January 26, 2002

OXFORD, Miss. (AP) – Mississippi hit a season-high 11 three-pointers and had four players in double figures to defeat South Carolina 71-53.

The win keeps Ole Miss (16-4, 5-2 Southeastern Conference) a half-game behind Alabama in the race for the SEC Western Division. The Rebels have won five of the last six SEC games and remain unbeaten at home in league play.

The Gamecocks (12-7, 3-3) are winless in their last six trips to Oxford.

South Carolina came down hard from a season-best 94 points in a win over Tennessee Wednesday with a sloppy game Saturday. The Gamecocks had a season-high 19 turnovers and shot just 35 percent from the floor.

Justin Reed had 16 to lead the Rebels. Aaron Harper had 15, including 4 three-pointers. Jason Harrison scored 12 _ all three-pointers. Derrick Allen added 11 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.

Jamel Bradley led South Carolina with 12 points. Marius Petravicius added 10.

Ole Miss built a 27-10 first half lead with 5:18 left, but South Carolina pulled within 34-23 at the half after Petravicius came off the bench to score eight consecutive points.

South Carolina twice closed the gap to nine in the second half but couldn’t get any closer.