Baton Rouge, La. ? Ross Neltner had enough big games in high school to be selected Kentucky’s Mr. Basketball as a senior.

Nothing he did in those games came close to his buzzer-beating tipin Tuesday night that gave LSU a 61-59 victory over No. 16 Alabama.

“You can play basketball for a lifetime and never have something like that happen to you,” said Neltner, who had five points in 15 minutes. The 6-foot-9 sophomore entered the game averaging 2.7 points per game. “It’s like golfers hitting a hole-in-one. You just have to be in the right place at the right time.”

Neltner’s basket prevented Alabama from sewing up the SEC West.

Alabama (21-5, 10-3 Southeastern Conference) trailed, 55-48, with 4:56 to play, but a banked three-pointer by Kennedy Winston with 14 seconds left tied it at 59.

No. 2 North Carolina 81, N.C. State 71

Raleigh, N.C. — Melvin Scott replaced the ill Rashad McCants in the starting lineup and scored 12 points, leading North Carolina. Raymond Felton had 21 points, seven assists and five rebounds for the Tar Heels (23-3, 11-2), who extended their lead in the Atlantic Coast Conference to a full game over No. 6 Wake Forest.