March 6, 2006

Box Score

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP) - Chey Christie had 17 points, including nine in the final 6:38, as South Alabama pulled away late to defeat Denver 75-65 in the Sun Belt Tournament semifinals on Monday.

South Alabama (23-6) will face the winner of Louisiana-Lafayette-Western Kentucky for the Sun Belt title on Tuesday night.

The Jaguars, with seven straight wins, will be seeking their first tournament title since 1998.

Denver (16-15) led 60-59 when South Alabama's Carlos Smith sank a 3-pointer to give the Jaguars the lead for keeps with 7:19 remaining. Christie picked it up from there and scored all but four of the Jaguars final 13 points.

Mario Jointer added another basket for South Alabama after Denver had pulled to within 69-65 with 2:12 left to play.

The two schools swapped the lead 12 times in the first 10 minutes of the game, including eight consecutive possessions in one stretch.

South Alabama reeled off 11 unanswered points after Sun Belt Defensive player of the year Yemi Nicholson sat with his second foul at the 10:04 mark in the half.

The Pioneers were scoreless for 5:41 as South Alabama went ahead 30-20 on a jumper by Jason McGriff with 4:19 remaining. The Jaguars led 33-29 at the break.

Four Denver players scored in double figures, led by Nicholson with 14. The Pioneers also had 16 turnovers, compared to five for the Jaguars.