Alabama
Ole Miss
Shelton, Winston Power Tide Past Ole Miss, 84-69
2/28/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Chris Woodfin
Tuscaloosa, Ala. - Earnest Shelton and Kennedy Winston combined for 47 points to lead the University of Alabama men's basketball team to an 84-69 victory over the Ole Miss Rebels at Coleman Coliseum. The victory was Alabama's third straight and improves the Crimson Tide to 15-10 overall and brings Alabama back to .500 in Southeastern Conference play at 7-7. Ole Miss falls to 12-13, 4-10 in the SEC.
Shelton (25 points) and Winston (22 points) combined to hit over half of Alabama's field goals, shooting 13 of 27 from the field. The duo was also six of 12 from the three-point line and 15 of 17 from the free throw line.
Although Ole Miss was able to outshoot Alabama, 42.3 percent to 40.3 percent, turnovers proved to be costly for the Rebels as Alabama was able capitalize on 11 Ole Miss miscues outscoring the Rebels 23-6. The Tide committed a season low seven turnovers for the afternoon.
Alabama head coach Mark Gottfried credited the victory to his team being able to adjust to Ole Miss' zone and man to man defenses.
"We did what we had to do to win," Gottfried said. "(Ole Miss) changed their defenses a lot and we had to keep making adjustments."
In addition to Shelton and Winston, Antoine Pettway added 14 points and Emmett Thomas scored 11 points off of the bench for Alabama.
Ole Miss was led by Justin Reed. Reed scored a game high 29 points and grabbed a game best 11 rebounds. Aaron Harper added 19 points for the Rebels.
The Tide travels to Fayetteville, Arkansas Wednesday night to face the Arkansas Razorbacks before returning home to celebrate Senior Day next Saturday against No. 7 Mississippi State.
