Booker, Hammonds Lead Clemson Rout Over Ole Miss, 89-68, In NIT Second Round

March 19, 2007

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CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Freshman Trevor Booker had a career-high 21 points and Cliff Hammonds added 18 as Clemson won its eighth straight NIT home game, 89-68 over Mississippi on Monday night.

The Tigers (23-10) also improved to 4-0 this season against the Southeastern Conference. They defeated Mississippi State, South Carolina and Georgia during the regular season.

Clemson, the South region’s No. 1 seed, gets the chance to extend that streak at Littlejohn Coliseum — which coincidentally began after an Ole Miss victory here in the 1982 NIT — when it takes on Syracuse in the most Orange of tournament quarterfinals on Wednesday night.

Syracuse beat San Diego State 80-64 earlier Monday.

Hammonds, who scored all his points in the opening half, had two critical 3-pointers as Clemson closed the period with a 12-1 run.

Booker had 15 of his points in the second half when the Tigers extended their lead to as many as 19.

Mississippi, the SEC’s West champion, ended its first season under coach Andy Kennedy at 21-13. The Rebels were trying to extend their first postseason appearance since 2002. But their high-scoring backcourt of Clarence Sanders and Bam Doyne managed only 18 points, 13 fewer than their combined averages.

Todd Abernethy led Mississippi with 18 points.

It was Clemson’s largest postseason margin of victory, surpassing the 77-57 victory over Georgia in the 1999 NIT.

Kentucky coach Tubby Smith, whose Wildcats fell to Kansas in the NCAA tournament Sunday, traveled from Chicago to Littlejohn to pull for son Brian and his Rebels teammates.

But there wasn’t much for Smith or Ole Miss to cheer about at halftime.

The Rebels carried the enthusiasm from their first postseason in five years — and a 73-59 victory over Appalachian State in their NIT opener — to a quick start in this one.

When Sanders hit a 3-pointer and backed down the much-taller Raymond Sykes for a jam, Mississippi was ahead 31-29. A minute later, Todd Abernathy made a 3-pointer as his club took its last lead, 34-32 with 4:02 remaining.

That’s when Clemson took control, finishing the half with a 12-1 run.

James Mays put the Tigers ahead to stay with an inside basket and Hammonds hit two straight 3-pointers. Mays finished the half with a soaring jam that put Clemson up 46-35.

Hammonds had 18 points in the period.

Mississippi did not hit another field goal until Rodney Jones’ follow shot with 17:06 to go, a span of nearly 7 minutes spanning the halves.

Doyne was called for three fouls in the opening period and played just nine minutes. Less than a minute after the break, Doyne got his fourth and sat back down. When Doyne returned with about 10 minutes to go, Clemson was up 70-53.

Sanders was 0-for-5 from the field in the second half.