TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) - Tony Mitchell scored 23 points and Trevor Releford matched his career-high with 20 to lead Alabama to a 74-67 win over New Mexico Monday night in the second round of the National Invitation Tournament.
The Crimson Tide (23-11), mostly known for its defense, made 15 of 20 shots in the second half to roll into the quarterfinals. Alabama will host Miami on Wednesday night, aiming for its sixth trip to the NIT final four at Madison Square Garden.
Kendall Williams led New Mexico (22-13) with 18 points, including a couple of 3-pointers in the final 35 seconds to cut it to a six-point deficit.
Then Charvez Davis hit one of two free throws with 24 seconds left to make it a three-possession game and the Lobos missed their 3-point attempt, anyway.
Davis finished with 14 points and hit half of Alabama's six 3-pointers.
Miami 81, Missouri State 72
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) - Durand Scott scored 20 points and Adrian Thomas added 16 in the second half to help Miami rally into the NIT quarterfinals.
Second-seeded Miami (21-14) will play the winner of the Alabama-New Mexico with a trip to New York for the NIT semifinals on the line.
Missouri State (26-9) was led by Adam Leonard with 26 points and Kyle Weems, who scored 18 points. Leonard made 9 of 11 shots, including 7 of 8 on three-pointers.
Missouri State led by as many as nine points in the first half before Malcolm Grant's buzzer-beating 3 made the score 32-26 at the break.
Washington State 74, Oklahoma State 64