Tyree leads Rebels to Win on Senior Night

OXFORD, Miss. — The Rebels took care of business Wednesday night as they defeated Missouri, 75-67, in front of 6,887 fans in The Pavilion on Senior Night. Senior Breein Tyree, playing his final home game, and Blake Hinson led the Rebels with 19 points each. 

(Click here for box score.)

Ole Miss jumped out to a 17-7 lead and held a double-digit advantage until the final play of the first half when Missouri’s Torrence Watson made a layup that Rebels’ lead down to nine, 49-40, at intermission.

Hinson was fantastic in the first, putting up 19 points on 7-12 shooting from the field with four triples. He and ever-improving big man Khadim Sy were the offensive spark Ole Miss needed in the first as Missouri pressured Tyree all game. Sy finished the half with 9 points. 

Tyree owns the second half

It seemed like one of those games where Missouri was destined to come back a bit, and that was exactly what happened as the Tigers opened up the second half with a 9-2 run to tie the game at 51-51.

But from there, it was the Breein Tyree show. The senior rattled off 13 of the rest of Ole Miss’ 24 to put the Rebs at 75. He didn’t miss a shot from the floor or the free throw line in the second half. 

Tyree scores 19 on Senior Night. When the Rebs needed him, he put them on his back. The Tigers tied the game in the 2nd half, so how did Breein respond? He didn’t miss one single shot, from the floor or the FT line, in the second half. ❤️💙#HeartOfARebel (Photo: @OleMissPix) pic.twitter.com/nrZ9cIndVs

— The Rebel Walk (@TheRebelWalk) March 5, 2020

Overall, Ole Miss shot 45% from the field and 38% from the three point line. In addition to Hinson and Tyree’s 19 points, KJ Buffen added 13 and Sy notched 12. Ole Miss tallied 14 assists on 22 makes–which is another good sign, besides the diverse scoring, that the Rebels are moving the ball around well. 

Tyree, who had the ball in hand as the clock ran out, capping off his final home performance as an Ole Miss Rebel, should be proud of once again putting the team on his back when it needed him and emerging victorious.

Head coach Kermit Davis praised his guard after the game.

Head coach Kermit Davis on Breein Tyree

#⃣4⃣'s night.#HottyToddy #FamilyOn3 pic.twitter.com/cmyKUwgn4N

— Ole Miss Men’s Basketball (@OleMissMBB) March 5, 2020

While it had to be emotional to know his time at The Pavilion has come to a close, Tyree’s focus is now locked in on the rest of the season. In a press conference earlier this week, Breein was asked about his legacy as an Ole Miss basketball player. “I’m still trying to write the last part of it, honestly,” he said.

Breein Tyree 

From all of #RebelNation, thank you Breein ❤️#HottyToddy #FamilyOn3 pic.twitter.com/Lc5133IFos

— Ole Miss Men’s Basketball (@OleMissMBB) March 5, 2020

Next Up

Going forward, Ole Miss has one final regular season game and it comes on the road in Starkville on March 7. Not only is it a rivalry game, it is one Mississippi State would no doubt love to redeem itself with, following a 25-point rout by the Rebels earlier this season. Tipoff is slated for 5:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network.

Tip-Ins

• Ole Miss now leads the all-time series 13-3.
• The Rebels finish with a 12-5 record at home.
• In his final game in The Pavilion, Breein Tyree scored 19 points on 6 of 9 shooting with a team-high five assists.
• Ole Miss scored 49 points in the first half, the most in two seasons (63 games) under Kermit Davis.
• The Rebels made their first 18 free throws of the game; the first miss came with 16:49 to go in the second half.
• Blake Hinson scored 19 points, all in the first half, his most in an SEC game this season.
• KJ Buffen put together his second career double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
• Devontae Shuler recorded a pair of steals to jump into a tie for 10th the Ole Miss all-time steals list alongside former teammate and current Toronto Raptor Terence Davis; the duo has 140 career steals apiece.
• The eight-point victory is the Rebels’ closest SEC win of the season; the other five have been by double digits.

SEC Tournament

Ole Miss (15-15, 6-11 SEC) will not receive a bye in the SEC tournament; however, we can expect a first round contest against Georgia or Vanderbilt in Nashville. The first round will take place next Wednesday, March 11th and will be televised on SEC Network.