ATLANTA (AP) Shavon Coleman scored 15 points on five 3-pointers and Louisiana State preserved its slim NCAA hopes by beating Alabama 68-56 on Thursday in the second round of the SEC tournament.
Tim Quarterman had 12 points and Johnny O'Bryant added 11 for the Tigers, who pulled ahead with a 13-0 run in the first half. The Tigers shot 50 percent from the floor and beyond the arc (11 of 22).
LSU will play Kentucky in the SEC quarterfinals on Friday.
LSU (19-12) likely needs to win the SEC tournament to make the NCAA field. The Tigers have an unimpressive RPI of 74, one spot behind Georgia.
Trevor Releford and Shannon Hale both had 11 points to lead Alabama (13-19). Levi Randolph had 10.
Jordan Mickey had nine points and a game-high 11 rebounds for LSU.
