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Updated: Friday, November 15, 2002 11:29 AM EST
NCAA BASKETBALL RECAP
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(8) Alabama 68, (3) Oklahoma 62
ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE
Alabama Crimson Tide
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OKLAHOMA SOONERS
Oklahoma Sooners
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NEW YORK (Ticker) -- Plenty of people believe Oklahoma is a Final Four team. Alabama is not among them.

Mo Williams and Lucky Williams each scored 25 points to lead the eighth-ranked Crimson Tide to a 68-62 victory over the third-ranked Sooners in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic.

Oklahoma reached the Final Four last season and returned everyone except power forward Aaron McGhee. Led by Hollis Price, the Sooners are the favorites in the Big 12 Conference and a strong possibility to return to college basketball's showcase.

But that is nearly five months away, and Alabama has aspirations of its own. The Tide are ranked in the preseason top 10 for the first time since 1990 and wasted little time showing the Sooners they are for real.

Alabama took the lead for good with a 10-0 run midway through the first half. A pair of layups by Antoine Pettway capped the surge and gave the Tide a 20-13 lead with 7:32 remaining.

Mo Williams beat the buzzer with a 3-pointer, widening the advantage to 33-25 and triggering a 13-0 surge. Alabama scored the first 10 points of the second half, building a 43-25 bulge on Kenny Walker's basket with 15:24 left.

Oklahoma got no closer than five points in the final minute.

Ebi Ere scored 24 points for the Sooners, which lost to the Tide for the first time in four all-time meetings.


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