MILLER PLAYS, LEADS ’BAMA TO WIN

Brandon Miller found a safe spot on the basketball court and put up his career-best showing to rescue No. 2 Alabama.

Miller scored a career-high 41 points, including the go-ahead basket with 0.9 seconds left in overtime, as the Crimson Tide outlasted host South Carolina 7876 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).

Alabama coach Nate Oats has seen embattled players like Miller lock into the game when things are difficult.

No. 2 Alabama 78, South Carolina 76 (OT)

what they’ve done their whole lives and let some of the outside stuff out of their mind,” Oats said. “I thought Brandon did a great job really getting himself mentally ready to play.”

Miller had the Tide’s first 40point game since Collin Sexton scored 40 against Minnesota in November 2017.

Neither Miller nor any other Alabama players were available to the media after the game.

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 regular-season championship.

South Carolina’s Gregory “GG” Jackson II said Miller’s shotmaking ability was hard to overcome. He was 6 of 7 behind the arc. The Gamecocks fell to 10-17, 3-11.

“Nothing you can do about that,” Jackson said. “He’s a great player.”

The game was a wild finish to an eventful day after Alabama officials announced hours before tipoff that 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.

No. 1 Houston 89, Tulane 59:

J’Wan Roberts had a career-high 26 points and seven rebounds, Marcus Sasser scored 22 points and host Houston (26-2, 14-1) clinched at least a share of the American Athletic Conference regular-sea“It’s son championship with a win over Tulane (17-8, 10-4).

Boston College 63, No. 6 Virginia 48: Makai Ashton-Langford scored 16 points, Jaeden Zackery had all 12 of his points in the second half and Boston College (1415, 8-10 Atlantic Coast Conference) held visiting Virginia (21-5, 13-4) to a season-low 32 percent from the field.

No. 18 UConn 87, No. 20 Providence 69: Jordan Hawkins scored 20 points and host UConn (21-7, 10-7 Big East) beat Providence (20-8, 12-5) to split the regularseason series between the New England rivals.

West

Boise State 82, New Mexico 77: Max Rice had 30 points as the host Broncos (22-6, 12-3) stayed a game behind San Diego State for the Mountain West lead. UNM fell to 20-8, 7-8.