Alabama Holds Off Notre Dame, 79-76

Rod Grizzard wanted just one thing late in the game--the ball.

He got it and No. 21 Alabama got a 79-76 victory over Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl Classic on Thursday night at New Orleans.

Notre Dame (9-2), off to its best start since 1985, shook off a lethargic start to make a game of it.

Alabama (10-2) led by 18 points at the half, but Notre Dame rallied to take a 62-61 lead with 6:22 left.

“It’s a shame we have to be down 10 or 15 before we look up at the scoreboard and start to play,” guard Chris Thomas said. “We just gave them too much of a lead in the first half.”

Notre Dame’s David Graves made a three-point shot to tie the score 67-67 with 4:57 left.

But Alabama took the lead for good on a free throw by Terrance Meade.

No. 8 Maryland 103, William & Mary 75--Juan Dixon had 19 points and a career-high nine assists at College Park, Md., during the Terrapins’ 83rd consecutive home victory over a nonconference opponent.

Coming off an upset loss at No. 12 Oklahoma on Dec. 21, Maryland (9-2) improved to 22-8 all-time against the Tribe (3-6).

No. 24 Miami 68, LSU 61--Marcus Barnes’ three-point basket with less than a minute left broke the game’s final tie in the Sugar Bowl Classic at New Orleans.

Barnes’ basket gave the Hurricanes (12-0) a 64-61 lead over LSU (9-3) with 55 seconds to play and they went on to remain one of five unbeaten Division I teams.

The win streak is Miami’s longest since the 1964-65 season and the Hurricanes are one win away from completing an undefeated nonconference schedule for the first time in school history.

OTHER GAMES

Oregon 96, Morris Brown 50--Frederick Jones scored 19 points to lead Oregon (9-3) at Eugene, Ore.

Joseph Dunn scored 12 points to lead the Wolverines (1-11), who are in their first season in Division I.

Oregon St. 84, Indiana Purdue-Ft. Wayne 59--Philip Ricci had 24 points and 11 rebounds for the Beavers (7-4) at Corvallis, Ore.

Nick Wise led Fort Wayne (2-10) with 16 points.