The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
7-3
Alabama State
2-7
Ole Miss Takes Downs Alabama State, 68-44
12/30/2003 | Men's Basketball
Dec 30, 2003
OXFORD, Miss. (AP) - Aaron Harper scored 21 points as Mississippi won its fifth straight game with a 68-44 victory over Alabama State on Tuesday night.
Harper was 8-for-15 from the field and had seven rebounds for the Rebels (7-3).
Justin Reed added 16 points, including 14 in the second half, and had a game-high eight rebounds.
Alabama State (2-7) was led by Malcolm Campbell, who had 12 points.
The Rebels led 30-22 at halftime, highlighted by a 13-3 run that included back-to-back baskets by Harper on two occasions.
The Rebels limited Alabama State to 5-for-16 from the field in the first half.
Alabama State stayed close in the first half by making 8-of-11 free throws.
Ole Miss gradually pulled away in the second half, rolling off 14 consecutive points to build a 57-35 lead with 9:32 left.
Justin Reed opened the surge with a jumper, added an assist and finished the run with a dunk.
Alabama State never got closer than 20 points after that.
The Rebels were 28-for-55 from the field - a season-high 50.9 percent - and outrebounded Alabama State 34-30.
Alabama State was 15-for-46 from the field and cooled off considerably in the second half at the free throw line, connecting on only 1-of-10.
