CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Kira Lewis Jr. had 24 points and Alabama outlasted Wichita State 90-86 to take fifth place at the Charleston Classic on Sunday.
The Crimson Tide (4-1) lost a 13-point lead and were tied at 69-all with 7 minutes left. But Lewis and Alex Reese made 3-pointers to put Alabama back out front.
Wichita State (2-3) could not recover.
Reese finished with 19 points while John Petty Jr. and Herbert Jones had 13 points apiece as the Crimson Tide won their second straight tournament game after dropping the opener to Northeastern.
Markis McDuffie scored 26 points to lead the Shockers.
No. 16 Virginia Tech tops No. 23 Purdue to win in Charleston
Justin Robinson saw his Virginia Tech teammate Ahmed Hill coming off the floor after a disappointing first half.
"We're going to need you to win," Robinson told him.
Hill certainly listened and was instrumental in the 16th-ranked Hokies' first in-season tournament title in coach Buzz Williams' five seasons with an 89-83 victory over No. 23 Purdue at the Charleston Classic on Sunday night.
Hill scored 18 of his 23 points in the second half and had the three-point play that put the Hokies (4-0) ahead for good at 80-77 with 3:50 remaining.
Hill followed with a 3-pointer to extend the margin. The Boilermakers (4-1) could not respond.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker had 25 points to lead Virginia Tech. He was named tournament MVP.
Robinson also had 23 points as the Hokies came from 50-38 down in the second half to win.
The Hokies jumped around in celebration when the horn sounded, giddy about the championship.
"It's an experience that money can't buy," Alexander-Walker said.
Ball State 94, Appalachian State 86, OT
Tayler Persons scored 10 of his 29 points in overtime and Ball State held on to defeat Appalachian State 94-86 in the seventh-place game at the Charleston Classic on Sunday.
The Cardinals (2-3) held an 11-point lead with 2:43 left before the Mountaineers (1-4) rallied with a 17-6 run to tie things at 80 on Ronshad Shabazz's layup and to force overtime.
After that, it was all Ball State. Persons fueled an 11-0 start to the extra period as the Cardinals took control.
Shabazz finished with a career-high 37 points for Appalachian State.
