By the Numbers:

22 | Points junior JaMychal Green had before fouling out late in the second half. Green’s 22 points were the most of any one player on both teams.

2 | Thursday’s game will be Alabama’s second appearance in the NIT championship game. Its last appearance was in 2001, and the Tide lost.

61 | Alabama held Colorado to only 61 points, when the Buffaloes averaged 80.1 points coming into the game.

:13 | Seconds on the clock when Trevor Releford made the game-winning layup

50 | Percent of field goals Alabama made, compared to its average of 45 percent.

9 | Number of times the lead changed during the game. As both teams made runs back and the forth, the leader kept switching.

The Difference:

Freshman Trevor Releford has been the difference in several Alabama games, including making a layup against Georgia in the SEC tournament to send the game into overtime. Whenever the team really needs to score, Releford will penetrate and get two, which is exactly what he did to end this game.

Key Moment:

Right before Releford made his game-winning layup, the ball was knocked out of bounds and was given back to Alabama under its own basket. Had the call gone the other way, Alabama would’ve been forced to foul a team that had only missed two free throws the whole game.

Player of the Game:

Freshman Trevor Releford took the game on his shoulders as the clock ticked down and made the layup to win Alabama the game.

Quote of the Game:

“I wanted the ball in [Releford’s] hands, and I wanted him to make a play.”

Head coach Anthony Grant

Game Leaders:

Alabama

Points: J. Green (22)

Rebounds: C. Hines (8)

Assists: T. Releford (6)

Colorado

Points: A. Burks (20)

Rebounds: A. Burks, A. Dufault (6)

Assists: A. Burks, C. Higgins (4)