Alabama basketball had to play a different style of basketball in the second round on Sunday, with its shot not falling and Latrell Wrightsell leaving in the first half with a head injury.

But that didn't matter, as the Crimson Tide defeated Grand Canyon 72-61 in a game worthy of the March Madness moniker. Alabama (23-11, 13-5 SEC) will play 1 seed North Carolina in the Sweet 16 next round. The Crimson Tide is onto the Sweet 16 for the second year in row for the first time since the 1990-91 tournaments.

MORE: Watch Alabama vs. Grand Canyon game with Sling TV

Mark Sears was the driving force of Alabama's wins, leading the Crimson Tide with 26 points and 12 rebounds while adding six assists on 8-for-18 shooting. The rest of the team shot 16 of 47 from the field. Mouhamed Dioubate had nine points, including seven in an 10-0 run to close out the win. The Antelopes had cut the lead to 62-61 before the Crimson Tide closed it out on the run. Tyon Grant-Foster had 29 points on 9-of-22 shooting for GCU.

Alabama led 38-30 at halftime following a 10-2 run to finish the half. Nate Oats and Nick Pringle each picked up first half technical fouls for the Crimson Tide. Here are the updates and highlights from Alabama's first-round win:

Alabama vs. Grand Canyon score updates in NCAA second round

All times CT

Final score: Alabama 72, Grand Canyon 61

8:38 p.m.: Grand Canyon closed the deficit down to 62-61 with 4:05 left but the Crimson Tide closed the game on a 10-0 run to earn back-to-back Sweet 16 appearances.

8:35 p.m.: Nick Pringle with a dunk and Mark Seears knocks down two free throws. Alabama up 70-61 with 34 seconds left. The Crimson Tide will likely move on.

8:32 p.m.: Mouhamed Dioubate has the last nine points for Alabama, which leads 66-61 with 1:47 left.

8:29 p.m.: Dioubate knocks down two free throws. Alabama leads 64-61, 3:42 left.

8:26 p.m.: Media timeout, final one. Alabama up 62-61 but will shoot a pair of free throws out of the timeout. Tyon Grant-Foster has a game-high 29.

8:23 p.m.: Mouhamed Dioubate has scored four straight to put Alabama up four. Tyon Grant-Foster cuts the lead to 62-60 following a pair of free throws. Grant-Foster has 28.

8:20 p.m.: Alabama reclaims the lead on an offensive rebound off a free throw miss. It leads 60-58 with 5:21 left. Both teams look exhausted.

8:16 p.m.: Rylan Griffen is called for his fourth foul. Tyon Grant-Foster makes a free throw and then a layup. The Antelopes have their largest lead at 58-55 with 5:41 left. It's an 8-0 run for the Antelopes.

Grand Canyon ties game at 55 with 6:45 left

8:14 p.m.: Tyon Grant-Foster finishes an and-1 and the game is tied. Jarin Stevenson fouls out.

8:13 p.m.: Mark Sears hit a 3-pointer and has 23 points. He also has 10 rebounds. But GCU is within one at 55-54 with 6:46 left.

8:07 p.m.: Alabama leads 52-48 into the under-8 media timeout. Both teams have struggled all game with their shots and both teams have 11 turnovers. This kind of game could be huge for the Crimson Tide if it wins, proving it can play defense.

8:05 p.m.: Alabama has four turnovers in under 3 minutes and the Antelopes are within four at 50-46 with 8:50 left.

7:58 p.m.: Sam Walters hits a 3-pointer to push the Alabama lead to 49-39 with 11:33 left. Media timeout.

7:54 p.m.: The Crimson Tide is just 1 for its last 9 shots on the field. The Antelopes are hanging around despite shooting 28.6% from the field. It's 45-39 with 12:06 left.

7:50 p.m.: Alabama has not scored a basket in 2:43 and are now in the bonus the rest of the way with six fouls with 14:31 left.

7:41 p.m.: Alabama leading 42-33 at the first media timeout of the second half. The Crimson Tide have missed all four 3-point attempts so far this half.

7:38 p.m.: Jari Stevenson with a dunk off a steal by Aaron Estrada. A layup by Mark Sears and Alabama is ahead by 10 at 42-32.

7:35 p.m.: Second half underway. A turnover on Nick Pringle to begin the half.

7:18 p.m.: Charles Barkley credits Alabama for playing the best defense he has seen them play this season.

7:16 p.m.: Halftime stats:

• Field goals: Alabama 13 of 24 (38%), Grand Canyon 9 of 31 (29%)

• 3-point shooting: Alabama 5 of 15 (33%), Grand Canyon 2 of 12 (17%)

• Free throws: Alabama 7 of 10 (70%), Grand Canyon 10 of 18 (56%)

• Rebounds: Alabama 23, Grand Canyon 24

• Offensive rebounds: Alabama 8, Grand Canyon 9

• Total turnovers: Alabama 3, Grand Canyon 5

• Technical fouls: Alabama 2, Grand Canyon 0

First half: Alabama leads Grand Canyon 38-30

7:12 p.m.: Alabama closes the half on a 10-2 run to talk a 38-30 halftime lead. It's been a physical game so far. Alabama has put together its best defensive effort.

7:10 p.m.: Tyon Grant-Foster was fouled on a 3-pointer but he missed all three free throws. A dunk by Nick Pringle pushes the Alabama lead to 23-18.

7:04 p.m.: Per The Tuscaloosa News' Nick Kelly, Latrell Wrightsell is out for the game with a head injury.

7:03 p.m: All squared at 28 at the final media timeout of the half. Mark Sears has 13. Tyon Grant-Foster leads GCU with 10.

6:59 p.m.: A technical foul on Alabama, the second of the game. Looks like this one is on Nick Pringle. He was upset about a foul call. GCU is down 23-21. The broadcast the technical was on someone throwing a clipboard.

6:53 p.m.: Latrell Wrightsell Jr. is headed to the locker room with assistance.

6:52 p.m.: Mouhamed Dioubate had three offensive boards on one trip. Alabama could not score a basket. Wrightsell is called for a foul on a 3-pointer and is down after being hit in the head. Three free throws coming for GCU after a review.

6:43 p.m.: An Alabama basket which pushed its lead to 15-11 by Rylan Griffen gave the Crimson Tide a new school record for points in a season. Alabama leads 17-13 at the third media timeout with 8:10 left. Grant Nelson's foul will be checked to see if it's a flagrant.

6:37 p.m.: Mark Sears hits back-to-back 3-pointers and Alabama is back out front 13-9 with another timeout with 10:14 left in the first half. Sears has nine points.

6:35 p.m.: Nate Oats was indeed called for a technical and calls out "uneven calls" from the referees.

6:31 p.m.: Tyon Grant-Foster hits a 3-pointer to give GCU its first lead at 8-7 with 11:50 left in the first half. A technical foul seems to have been called on the Crimson Tide going into the second media timeout.

6:29 p.m.: Grant Nelson gets another block, this one a 3-pointer. Alabama leads 7-5, 12:24 left in the first half.

6:27 p.m.: Jarin Stevenson picks up his second personal foul. Just Alabama's fourth foul, but Stevenson might have to sit for a little while.

6:25 p.m.: Grand Canyon's Collin Moore is down with an injury after getting hit in the face. He's bleeding and taken to the bench to be checked out.

6:20 p.m.: At the first media timeout, Alabama leads 6-3. Neither team is doing much from the field. The Crimson Tide is shooting 2-for-10 and the Antelopes are shooting 1-for-11. GCU has hit a free throw.

6:17 p.m.: Rylan Griffen hits a 3-pointer for Alabama. The Crimson Tide have hit two 3-pointers but are 2 of 6 from the field. GCU has started 1-for-8 from the field.

6:13 p.m.: Grant Nelson records a block on the first possession for the Crimson Tide. Mark Sears knocks down a 3-pointer to give Alabama a 3-0 lead.

6:12 p.m.: Alabama-Grand Canyon has tipped off. The winner of this one will play 1 seed UNC in the Sweet 16.

6:05 p.m.: Pregame, Alabama fans were met with heckling from the Grand Canyon student section.

5:48 p.m.: Mark Sears, Aaron Estrada, Latrell Wrightsell Jr., Rylan Griffen and Grant Nelson are the starters for the Crimson Tide. Ray Harrison, Collin Moore, Tyon Grant-Foster, Gabe McGlothan and Duke Brennan are the Antelopes' starting five.

What channel is Alabama vs. Grand Canyon on today? How to watch, stream live

• TV channel: TBS

• Stream: NCAA March Madness Live app | Sling TV

Alabama will tip off vs. Grand Canyon on TBS. Streaming options include the NCAA March Madness Live app and Sling TV. The announcers for the Crimson Tide-Antelopes game will be broadcast by Lisa Byington, Steve Smith and Robbie Hummel, with Lauren Shehadi as the sideline reporter.

Alabama vs. Grand Canyon start time, TV info, location

• Start: 6:10 p.m. CT

• TV info: TBS

• Location: Spokane Veterans Memorial Stadium (Spokane, Wash.)

Alabama vs. Grand Canyon preview

Alabama: The Crimson Tide scored its 10th 100-point game of the season with 109 points in the first round against Charleston. Alabama is just 2-3 in its last five games, but has scored at least 74 points in each. Getting defensive stops will be the key.

Grand Canyon: The Antelopes have won six straight games dating back to the regular season. They are coming off a 75-66 victory over Saint Mary's in the first round, when Tyon Grant-Foster led them with 22 points and seven rebounds in 39 minutes. Coach Bryce Drew went 1-3 against the Crimson Tide in his time as the Vanderbilt coach.

Alabama vs. Grand Canyon odds, betting line, spread

Odds according to BetMGM as of Saturday

• Spread: Alabama (-6.5)

• Over/under: 170.5

• Moneyline: Alabama -250 | Grand Canyon +200

Alabama vs. Grand Canyon predictions, game picks

Here's a prediction for the game from The Tuscaloosa News' Alabama beat reporter Nick Kelly:

Alabama 92, Grand Canyon 85: The Lopes are going to give the Crimson Tide plenty to handle, but Alabama's defense will step up and get enough stops in the end, so long as the Crimson Tide plays defense like it did in the first half vs. Charleston. Meanwhile, Alabama will hit Grand Canyon with offensive firepower at a level the Lopes haven't seen this season.

Alabama vs. Grand Canyon injury updates

Alabama: Davin Cosby Jr. is out (broken foot)

Grand Canyon: None

Alabama vs. Grand Canyon stats

Alabama

• PPG: 91.3 (1st)

• PPG allowed: 81.5 (357th)

• FG%: 48% (24th)

• 3PT%: 37% (27th)

• KenPom ranking: 15

Grand Canyon

• PPG: 79.6 (44th)

• PPG allowed: 66.9 (45th)

• FG%: 46% (74th)

• 3PT%: 34% (164th)

• KenPom ranking: 50

Alabama vs. Grand Canyon championship odds

Odds according to BetMGM:

• Alabama: +4000

• Grand Canyon: +200000

Alabama basketball schedule 2023-24

Here are the past five results for Alabama basketball. Find the Crimson Tide's full 2023-24 schedule here.

• Saturday, March 2: Tennessee 81, Alabama 74

• Tuesday, March 5: Florida 105, Alabama 87

• Saturday, March 9: Alabama 92, Arkansas 88 (OT)

• Friday, March 15: Florida 102, Alabama 88 (SEC Tournament)

• Friday, March 22: (4) Alabama 109, (13) College of Charleston 96 (NCAA Tournament)

• Sunday, March 24: vs. (12) Grand Canyon (NCAA Tournament)

Grand Canyon basketball schedule 2023-24

Here are the past five results for Grand Canyon basketball. Find the Antelope's full 2023-24 schedule here.

• Saturday, March 2: Grand Canyon 80, Stephen F. Austin 58

• Saturday, March 9: Grand Canyon 68, California Baptist 47

• Friday, March 15: Grand Canyon 80, Seattle 72 (WAC Tournament)

• Saturday, March 16: Grand Canyon 89, UT Arlington 74 (WAC)

• Friday, March 22: (12) Grand Canyon 75, (5) Saint Mary's 66 (NCAA Tournament)

• Sunday, March 24: vs. (4) Alabama (NCAA Tournament)

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This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama-Grand Canyon highlights: Crimson Tide win 72-61 in March Madness