Sun Belt Conference Tournament Quarterfinals: Bubble teams can exhale after No. 1 South Alabama rallied to beat No. 8 New Orleans. South Alabama is a likely at-large team if it doesn’t win the conference’s automatic bid. Jaguars fans are also happy that South Alabama won’t be saddled with a quarterfinals loss as the Sun Belt’s top seed for a second consecutive season. Junior forward Brandon Davis led the Jaguars with 27 points and nine rebounds. He was 15-of-20 from the free throw line, and South Alabama was 37-of-49 from the line as a team. No. 4 Middle Tennessee State will play South Alabama in the semifinals after beating No. 12 Troy 65-59. The Blue Raiders swept the season series against the Trojans. Sophomore forward Desmond Yates led Middle Tennessee State with 19 points.
No. 2 Arkansas-Little Rock held off No. 7 Florida Atlantic in the final minute for a 66-60 victory. Sophomore forward Mike Smith led the Trojans with 18 points. Arkansas-Little Rock will face No. 3 Western Kentucky in the semifinals after the Hilltoppers beat No. 6 North Texas 84-70. Senior swingman Courtney Lee led Western Kentucky with 21 points. The Mean Green came within a point of Western Kentucky in the second half before the Hilltoppers used a 14-4 run to end the upset bid. [3/09/08]
