Collin Sexton, Alabama Outlast Virginia Tech for 2018 NCAA Tournament Win

Collin Sexton scored 25 points and John Petty added 20 more as the Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the Virginia Tech Hokies 86-83 in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.

The freshman guards saved their best for the second half. Sexton scored 22 of his 25 points during that frame, while Petty posted 11 of his 20, including a clutch three-pointer that gave the Crimson Tide a 75-70 lead with 2:08 remaining.

That three ended up being a crucial bucket considering the turning point in the game's closing stretch: With the Hokies down 78-74 with 48 seconds remaining, Virginia Tech guard Justin Robinson drove into the lane and made a layup, but the official called a charge as Alabama freshman guard Herb Jones fell to the ground.

Hokies head coach Buzz Williams then received a technical foul, and Jeff Goodman of ESPN provided the reasoning:

Whether the charge call was a good decision is up for debate. Color commentator Reggie Miller defended the call in the moment. However, others on Twitter (including Jason McIntyre of the Big Lead and Mike Waters of Syracuse.com) disagreed:

Regardless, the play significantly changed the game, as Virginia Tech could have been down by only one following a hypothetical free-throw make (if the call was a block instead of a charge). Instead, the Crimson Tide went up five after Sexton made one of two technical free throws.

Sexton made six more shots from the charity stripe down the stretch to keep Virginia Tech at arm's length for the rest of the game. A late Hokies layup cut the lead to three, but that proved to be the last play of the game as the buzzer sounded.

Overall, this contest turned out to be an evenly matched, entertaining and high-scoring affair in which neither team ever led by more than seven points. Alabama shot 60.0 percent from the field (including 44.4 percent from deep), while the Hokies hit 55.6 percent of their field goals and half of their three-point attempts.

While both teams stayed hot from deep, the game's flashiest play was a powerful slam from senior guard Justin Bibbs early in the first half:

Bibbs ended up scoring 17 for the Hokies, while Robinson led his team with 19.

However, Alabama won thanks to Sexton and Petty, who could not be stopped down the stretch.

Sexton was shaky in the beginning, as he had committed five turnovers by the 16-minute mark of the second half, but he played a clean game in the waning minutes and dished six assists.

Petty proved to be one of the day's top performers, as noted by Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports:

Alabama will play Villanova in the second round Saturday in what could be an entertaining game, per Goodman:

Virginia Tech finishes its season with a 21-12 record.