The University of Mississippi Athletics
Men's Basketball Falls to Alabama, 78-74
6/21/1999 | Men's Basketball
February 24, 1999
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) - Brian Williams sank two free throws with 8.5 seconds to play to help Alabama seal a 78-74 win over Mississippi on Wednesday night.
With the game tied 74-74, Ole Miss' Michael White was called for the foul when he stepped in front of Williams as he dribbled down the baseline. That sent Williams to the line for two shots.
The Rebels then played for the win, but Keith Carter missed a 3-point attempt and Rahim Lockhart bobbled the rebound out of bounds.
Alabama got the ball, Ole Miss fouled and Tarik London made two free throws with 0.5 to play to snap the Crimson Tide's (15-13, 5-10 Southeastern Conference) two-game losing streak.
The loss was the fourth straight for the Rebels (17-11, 7-8), who have put their NCAA tournament hopes in serious jeopardy.
Williams led Alabama with 25 points and was 14-for-15 at the line. Jeremy Hays had 14 points and 11 rebounds, while Chris Rollins added 13 and Sam Haginas had 10.
Alabama led 38-36 at the break, then used a 9-1 run midway through the second half to take a 56-46 lead with 9:43 to play.
Both teams went back and forth from there and the Tide never led by more than 11.
Trailing 69-58 with 4:58 left, the Rebels reeled off eight straight points to make it 69-66 with 3:59 to play. But Ole Miss was never able to take the lead - both Smith and Lockhart missed crucial free throws over the final 1:37 - and only tied the game on Lockhart's layup with 12.7 to play.
Ole Miss shot 18 percent from 3-point range (3-for-16) and was 21-of-31 from the line.
Smith led the Rebels with 24 points and seven rebounds. Lockhart scored 16, Carter had 14 and White chipped in 13.
