COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Antwan Space sank a three-pointer in overtime to lift Texas A&M to a 68-65 victory over Tennessee on Saturday.
Space had only made 2 of 6 shots over the previous two hours in Reed Arena, but the sophomore forward oozed confidence when letting a three-pointer fly in the final seconds of overtime against Tennessee.
“I felt that one,” Space said of his heave. “I knew that was going in.”
Space was familiar with the feeling, having helped defeat Tennessee 57-56 on Jan. 11 on a last-second three-pointer that hushed a Thompson-Boling Arena crowd.
“That’s his shot, and I don’t love it all of the time,” A&M Coach Billy Kennedy said of Space’s fondness for long-range shots. “But it’s been good against Tennessee for a last shot.”
Space, who began his college career at Florida State before sitting out last season following a transfer to A&M, entered the contest having made 7 of 29 three-pointers. He hadn’t scored in the overtime prior to receiving the pass to the right of the top of the key following an A&M timeout.
He calmly dribbled twice, and with Tennessee forward Jarnell Stokes on defense, pulled up for the shot about a foot behind the three-point line. The result was the loudest Reed Arena has been this season for the Aggies (16-11, 7-7 SEC), who’ve won four consecutive at home and two overall in trying to make the postseason for the first time in Kennedy’s three seasons.
Following a desperation inbounds pass by Tennessee (16-11, 7-7), Space stole the ball in preserving the victory. In the timeout, Kennedy had designed a play for Space to drive to the basket on Stokes - not launch a three-pointer - but in the end the Aggies were thrilled with the outcome.
“I felt he didn’t really want to take that shot,” said Stokes, who scored 16 points and had a game-high 16 rebounds in the loss. “The entire game he wasn’t a threat at all. Anybody we wanted to take [the shot] would have been him, statistically speaking.”
NO. 18 KENTUCKY 77, LSU 76, OT
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Julius Randle scored in the lane with 3.9 seconds remaining in overtime to give No. 18 Kentucky a hard-earned victory over LSU.
After Andre Stringer’s jumper with 12 seconds left gave LSU a 76-75 lead, James Young’s shot on the other end was blocked. Randle was able to grab the loose ball and hit the short game-winning jumper.
Randle’s shot provided a fitting end to a tight, tense game symbolized by the back-and-forth overtime period before Kentucky (21-6, 11-3 SEC) made good use of its last possession for an emotional victory that earned a season split with LSU (16-10, 7-7).
Randle finished with eight points and 15 rebounds for Kentucky, which got 21 points from Aaron Harrison and 20 from James Young.
Johnny O’Bryant III and Anthony Hickey both had 20 points for LSU.
GEORGIA 73, SOUTH CAROLINA 56
COLUMBIA, S.C. - Kenny Gaines was a little concerned he might come out cold when Georgia didn’t get in a shoot-around early Saturday before the Bulldogs took on South Carolina. Turns out, Gaines didn’t need the warm up to help the Bulldogs win for the fifth time in six games.
Gaines had a career-high 27 points on 9-of-14 shooting in Georgia’s victory over the Gamecocks (10-16, 3-11 SEC). He hit five of his nine three-pointers as the Bulldogs (15-11, 9-5) pulled away in the second half.
VANDERBILT 67, AUBURN 59
AUBURN, Ala. - Dai-Jon Parker scored a career-high 21 points and Vanderbilt rallied from a 16-point deficit to beat Auburn.
The Commodores (15-11, 7-7 SEC) made 10 of 18 three-pointers in the second half after hitting just one before halftime.
The Tigers (12-13, 4-10) have lost four of five games.
Damian Jones scored 14 points and Luke Kornet added 10 for Vandy.
KT Harrell and Chris Denson both scored 13 points for Auburn. But that was 14 shy of the combined average for the nation’s No. 2 scoring duo.
ALABAMA 80, MISSOURI 73
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Levi Randolph scored a career-high 33 points, 19 in the first half, and Trevor Releford added 18 points to lead Alabama to a victory over Missouri.
With Alabama (11-16, 5-9 SEC) trailing 16-13 Randolph scored 17 of the next 20 points to trigger a 20-7 Alabama run as the Crimson Tide took a 33-23 lead at the 6:06 mark. Missouri (19-8, 7-7) responded with a 10-3 run and cut the lead to 36-33 on a three-pointer by Ross with 2:46 left.
The Crimson Tide then outscored the Tigers 6-2, the final points coming on a dunk by Randolph, to take a 42-35 lead at the half. Randolph, who hadn’t scored until he keyed the rally, had 19 points in the first half and Ross had 13 points.
For Missouri, Earnest Ross scored 25 points, Jabari Brown 23 points and Jordan Clarkson 14 points.
SATURDAY’S GAMES Arkansas 73, Mississippi State 69 Florida 75, Mississippi 71 Georgia 73, South Carolina 56 Texas A&M 68, Tennessee 65, OT Kentucky 77, LSU 76, OT Vanderbilt 67, Auburn 59 Alabama 80, Missouri 73
Sports, Pages 30 on 02/23/2014