Spokesman-Review
National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Valparaiso 68, Alabama 60
When: 11:59 PM ET, Monday, November 21, 2016
Where: MGM Grand Garden, Las Vegas, Nevada
Officials: # Rick Crawford, # Zelton Steed, # Brent Dugas
Attendance: 2107

Alec Peters posted 24 points and 10 rebounds to lead Valparaiso to a 68-60 victory over Alabama on Monday night in a semifinal game at the Main Event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev.

Jubril Adekoya scored 16 points for Valparaiso (4-1), which advanced to the championship game. Shane Hammink had 10.

Corban Collins and Riley Norris scored 10 points apiece for Alabama (2-2).

Valparaiso was clinging to a three-point lead at the half and the game remained close throughout much of the second half. The Crusaders opened up a 40-34 lead on a layup by Adekoya, but the Crimson Tide battled back to tie the game on a 3-pointer by Collins.

The teams exchanged leads until Jaume Sorolla scored to put Valparaiso up 46-45, sparking an 11-2 run for the Crusaders. A 3-pointer by Peters put them up by 10 with 2:51 to go. The Tide got within four on a 3-pointer by Norris with 43 seconds to go, but two free throws by Hammink helped the Crusaders secure the victory.

Valparaiso took an early 8-4 lead on a 3-pointer by Adekoya and went up 11-6 on a 3-pointer by Peters. The Crusaders later stretched their lead to seven, but the Tide responded with a 10-0 run to take a 20-17 lead on a layup by Avery Johnson Jr.

The Crusaders reclaimed the lead on a three-point play by Tevonn Walker. They had a chance to carry a 34-29 advantage into the break, but Collins scored with one second remaining to cut the deficit to three.

Valparaiso shot 46.9 percent from the field and made 7 of 18 from 3-point range. Alabama shot 41.1 percent and made 6 of 21 from long distance.

Valparaiso will play BYU in the championship game. BYU beat Saint Louis 92-62 in the other semifinal.
Top Game Performances
 
Valparaiso   Alabama
Alec Peters 24 Scoring Corban Collins 10
Max Joseph 2 Assists Dazon Ingram 5
Alec Peters 10 Rebounds Donta Hall 12
Alec Peters 7 Free Throws Made Corban Collins 2
Tevonn Walker 2 Steals Corban Collins 1
Jaume Sorolla 1 Blocks Donta Hall 2
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Valparaiso 68 46.9 7-18 15-21 8 28 1 5 17
Alabama 60 41.8 6-21 8-13 13 33 5 4 14