Birmingham Post-Herald from Birmingham, Alabama • 27

Che Birminflham News SATURDAY Birmingham Post-Herald Mamh 7 1993 D5 Basketball Aubum-Montgomery at Birmingham-Southern Mago leads Lady Tigers Auburn Montgomery (1618) SEQwomen Wvaeeded Atone Stale an Thursday won at the buzzer Third seedadRuburn-Montgomary la coming off a 6664 victory war sbdfvaasded Tatodega Cdega in that game Jeaafe Pteroa aoorad 17 painta and pulad down nine rebounds Sta-fool-7 aentor Joe Cameron hated AUM break open a ctoee game by aooitng nine ooneecuttve painta during one second-half sketch Second seeded Blrmlngham-Soutotn ranked Na 13 at to end of to regular season la coming off a teguhr-eeaaotverKlng 92-74 toes to Montevata BSC and Fauknar drew byee in tha Itrat round ao BSC haa not played to a week Darrin Moore and MtoGranato lead to Pantora in ahoodng averaging 60 percent from toe floor and 49 percent bom torsepotot range raapacdvely ThedWrfctchantoionahipgamewSbeheldTUeadByatthe eke of the Nfteat Beaded team BghtaHargebids to the NAIA Tournament wfl be rateaied Friday to the aty highest-ranked toama that dkt not win j- i j-j WAMnLMMkLu dMtnctcnampionsnpB WHEN: 730 pm today WHERE: BSCt BA Battle Golseutn AIRWAVES: WCEO (1260-AM) NOTES: INsie tie semMnal round of twNAIADM1ctZ7 tournament Fourth Montovalo play Hop seeded Faufcner University tonight after a 65-63 vtotay over opening-round victory LSU plays second-seeded Tennessee today Gayden who led all scorers with 25 made two free throws with 12 seconds left after Natasha first three-pointer of the season had brought Mississippi State within a point Gayden then stole a pass as State tried to set up a game-tying three-pointer and she scored a final basket at the buzzer LSU (16-12) trailed by as mam as 11 midway through the second naif but slowly fought its way back taking its first lead at 50-49 with 2:40 to play Vandy 58 Carolina 47 Heidi Gillingham scored the first six points in the second half and Vanderbilt (20-7) held South Carolina (13-15) scoreless for nearly four minutes as the 12th-ranked Lady Commodores won the opening-round game Vanderbilt plays Georgia today From Staff and Pros Reports ALBANY Ga Kendall Mago scored IS points 13 in the first half to lead eighth-seeded Auburn (17-11) to a 70-58 victory over Florida (15-13) in the opening basketball me of the Southeastern nference Tournament Auburn plays top-seeded and third-ranked Ole Miss at noon CST today Mago scored seven points as Auburn led 21-9 9:42 into the game The Lady Tigers built the lead to 43-25 with 1:41 remaining in the first half and cruised to the victory The margin was narrowed when Florida saved the final six punts press gave them Auburn Coach Joe Ciampi said tried to slow down their offense until their shot clock got down to 10 to 15 seconds that forced them to rush their shots and benefited Suzette Sargeant had 13 in the first half but score in the second Erika Lang and Merlakia Jones led Florida with 11 apiece Kentucky 79 Arkansas 63 ALBANY Stacy Reed scored 16 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as Kentucky (15-13) beat Arkansas (11-14) to end the Razor backs' first SEC season The Lady Kats will meet third-seeded Alabama (22-5) tonight They led 47-28 at halftime and Increased the margin to as much as 22 points in the second half Stacy McIntyre added 14 points and Jocelyn Mills had 13 for Kentucky Amber Nicholas had 19 points for Arkansas LSU 61 Mississippi SL 56 Cornelia Gayden got four points and a key steal in the final 12 seconds of the game to give LSU the jMUdkjjy yrf4 i'ji wt' lit StiLwJsatUAl SL Louie (621 63 to Greet MfdweeQ Jacksonville St gets its revenge in GSC Tourney Aaociated Pkm JACKSONVILLE David Edmond scared 29 points and Charles Burkett added 28 as Jacksonville State avenged its only loss of the season with a 108-79 victory over North Alabama last night in the Gulf South Conference Tournament The victory sends the Gamecocks (25-1) into championship game against Mississippi College James Spencer scored 22 points to lead North Alabama (19-9) the defending NCAA Division II champion The Lions handed Jacksonville State its only loss of the season 92-91 in their first regular season matchup UNA narrowed the 46-41 halftime lead when Eartis Bridges scored But that was as close as the Lions got in the second half UNLV Tark talk about transition Aaaoeiated Prtn LAS VEGAS Athletic director Jim Weaver says he has met with Jerry Tarkanian to discuss a transition of basketball coaches at UNLV "He really Weaver said of meeting Tarkanian resigned last June effective at the end of the season He rescinded that resignation Feb 23 saying he wanted to get to the bottom of the university's role in attacks on his program And while Weaver is searching for replacement lawyers say he will continue to be at the Thomas fc Mack Center Weaver said he and Tarkanian discussed several issues including plans to have a new coach in place by around the end of the month Tarkanian will be paid until July under the terms of his resignation agreement He coached what was scheduled to be his final game at UNLV on Tuesday night feeling is I want to make as smooth a transition as Weaver said "The real issue is whether it hap- Ens so that a timely transition is made from one basket-II staff to starting Ineup) pretty much locked up the baaamant when they bat last monto at home to UAB and had three players quit witoto a six-week period St Louie haa yet to win a conference game yet to win a road game and yet to deprave Coach Rick Omar's preaeaaon atatement that toe DMane fane we're In over our heads to toie league" UAB'e 1961-82 team which beat Ralph Samson and Virginia on too way to the Final Eight of the NCAA Tournament wfl be honored at halftime Moot of the members of the Blazers' moat auoceeeful team history wK be to attendance todudtog Over Robinson Chris dee and Donnie Spear George Wikarson who misaadnaarty a weak of pracMoe and last week's game agatoet Cincinnati wHh the flu haa bean practicing stooa Tuesday and ie expected to play but probably wfl not start Several players could start to his place but Reynold Alan reoeived the cal agatoet Ctoctonafl and responded with 13 points and six rebounds Gsryfitoas WHEN: 366 pm today WHERE: UAB Arena AIRWAVES: TV (Channel 42) WENN (1077-FM) NOTES: And ao comae down to tote the battle for laatpiaoa In tha Great Midwest OonfBranoe Adualy It's not much of a battle The baby BNkane (four freehman to the Gators Jackson From page D1 From page D1 dmt want to Take away their ball control then offense pound away inside and try to get Poole in foul trouble and wear DeClercq out you can get past Florida's first six (players) and make them go to their seven eight and nine guys they're in But as another coach pointed rat it is not so easy to force the Gators out of their game plan because the players follow it so well have a mental toughness the rest of the league would like to the coach said guys know their roles They keep the game low-scoring and close until the final five or seven minutes then win it at the But even forcing the Gators to speed up might not work anymore because as one coach said guys have a taste of winning now and sometimes that means more than having great Monday: Arkansas Those terms have been used to describe Florida all season But never Nobody seems to believe the Gators have some of the best athletes in the conference because they use that slow-down game and their guys doit make a lot of spectacular me assistant said they have some pretty good -players one of the best in the SEC and (6-foot-10 freshman Andrew) DeClercq is better than anyone However most coaches still believe Florida can be beaten on the neutral floor of the Civic Center Coliseum where the SEC Tournament will be played beginning Thursday The key they say is to pick up the tempo and make the Gators play a style they enjoy got to press their perimeter people trap them get them to throw the ball around one coach said them play a game they Jackson said he has had a week of practice and expects to have a big outing today against SL Louis in the final home game of the season From there he hopes to take momentum into the Great Midwest Tournament where the Blazers will have one final shot at putting together a season that rapidly has fallen apart And Jackson will have a final chance at his own personal redemption been shooting the ball well in he said hopefully I can do it in the game and in the (GMC) tournament got to be more positive about myself I get down on myself when I miss a shot got to just go ahead and keep the same form and think I can hit it I did it before I should be able to do it just thought I could go in and go on a Jackson said I 1 should have concentrated You mean you thought you could do more than "Than I could do? Jackson said started taking three-pointers I'm not really a three-point shooter But I had hit a lot of them earlier in the season when teams guarding me out there Then they started guarding me in the confer-I still took them I took ence you've got to play hard all the time definitely changed Jackson said he has gate from one extreme to another Now he question every shot he takes that go in The swagger has been replaced with a stagger The almost-cocky smile has turned into a look of confusion Things hit bottom for Jackson over the past two games In consecutive losses to Memphis State and Cincinnati Jackson managed to sink only two-of-12 shots He missed all four of his three-point attempts and scored a combined total of only six points Jackson has become so down on himself that he has relied on a videotape Of past glories put together by assistant coach Murry Bartow to help him regain his confidence watch it every day when I get home sometimes twice a day" Jack-son said "I reflect back on that helned paid enough attention to know everything about Nobody is making that mistake now not following Florida's 17-point victory over division-leading Kentucky on Wednesday That caught attention "They decided they wanted the backboards and they just absolutely shut Kentucky out on the said another coach noting the Gators' 42-27 rebounding advantage in that game you deny those guys rebounds playing great basketball think (Kruger) should be coach of the year He's done a great 'job the whole season I love the way his team plays scrappy They (t them when people were in my face 1 my percentage went way down "Mentally I let (all the praise) af--' ttet me But it's changed I see how 11 tough it is To be a great player Bandits steal one from Grand Rapids Mitch Mendelson's ijllFE ONTHE VINE is simply divine Fridays in KIIDZI) 0 Birmingham Rl-Ilcrald BanditsTsummary '92 Conversion Vans SCORE: Birmingham Bandits 120 Grand Rapids 119 QUARTERS WON: Bandts 2Vi Grand Rapids life 81 STAR: Bancflts forward Skeetar Henry sank 12-of-13 shots for a teanvhigh 30 points He also had 10 rebounds and a career-high 14 assists KEY STAT: The Bandits sank 612 percent of their shots Grand Rapids sank only 478 percent NOTE: The Bandits outscored Grand Rapids 29-12 over the final 823 QUOTE: "This was the best comeback I've seen in a long firm" Bandits Coach Mo McHone said "We really needed this one" NEXT: 2:05 pm tomorrow vs Tulsa at Fair Park Arena Cary Estes Reggie Jordan was fouled and made both free-throw attempts to cut the lead to 31-30 with 25 seamds left The Bandits attempted to run the clock down but with mly 10 seconds remaining Jordan stole the ball from Johnson and drove for what would have been the quarter-winning basket Jordan cut inside of Johnson pulled up just outside of the paint and shot a floater that appeared to be target But at the last moment the 6-foot-7 Henry roared in and swatted the shot away near the top of its arch Grand Rapids Coach Bruce Stewart screamed for goaltending but the referees called it a clean block and the Bandits won the quarter 31-30 But the Hoops quickly evened things back up by winning the second quarter 42-29 to take a 72-60 halftime lead The Bandits then blew an opportunity to pick up a full point by winning the third quarter Birmingham led the quarter 25-18 with mly two min-' utes left But Grand Rapids scored six of the next eight points pulling to within 27-24 a basket by Marcus Kennedy then tied the quarter on a three-pointer by Carl Thomas By Cary Estes Port-HcnM Reporter What looked as if it were gang to ube a night of missed opportunities turned into a night to remember for the Birmingham Bandits -T 'The Bandits went into last night's "gime against Grand Rapids trailing the Eastern Division leaders by 12 4 points with only six games to play But after barely winning the first quarter the Bandits were blown out in the second blew a late lead in the third and trailed 107-91 with only 8:23 left to play But Birmingham rallied to out-V'score the Hoops 29-12 down the stretch to take a 120-119 victory be-y-iore a noisy crowd of 1214 at Fair Park Arena The comeback allowed the Bandits take 5 of the possible seven points and pull to within 8 to of the Hoops The teams will meet again Wednesday in Grand Rapids Mid was the best comeback seen in a long Bandits Coach Mo McHone said really needed this Grand Rapids appeared to be in 1 complete control of the game through most of the fouth quarter In fact Birmingham still trailed by fired up a desperation 20-footer at the buzzer that hit the rim and bounced harmlessly away setting off what Bandits officials said was the biggest celebration of the season trying to make a run for the playoffs and a game like this really Henry said needed to get at least five points and we did So got to feel The Bandits appeared to have the first quarter locked up when they had a 31-28 lead and the ball with only 35 seconds left But they missed their shot and seconds later Grand Rapids forward eight points with less than two minutes left Then in slightly more than a minute Michael Outright Skeeter Henry and Eric Johnson all sank three-pointers and with 48 seconds remaining the Bandits trailed by only one point 119-118 Grand Rapids missed its next shot giving the Bandits a final chance They took advantage of it when Irving Thomas who finished with 25 points bulled his way through traffic and sank a seven-footer with only 97 seconds remaining giving Birmingham the 120-119 edge Grand Rapids guard Carl Thomas MEET THE TECHNICAL REP FROM HIGH TOPS 6 LOW TOPS GMCtruck by not Just a truck snymoic THE 10 BIGGEST LIES IN THE WORLD loir mm wsht hi HMclHaclMiaMacMohEMiy aw tumult boa Mfc 1 Than ao God TO iMmflmm oU(4 God mfl mm mmyoa baeaaH God low Yob dmt aaa4 Jmw ClaW If yea'ia a aoo4 pmoa i Tha hamad-ao li aaaa baportaat Ihm tha hanaftar 7 Oatattaaity hacnacklorloMim Go4 aaaMal fcatfva aayaaa aa bad aa an Than la aa ML aa4 ao Nfa bayaa4 Saaih IS The lUMa 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