Charles Barkley did the only thing he could do after Mark Sears and Alabama dismantled BYU 113-88 in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.

Barkley, who predicted BYU would beat Nate Oats’ Crimson Tide, opened the postgame show by simply shaking Kenny Smith’s hand.

“That’s all you have to do after a game like that,” Barkley said. “That’s all you can do. That was impressive.”

Alabama broke the 35-year-old March Madness record for 3-pointers with 25, and Sears scored 30 of his 34 points on 3-pointers in the East Region semifinal game.

The Crimson Tide made 25 of 51 3s to break the record of 21 set by Loyola Marymount in 1990.

“Not that I went to class a lot,” Barkley, the former Auburn star, said, “you go 25 of 51, that’s pretty good. That’s impressive.”

The Tide moves on to face either Duke or Arizona for a spot in the Final Four.

Sears’ 10 3s were one short of the record set by Loyola Marymount’s Jeff Fryer in a memorable 149-115 second-round win over Michigan.

Prior to the game, Barkley was on the BYU hype train.

“They are going to have a great shooting night,” Barkley said of BYU, which finished 6 of 30 from the 3-point line. “They are the only team in the country that shoots more 3s than 2s. They are gonna have a great night from 3-point land tonight. And I think they are gonna get it done. I really do.

“They are gonna make enough shots. They have to have a good job on the boards. I’m taking BYU in an upset.”

The Tide outrebounded the Cougars 37-36 on the night.

Even at halftime, with the Tide leading 51-40, Barkley was optimistic.

“If you are BYU, you just have to take your hat off to Alabama,” he said at half. “(Alabama) got 12 of 27, that’s spectacular.

“But you have to say, ‘Guys, we’re not gonna go 1 for 13. That’s the only thing you can say. A team gonna shoot that percentage, you just have to shake their hand after the game. They’re playing pretty good defense. If I’m (BYU) coach (Kevin) Young, I’m saying, ‘Guys, we’re a 3-point shooting team. We’re not gonna go 1 for 13. We’re only down 11.’ … (Alabama) should be up more. BYU’s like, ‘Guys, we’re never gonna go 1 for 13 again because they are a 3-point shooting team. That’s all you gotta say.

“If you are BYU, you are disappointed. You have to say we’re gonna play better in the second half.”

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.