SEC Tournament Roundup

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

March 6, 1998 / 12:47 AM EST / CBS Sportsline

Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida Advance To Quarterfinals

ATLANTA -- Georgia used the free throw line to stay alive. Alabama used a late spurt to keep David Hobbs' stint as Crimson Tide coach alive. Tennessee used 16 second-half points by Tony Harris to keep its NCAA tournament hopes alive.

And on Thursday night, Florida used a career-high 31 points from sophomore guard Kenyan Weaks to stay alive -- and end a five-game skid.

The Bulldogs rallied to defeat Mississippi State 79-76 and Alabama fought off Vanderbilt 72-62 on Thursday to advance to Friday's SEC tournament quarterfinals. Meanwhile, the Volunteers secured their first 20-win season since 1985, with a 73-62 victory over LSU. Florida edged Auburn 68-64 behind Weaks' career night.

Georgia 79, Mississippi State 76

The Bulldogs made 29 of 30 free throws, including a pair by Michael Chadwick and Larry Brown in the final 28.2 seconds, to overcome an 11-point deficit.

Georgia (16-13) moves into the quarterfinal round on Friday against No. 10 Mississippi. Mississippi State finishes its season at 15-15.

Trailing 76-75, Chadwick's two free throws with 28.2 seconds left put Georgia ahead for the first time since 23-21 midway in the first half.

Georgia's Ray Harrison then deflected a pass from Mississippi State's Bart Hyche to teammate Brown, who was fouled with 12.3 seconds left. He converted both for a 79-76 lead.

Hyche attempted a 3-pointer with four seconds left that would have tied the game. When the final buzzer sounded, Hyche knelt on the court and began crying.

Alabama 72, Vanderbilt 62

The Crimson Tide extended David Hobbs' coaching career as Jeremy Hays grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds and scored 16 points.

Alabama (15-15) has won five of its past six games, advancing to a quarterfinal meeting Friday against No. 7 Kentucky, the SEC's regular-season champion. Vanderbilt (18-12) probably was eliminated from consideration for an NCAA bid.

Hobbs was fired on Feb. 2 but was allowed to remain until the end of the season. The Crimson Tide had lost six consecutive games when the decision was announced but has since reeled off a 6-3 record for its lame-duck coach.

Tennessee 73, LSU 62

Tony Harris scored 16 of his 18 points in the second half and Tennessee pulled away from LSU 73-62 Friday in the opening round of the Southeastern Conference tournament, giving the Volunteers their first 20-win season since 1985.

Tennessee (20-7) probably had secured its first NCAA invitation in nine years regardless of what happened in the league tournament. But the landmark victory made the post-season trip a certainty in coach Jerry Green's first season.

The Vols move on t play No. 16 Arkansas in the quarterfinals Friday.

Florida 68, Auburn 64

Sophomore guard Kenyan Weaks scored a career-high 31 points Thursday night, including seven of Florida's final 10 points, leading the Gators to a 68-64 victory over Auburn in the opening round of the Southeastern Conference tournament.

Florida (14-13), which had lost five in a row, faces No. 15 South Carolina in the quarterfinals on Friday. Auburn (15-13) lost its fifth straight.

Weaks, whose previous season and careeer-high was 24 points against Kentucky in a 86-78 upset of the No. 7 Wildcats on Feb. 1, broke a 60-60 tie with a 3-point basket with 1:40 left and the Gators never trailed again.