Miller’s 41 help Alabama top South Carolina in OT
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Embattled Brandon Miller scored a career-high 41 points, including the go-ahead basket with 0.9 seconds left in overtime, as No. 2 Alabama outlasted South Carolina 78-76 on Wednesday night.
Miller’s performance came a day after the 6-foot-9 freshman standout was linked to a fatal shooting near campus last month. However, hours before tipoff, Alabama said Miller was “not a suspect” and would remain an “active member” for the Crimson Tide (24-4, 14-1 Southeastern Conference).
Miller shook off some early struggles to lead Alabama, which kept its one-game lead over No. 25 Texas A&M in the race for the SEC regularseason championship.
Miller’s final basket in regulation, with 4.1 seconds to play, tied the game at 68 and forced the extra period. Miller finished 14-of-25 from the field and had six of Alabama’s seven 3-pointers.
It was a wild finish to an eventful day when Alabama officials announced hours before tipoff Miller would travel and play against the Gamecocks despite testimony he transported the gun used in a fatal shooting to former teammate Darius Miles, now one of two people facing capital murder charges.
Miller’s attorney said his client never touched the gun and drove away from the scene when shots were fired.
BOSTON COLLEGE 63 NO. 6 VIRGINIA 48
Makai Ashton-langford scored 16 points and Jaeden Zackery had all 12 of his points in the second half as the host Eagles
held the Cavaliers to a season-low 32 percent shooting from the field to pull off the upset.
Boston College has beaten three ranked teams this season. With the Eagles (14-15, 8-10 Atlantic Coast Conference) only adding to their lead in the final minutes, the raucous Conte Forum crowd gathered along the perimeter of the court,
ready to rush it at the final buzzer.
Jayden Gardner scored 16 points for Virginia (21-5, 13-4), which fell into a tie for second place in the ACC standings with Pittsburgh, half a game behind Miami.
NO. 18 CONNECTICUT 87 NO. 20 PROVIDENCE 69
Jordan Hawkins scored 20 points as the
Huskies beat the visiting Friars to split the regular-season series between the New England rivals.
Adama Sanogo and Alex Karaban each added 16 points for Connecticut (21-7, 10-7 Big East), which won for the fifth time in its last six games. Tristen Newton had 12 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.