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Booker leads Clemson past Ole Miss in NIT

Mar 20, 2007 - 5:36 AM CLEMSON, South Carolina (Ticker) -- Trevor Booker led five players in double figures with 21 points as Clemson knocked off Mississippi, 89-68, in a second-round South Region NIT contest.

Cliff Hammonds added 18 points and Vernon Hamilton 13 and five assists for the top-seeded Tigers, who will host second-seeded Syracuse on Wednesday.

Booker shot 8-of-9 from the floor and added seven rebounds and four assists as Clemson (24-10) shot 52.5 percent (32-of-61) from the floor.

The Tigers also played stellar defense, holding the Rebels to just 43 percent (24-of-56) shooting and forcing 24 turnovers.

Todd Abernethy had 18 points and six assists but committed five turnovers for Ole Miss (21-13), which trailed, 46-35, at the half.