College basketball

SEC: Alabama's victory continues Kentucky's slide

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Jermareo Davidson is quickly helping Alabama adjust to life without Chuck Davis.

The junior center had 18 of his career-high 28 points in the second half to lead the Crimson Tide to a 68-64 victory Saturday over Kentucky, whose free fall continued with a third straight loss - the past two at home. It is the first time Kentucky has had consecutive losses at Rupp Arena since 1989.

"It's a gut-wrenching thing and it will continue to snowball if we don't get it under control," Wildcats coach Tubby Smith said.

Davidson provided a major boost for Alabama, which will have to play the rest of the season without Davis, who tore his anterior cruciate ligament Jan. 7 against Mississippi.

The victory was the 10th for Alabama in 60 meetings with the Wildcats in Lexington.

Davidson dominated a late 12-0 run for the Tide, and both teams had 10-0 runs earlier.

MISSISSIPPI 75, MISS. ST. 65: Todd Abernethy ended Mississippi's most pesky losing streak and prolonged the Rebels' string of SEC success. Abernethy scored nine of his 22 in the final minutes as the host Rebels snapped an eight-game losing streak to the Bulldogs. Ole Miss has won seven straight since a mid-December loss to No. 5 Memphis and has won its first three league games for the first time since 1997-98. Dwayne Curtis added 17 points and eight rebounds for the Rebels, who extended their best start since 2001-02, when they last reached the NCAA Tournament.

GEORGIA 64, S. CAROLINA 61 (OT): Levi Stukes' 3-pointer as time expired in overtime lifted the visiting Bulldogs. Stukes led the Bulldogs with 20 points, including six of 14 3-pointers. The Gamecocks led by two before Mike Mercer's baseline jumper as the shot clock expired with 47.3 seconds to go tied it at 55. The Bulldogs scored 11 straight early in the second half behind three 3-pointers - two by Stukes - to erase a four-point halftime deficit and go up 39-34.

ARKANSAS 78, VANDERBILT 66: Jonathon Modica scored 19 as the host Razorbacks pulled away late in the second half. The Commodores trailed by 11 at halftime but rallied to tie at 55 with just more than seven minutes left on Derrick Byars' 3-pointer. Arkansas answered with an 11-2 run.

LSU 88, TENNESSEE 74: Glen Davis had 24 points and Tyrus Thomas was one rebound and one blocked shot shy of a triple double for the host Tigers. Davis, who also had 10 rebounds, scored 18 in the second half.

[Last modified January 15, 2006, 01:48:18]