|
 Rodney Cooper added 19 points for sixth-seeded Alabama (19-14),which
won in interim coach John Brannen’s debut and advanced to play at
Miami(Fla.) on Saturday in the second round. The Crimson Tide, who
also received 15 points andseven rebounds from Retin Obasohan and 10
points from reserve Justin Coleman,shot a season-best 59.6 percent
from the field - including 8-of-15 from 3-pointrange - and Randolph
and Cooper were a combined 13-of-20.
Malcolm Hill had a game-high 22 points and sixassists to pace
third-seeded Illinois (19-14), which had to play in Tuscaloosa with
itsarena undergoing renovations and closed the season with six
losses in its finaleight games. Rayvonte Rice added 12 points and
Kendrick Nunn had 10 for theIllini, who had 17 offensive rebounds
but shot 32.3 percent from the floor.
Illinois took a quick 4-3 lead, but the hosts caughtfire and scored
the next 20 points with the Illini going scoreless formore than
eight minutes. The Crimson Tide stretched the lead to 41-12 with
justunder four minutes left in the half before the Illini closed
with a 10-5 run tomake it 46-22 at the break as Alabama matched a
first-half season scoring high.
A Cooper three-point play gave the Crimson Tide a 60-30lead with
14:50 to play before Illinois cut it to 67-48 with six
minutesremaining. However, that proved to be the visitors’ last gasp
as the CrimsonTide outscored the Illini 12-10 the rest of the way.
[to top of second column] |
GAME NOTEBOOK: Alabama, which is making its thirdNIT appearance in
the last five seasons, is 7-2 in the tournament over thatspan. … The
Crimson Tide improved to 3-1 in the series, with allthree wins
coming in the postseason – two first-round NIT victories and a
1986second-round NCAA Tournament triumph. … The Illini finished 2-9
on the road.
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