The championship game was a back-and-forth affair, with neither team able to gain a significant lead throughout most of the game. Alabama led at halftime by a narrow 37-34 margin, but Oregon came out strong in the second half to tie it up. The Ducks eventually took the lead for good with just under five minutes remaining in the game.
One of the key factors in Oregon's victory was their dominance in the paint. The Ducks outrebounded Alabama by a margin of 43-27, and they also scored 32 points in the paint compared to Alabama's 18. Oregon's size and physicality proved too much for the Crimson Tide to handle.
Alabama had several opportunities to tie or take the lead in the second half, but they were unable to convert on crucial shots. The Crimson Tide shot just 36.7% from the field in the final 20 minutes, and they missed eight of their 10 three-point attempts.
Oregon's Will Richardson led all scorers with 22 points, while teammate Jacob Young added 16. For Alabama, Jaden Shackelford scored 15 points, and Jahvon Quinerly added 14.
The loss ends Alabama's season with a 24-10 overall record. The Crimson Tide will now turn their attention to the offseason, as they prepare for the 2023-24 campaign. Oregon improves to 22-13 with the victory and will enter the offseason with momentum on their side.