and the game will be televised on CBS.

MORE: Watch UNC basketball vs Alabama live with Fubo (free trial)

The Tar Heels are 16-8 in California, including 5-6 in Los Angeles. Overall, UNC is 8-5 in the all-time series against Alabama, including 2-1 in the NCAA Tournament. The Tide earned a 103-101 quadruple-overtime win against the Heels last season in Portland.

The winner will advance to Saturday’s Elite Eight against 2 seed Arizona (27-8) or 6 seed Clemson (23-11). The West Regional champion will head to Phoenix for the Final Four.

Here’s everything you need to know about Thursday’s game, including time, date, TV and streaming info, and score updates from UNC’s second game of the NCAA Tournament.

MARCH MADNESS PREDICTIONS: UNC basketball Sweet 16 bracket predictions: Our pick to reach March Madness’ Final Four

UNC vs Alabama live score updates in NCAA Sweet 16

Check here for live score updates for UNC vs. Alabama in the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

All times are in Eastern

10:40 pm: North Carolina uses an 11-2 run over the last 2:47 to take a 54-46 lead into the locker room against Alabama. Tar Heels go an impressive 10-for-16 from beyond the arc in the first 20 minutes, led by Cormac Ryan’s four triples. Ryan and Harrison Ingram lead North Carolina with 12 points each.

10:34 pm: Nate Oats calls an Alabama timeout after Cormac Ryan hits his fourth 3-pointer of the game to push the Tar Heels run to 8-0 in the last 1:06. North Carolina leads 51-44 with 1:41 until halftime.

10:33 pm: Armando Bacot gets the bucket to roll in underneath the basket with his left hand to push the Tar Heels lead out of the media timeout.

10:30 pm: Both teams trading buckets in the last few minutes. Rylan Griffen hits his fourth 3-pointer of the half to put Alabama back up by one, 44-43, going into the final half timeout of the first half. Tide have now hit four of their last five shots from the floor.

10:28 pm: Cormac Ryan and Harrison Ingram spark a quick 7-0 run for the Tar Heels to tie the game at 41-41.

10:26 pm: Cormac Ryan hits a 3-pointer to end an over 2:20 scoreless drought for the Tar Heels. UNC is now within two of Alabama at 36-34.

10:24 pm: Alabama coach Nate Oats hints to CBS’ Allie LaForce that the Crimson Tide have to tighten up on their defense and zone in on Elliott Cadeau and Seth Trimble, UNC’s two leading scorers thus far tonight. Before tonight, Cadeau was 8-for-48 from beyond the arc. Tonight? He is 2-for-3.

10:21 pm: North Carolina guard Seth Trimble has his shot blocked by Aaron Estrada and sent out of bounds. Crimson Tide lead by one at the under-eight media timeout, 32-31. Alabama has six of its last seven shots from the floor, meanwhile, North Carolina is three of its last seven.

10:18 pm: Elliot Cadeau answers right back to Alabama’s Mark Sears’ 3-pointer with a triple of his own to tie the game at 29-29. Cadeau has a team-high eight points for UNC on two 3-pointers and a layup.

10:17 pm: Aaron Estrada ties the game at 26-26 as he gets the hook shot to go in off the backboard. It’s a 7-0 run for Alabama over the last two minutes. The Tar Heels offense has cooled off mightily after their hot start.

10:14 pm: Alabama’s offense is heating up as Riley Green rains in a triple to cut the North Carolina lead to 26-24 with 10:20 to go in the first half.

10:10 pm: North Carolina leads Alabama 21-17 with 11:56 remaining in the first half as we’ve reached the under-12 media timeout. Elliot Cadeau leads the Tar Heels with five points. Tar Heels are shooting 8-of-14 from the field to open up.

10:10 pm: Nate Oats brings freshman forward Mo Dioubate in from the bench. Dioubate is a big reason why the Crimson Tide are playing in tonight’s game against UNC. He is also one of two Alabama players who are observing in Ramadan.

10:07 pm: Grant Nelson brings the Tar Heels lead to 19-14 as he drains a 3-pointer.

10:04 pm: Alabama’s Aaron Estrada snaps a 10-0 North Carolina run as he hits the jumper. It’s 17-9 Tar Heels.

10:01 pm: UNC’s defense is out to a solid start as we’ve reached the under-16 media timeout, as it has forced four turnovers in the last 3:26 and held Alabama to 2-for-5 from the field.

10:00 pm: Armando Bacot draws the foul on Nick Pringle as he tries to make a move inside the paint. Stoppage on the court for the under-16 media timeout, UNC leading 12-7. Tar Heels have responded nicely from an early deficit as UNC is on an 8-0 run over the last 1:42.

9:58 pm: Cormac Ryan pushes the North Carolina run to 6-0 as he hits a wide-open 3-pointer at the top of the key. Tar Heels lead 10-7.

9:55: Grant Nelson makes an early impact as he blocks Harrison Ingram’s layup. Alabama leads 4-2 early on in the first half.

9:55 pm: Alabama wins the tip and this Sweet 16 game is underway in Los Angeles!

9:50 pm: Charles Barkley predicted an Alabama win on the CBS pregame show. The Auburn grad even yelled “Roll Tide” as he gave his pick.

9:48 pm: Tip-off between UNC and Alabama has been delayed again. The updated tip-off is now 9:54 pm ET.

9:41 pm: UNC starting five: G Elliot Cadeau, G Cormac Ryan, G RJ Davis, F Armando Bacot and F Harrison Ingram

9:40 pm: Alabama starting five: G Mark Sears, G Rylan Griffen, G Aaron Estrada, F Grant Nelson and F Nick Pringle

9:27 pm: According to The Tuscaloosa News Alabama beater reporter Nick Kelly, the Crimson Tide will be without guard Latrell Wrightsell due to a head injury that he sustained in Alabama’s second-round win over Grand Canyon.

9:15pm: Per the score bug on CBS broadcast, North Carolina and Alabama will now tip-off at approximately 9:50 pm ET due to 2 seed Arizona vs. 6 seed Clemson still going on at Crypto.com Arena. The Tar Heels and Crimson Tide were originally scheduled to start at 9:39 pm ET.

8:14 pm: This is the first time both teams have each other since their four-overtime game back in 2022 in the Phil Knight Invitational tournament, one that Alabama won 103-101 behind Mark Sears 24 points.

7:01 pm: The matchup between RJ Davis and Mark Sears will sure be a fun one to watch but let’s focus on UNC big man Armando Bacot before tipoff. The 6-foot-11 forward has been a force to be reckoned with in this NCAA Tournament, as he is averaging 19.0 points and 11.0 rebounds through two games in March Madness.

7 pm: As a reminder to Tar Heels fans: They’re 7-1 under Hubert Davis in the NCAA Tournament.

UNC guard Cormac Ryan hits a big 3-pointer for the Tar Heels to push their run to 8-0 and lead to five out of the under-four half timeout. He is 4-for-4 to start from beyond the arc.

Tar Heels guard Elliot Cadeau hits his first 3-pointer since March 2 vs. NC State early on in the first half against Alabama in the Sweet 16:

As the CBS pregame show was wrapping up, former Auburn and NBA star forward picked Alabama to advance to the Elite Eight and gave a loud “Roll Tide” as he made his pick.

Here’s the lineup that Hubert Davis will go with Thursday against Alabama:

Here’s the lineup that Hubert Davis will go with Thursday against Alabama:

What channel is UNC vs Alabama on today? How to watch, stream live

UNC will tip off against Alabama on CBS. Streaming options include the free NCAA March Madness Live app and Fubo TV, which carries CBS and offers a free trial to select users. Brian Anderson (play-by-play), former Ohio State star forward Jim Jackson (analyst) and Allie LaForce (sideline reporter) will have the call on CBS.

Jones Angell will lead radio coverage on the Tar Heels Sports Network. Spero Dedes and Austin Croshere will have the call on Westwood Radio.

UNC vs Alabama start time, TV info, location

• Start time: 9:54 pm ET
• TV info:CBS
• Location: Crypto.com Arena (Los Angeles)

UNC will now tip-off against Alabama in the Sweet 16 of the West Region on Thursday, March 28 on CBS at 9:54 pm ET from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles due to 2 seed Arizona vs. 6 seed Clemson finishing later than expected.

UNC vs Alabama preview

UNC: Coming off a pair of double-digit victories against Wagner and Michigan State, the Tar Heels have their top two players — RJ Davis and Armando Bacot — playing their best at the right time. Continued production from Harrison Ingram, Cormac Ryan, Elliot Cadeau and the supporting cast will be key if UNC is going to get through to Phoenix.

Alabama: Three-pointers and layups. All-American guard Mark Sears and the Crimson Tide can pile up the points with an offense that’s always fun to watch. Alabama averages 90 points per game, but its defense has to be better to knock off UNC.

UNC-BAMA PREDICTION: UNC basketball vs Alabama prediction: March Madness, NCAA Sweet 16 pick is in

UNC vs Alabama odds, betting line, spread

Odds courtesy of BetMGM on Thursday, March 28.

• Spread: UNC (-4.5)
• Over/Under: 174.5
• Moneyline: UNC-200 | Alabama +165

UNC vs Alabama prediction, game picks

UNC 85, Alabama 79

The Crimson Tide’s offense is capable of running teams out of the gym, and UNC’s defense has displayed the ability to make teams miserable. In what should be a fun, back-and-forth game, the Tar Heels’ comfort offensively will be the difference.

UNC vs Alabama injury updates

UNC: The Tar Heels don’t have any injury concerns ahead of their NCAA Tournament matchup with the Crimson Tide.

Alabama: Tuscaloosa News Alabama beater reporter Nick Kelly reported before tip-off that Latrell Wrightsell has officially been ruled out for Thursday’s game against North Carolina due to a head injury that he sustained on Sunday against Grand Canyon.

KEEP IT 100: Meaning for UNC basketball entering March Madness matchup with Alabama

UNC vs Alabama stats

UNC

• PPG: 81.8
• PPG allowed: 70
• FG%: 45.3%
• 3PT%: 35.8%
• KenPom ranking:9

Alabama

• PPG: 90.7
• PPG allowed: 80.9
• FG%: 47.7%
• 3PT%: 36.7%
• KenPom ranking: 14

UNC vs Alabama championship odds

Odds according to BetMGBut of Thursday, March 28.

UNC basketball schedule 2023-24

Below are the results North Carolina’s last five games. For the Tar Heels’ full schedule, click here.

Alabama basketball schedule 2023-24

Below are the results from Alabama’s last five games. For the Crimson Tide’s full schedule, click here.

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