OXFORD, Miss. (AP) — Clarence Sanders scored 29 points, including the game-winning basket with less than a second remaining, to give Mississippi a 71-70 win over LSU Wednesday night, vaulting the Rebels to first place in the Southeastern Conference Western Division.
Ole Miss (17-8, 6-5 SEC) won their fourth consecutive game. Todd Abernethy added 12 points and 11 assists, including the assist to Sanders’ winning basket.
A tipped ball and steal by Ole Miss’ Brian Smith set up the game-clinching shot. Abernethy found Sanders breaking free in the corner.
LSU (14-11, 3-8), led by Glen Davis with 26 points and 11 rebounds, had a final opportunity tipped away by Smith at midcourt. Darnell Lazare scored 22 points and Tasmin Mitchell added 11 for the Tigers, who had won six straight games over the Rebels.
LSU made 61 percent of its shots, and outrebounded Ole Miss 37-23. But the Tigers failed to overcome their 16 turnovers, including the final mistake that set up the decisive basket.
Ole Miss, who led only at the buzzer in the final nine minutes, made 46 percent of their attempts. Sanders finished 11-of-19 from the field, including 7-of-13 from 3-point range.
Ole Miss led 39-36 at halftime, taking the lead with a 12-0 run midway through the first half. Sanders had three consecutive baskets to highlight the surge, pushing the Rebels to its biggest lead, 26-16 with 7:45 left in the half.
LSU’s biggest lead came at 65-59 with 5:33 left, capping a 10-2 run highlighted by four consecutive baskets by Davis. The Rebels set up the frantic finish after a dunk by Williams pulled them within 70-69 with 13.9 seconds left.