Friday, March 30, 2001
Tulsa trounces Alabama for NIT title
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — If Buzz Peterson's tenure at Tulsa lasts only one season, he made sure it would be a successful one.
Marcus Hill scored 24 points as the Golden Hurricane won the National Invitation Tournament championship for their first-year coach, beating Alabama 79-60 Thursday night.
Kevin Johnson added 16 points, including two baskets in an 11-0 run that put the Golden Hurricane (26-11) up 59-40 with 9:28 to play.
After nearly blowing a 20-point lead and a pair of 18-point advantages earlier in the tournament, Tulsa led Alabama (25-11) by at least eight points for the final 24:36 to win its second NIT title. Tulsa's previous championship came 20 years ago, when it beat Syracuse 86-84 in overtime in Nolan Richardson's first year as coach.
Peterson, who tied Richardson's school record for wins in his first season, is a top candidate for Tennessee's coaching job and could interview for the opening this weekend.
Alabama shot only 33 percent for the game compared to 53 percent for Tulsa.
The Golden Hurricane held the Crimson Tide's leading scorer, Rod Grizzard, scoreless for the first 33 minutes. Grizzard had a shot blocked when he went inside and threw up airballs from 3-point range.
Erwin Dudley scored 17 points to lead Alabama.
Memphis won the third-place game over Detroit, 86-71. Kelly Wise had 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting.
NCAA Tournament coverage at Cincinnati.com
Enter our weekly "Hoops Madness" contest
Sports Stories
Free agents spurning Bengals
Akili's trial date set
Reds will avoid Maddux, Benson
Boone worried about his bench
Griffey decision may wait till Monday
Harnisch tinkers with mechanics
Sabo could manage Florence team
Prosser, Fogelson to meet
Xavier still drawing attention
Tulsa trounces Alabama for NIT title