Mississippi 85, Arkansas State 78

Dec 19, 2005, 10:32 pm

OXFORD, Miss. (AP) -- Bam Doyne had a career-high 24 points to

lead Mississippi to a 85-78 win over Arkansas State on Monday

night.

Junior-college transfer Clarence Sanders added 20 points in his

second career start, including seven straight during a decisive

second-half surge.

The Rebels (7-3) shot 60 percent in snapping a four-game losing

streak to Arkansas State which dated to 1991.

Jim Jones had 25 points and Isaac Wells had 19 for Arkansas

State (4-7).

The Indians trailed by as many as 11 in the first half but

pulled to 38-37 on a Jones 3-pointer with 17:46 left.

Sanders then scored seven straight points during a 9-0 run which

pushed the Rebels' lead back to double figures. Arkansas State

didn't get closer than five points the rest of the way.

The Rebels led 38-31 at halftime on the strength of a 19-8

start. Todd Abernethy and Sanders hit consecutive 3-pointers to

give Ole Miss a lead it would not relinquish.