Southern Miss
Alabama
Southern Miss Lose Close One Against Alabama, 79-77
11/23/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
After Craig Craft hit one of two free throws to tie the game with 19 seconds left, the Crimson Tide took the ball. After calling a time out, UA worked the ball down low to Alonzo Gee, who went to the basket. However, Andre Stephens was called for a foul with five tenths of a second remaining, sending Gee to the line. After Gee hit both free throws to give Bama the two-point lead, R.L. Horton threw a baseball pass the length of the court to Jeremy Wise, who heaved the ball off the rim at the buzzer.
The teams traded baskets throughout the first 15 minutes of the game. With Alabama holding a 26-26 lead with six minutes left in the first half, the Crimson Tide closed the half on a 12-6 run to take a 38-31 lead into half.
The second half opened with the teams going back-and-forth over the first five minutes. However, UA went on a 14-5 run to take a 62-48 lead with ten minutes to go in the game.
But, the Golden Eagles began to chip away at the lead. Southern Miss pulled under ten with 5:24 to play. They then went on a 13-3 run to pull within one, 71-70. The teams then traded baskets before Craft tied it, leading to the final play.
Wise led Southern Miss with a career-high 33 points on 11-of-19 shooting, including 5-of-9 from behind the arc. Horton added 22 points, and Gjio Bain grabbed 12 rebounds.
As a team, Southern Miss shot 41.1 (23-56) from the field, including 46.7% from behind the arc (7-15).
Gee led the Crimson Tide with 25 points. Richard Hendrix added 20 points and 10 boards for his fourth double-double of the year.
The Golden Eagles return to action on Thursday, November 29, when they take on Blue Mountain. Game time is set for 7 p.m., at Reed Green Coliseum.
