Southeastern Conference Tournament Quarterfinals:No. 1W Mississippi State made a strong case for an NCAA Tournament bid with an 84-82 win in overtime against No. 4E Kentucky. After the Wildcats stretched their lead to six points early in the second half, Mississippi State would go on a 26-6 run to take a 57-43 lead. The Big Blue would answer with an 18-6 run of their own to bring them within two points. Up two in the closing seconds, Jodie Meeks was headed to line to seal the deal for the Wildcats. After making the first, giving them the 76-73 lead, Kentucky committed a lane violation, giving the ball back to the Bulldogs with 5.1 seconds left. Quickly getting the ball up the court, Jamont Gordon sank a three as the buzzer sounded, sending the game into overtime. In the extra session, the Bulldogs closed an early deficit to just one, and Ben Hansbrough hit a three-pointer to give them a lead that they would not give up. Gordon finished with 26 points, 11 rebounds and four assists and Randolph Morris had 29 points and 15 rebounds for the Cats.
Gary Ervin hit a jumper with 12 seconds left in regulation as No. 3W Arkansas became the second team from the SEC West to make the semifinals with a 72-71 win vs. No. 2E Vanderbilt. Down seven in the second half, the Commodores went on a 19-4 run to give them a 60-52 lead. The Razorbacks did not give up however, as they fought back and took the lead with 3:37 left when Patrick Beverley drove in for a layup and was fouled to make it a three-point play and a one-point Arkansas lead. After points were traded back and forth, freshman Ross Nelter hit a layup with 29 seconds left to make it 71-70 Vandy. After a timeout, Ervin got the ball and looked around for someone who was open. After seeing nothing, he made a drive for the basket and hit what would be the eventual game-winner. Beverley finished with a game-high 18 points, and teammate Sonny Weems added 17 in the win. Derrick Byars led the Commodores in scoring with 15.
No. 1E Florida started out on a 28-4 run and did not look back as the Gators cruised to a 74-57 victory against No. 4E Georgia. In the first half, the Gators shot 53.8 percent from the field, while the Bulldogs shot just 18.9 percent. Georgia played much better in the second half and actually outscored the Gators by four, but by then, it was too little, too late. Taurean Green led the Gators with 19 points, and Corey Brewer and Al Horford each added 15.
No. 2W Ole Miss must have taken some pointers from Florida as No. 6W LSU never had a chance in the 80-60 Rebel win. Early in the first half, the Rebels had a 6-5 lead and then exploded in a 20-5 spurred in large part by the play of Bam Doyne. Being down 20 at the break, the Tigers had no answer for the 52 percent shooting of Ole Miss. They were able to cut the lead down to 15, but that would be as close as they would get. Doyne was the star of the game with 26 points and eight rebounds. Tasmin Mitchell was the leading scorer for LSU with 15. [3/09/07]
