The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
10-0
Southern Illinois
4-4
Men's Basketball Defeats Southern Illinois, 70-66
12/21/2000 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 21, 2000
LAIE, Hawaii (AP) - David Sanders scored six of his 15 points in the final two minutes as No. 24 Mississippi beat Southern Illinois 70-66 in the opening round of the Yahoo! Sports Invitational on Thursday night.
The Rebels (10-0) struggled through the first half and most of the second until Jason Harrison, the smallest player on the court at 5-foot-5, hit consecutive 3-pointers late in the second half.
Harrison's shots sparked a 17-9 run that helped Mississippi hold off the Salukis (4-4), who committed 23 turnovers.
Sanders took control with a basket off a steal, a driving layup and a pair of free throws in the final 1:41.
Kent Williams hit a 3-pointer as Southern Illinois closed within 66-64, but missed a chance to tie it at 69 when his shot bounced off the rim.
Sanders and Aaron Harper each scored 15 points for the Rebels. Jason Flanigan added 13 and Harrison 10.
Joshua Cross scored 21 points and Jermaine Dearman added 12 for Southern Illinois.
