College basketball

Alabama continues to rebound

By Associated Press
Published February 29, 2004

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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Earnest Shelton scored 25 and Kennedy Winston 22 to lead Alabama to an 84-69 victory over Mississippi on Saturday.

The Crimson Tide continued to strengthen its case for an NCAA Tournament bid that once seemed out of reach while the Rebels dropped their fourth straight. Alabama has won three in a row since a five-game losing streak and has won 12 in a row at home in the series.

Shelton, who was sidelined with a knee injury in the Tide's loss at Ole Miss earlier this season, made 4 of 8 3-pointers and was perfect in nine free throws.

Antoine Pettway had 14 points and Emmett Thomas added 11 for the Tide, which made 22 of 29 free throws. Alabama's perimeter shooters made the Rebels pay with 12 3-pointers.

Justin Reed led Ole Miss with 29 points and 11 rebounds, making 14 free throws.

TENNESSEE 75, AUBURN 69: Scooter McFadgon made a 3-pointer and six free throws in the final 1:19 for the host Volunteers. Tennessee trailed by six with 7:18 remaining and after Brandon Crump was ejected for fighting with Auburn's Marco Killingsworth. But Tennessee countered with an 8-0 run to go ahead 61-59 with 5:29 left. The teams traded the lead several times and were tied at 66 with two minutes left. Then McFadgon hit a 3, and the Tigers turned it over at the other end. He was fouled on the Volunteers' next possession with 38.6 left and sank both free throws. McFadgon went to the line two more times before the buzzer. He finished with 23 points.

S. CAROLINA 63, GEORGIA 47: Josh Gonner scored 10 of his game-high 22 in a decisive 14-1 second-half run for the host Gamecocks. South Carolina remains tied with Florida for second in the East after stopping Georgia's three-game winning streak. The loss dimmed NCAA Tournament hopes for the Bulldogs, who are in fifth place in the East. USC's Rolando Howell scored 10, but left after falling on his wrist early in the second.

[Last modified February 29, 2004, 01:15:11]

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