CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) The Latest on Charleston Classic (all times local):
3:40 p.m.
Tevin Mack scored 20 points off five 3-pointers as Alabama bounced back from its first loss of the season with a 79-61 victory over Ball State at the Charleston Classic.
Mack is a Texas transfer playing his first season for the Crimson Tide (3-1). He made five of the team’s seven 3-pointers as Alabama opened a 13-2 lead and stayed comfortably in front the rest of the way.
Donta Hall had 12 points and 12 rebounds for the Crimson Tide, who will play either Appalachian State or Wichita State for fifth place Sunday.
K.J. Walton led Ball State (1-3) with 13 points. The Cardinals fall to the seventh-place game.
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1:30 p.m.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 20 points as No. 16 Virginia Tech used a 23-2 run before halftime to overpower Northeastern 88-60 and advance to the championship of the Charleston Classic on Friday.
The Huskies (2-2) moved in front 24-23 on a three by Donnell Gresham with six minutes left in the half. That’s when the Hokies (3-0) took control with its game-breaking run.
By then, Virginia Tech was up 46-24 and cruised into the finals.
The Hokies will face wither No. 23 Purdue or Davidson in Sunday’s title game.
Tomas Murphy led Northeastern with 11 points. The Huskies will play the Purdue-Davidson loser for third place on Sunday.
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3:35 a.m.
No. 16 Virginia Tech and No. 23 Purdue both go into Friday looking for berths in the Charleston Classic championship game.
The Hokies and Boilermakers each had handy opening round wins and seek to advance in the semifinals.
Virginia Tech got 21 points from Nickeil Alexander-Walker to defeat Ball State 73-64. Purdue star guard Carsen Edwards had 25 points in a 92-70 win over Appalachian State.
The Hokies (2-0) will face Northeastern (2-1), which outlasted Alabama 68-52.
The Boilermakers (3-0) take on Davidson (3-0), which upended Wichita State 57-53.
In the consolation bracket, the Crimson Tide (2-1) play Ball State (1-2) and Appalachian State (1-2) faces Wichita State (1-2).
The tournament will take Saturday off before finishing up at TD Arena with four games Sunday.
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