Rebels wrap up preseason action with 91-62 victory over West Georgia
OXFORD, Miss. – The Rebel men’s basketball team concluded its preseason action Tuesday with a 91-62 victory over West Georgia.
The team shot 54% from the field, including 6-17 from the three-point line. The Rebels basically led the entire way, aided by winning the battle in the paint (60-34) and scoring off the bench (48-18).
While head coach Kermit Davis was pleased with the game and the number of guys he got on the floor, he did mention that there is a lot the team needs to do to get better.
“All 14 guys got a chance to play,” Davis said after the game. “There were some bright spots, but there were a lot of areas that we have to get so much better in. The rebounding margin wasn’t high enough at all.”
Out of the 14 players, junior Matthew Murrell had the most playing time, recording 13 points in his 25 minutes of play. Also included was sophomore guard Daeshun Ruffin, who got to play in front of fans in Oxford for the first time since his ACL tear last season. Davis expressed his excitement toward having Ruffin back.
“It was good to get Daeshun Ruffin back playing. Is he a little rusty? Yeah, but that is just a part of it. I though Daeshun made some really good plays.”
Kermit Davis on Daeshun Ruffin’s return
Ruffin played for almost 17 minutes, recording six points on 3-11 shooting and three assists with a total plus-minus of +12.
The Rebels’ leading scorer Jaemyn Brakefield scored all 16 of his points in the first half. The overall team mindset heading into the matchup pushed Brakefield to his successful performance.
“Our main focus as a team was to come out and be aggressive,” the junior forward said. “It really got me going, just coming out and being aggressive.”
While Brakefield had his great performance, he recognized the importance of this exhibition for everyone that received playing time.
“It [playing everyone] just shows you how deep we are as a team. We can have any starting five any night. We trust anybody that comes off the bench.”
Jaemyn Brakefield
Up Next
The Rebels will suit up for the first time in the regular season on Monday against Alcorn State. Tipoff is set for 8 pm following the women’s game at the SJB Pavilion on SEC Network+.
Trevor Terminie
Trevor is a senior at Ole Miss pursuing a degree in Journalism with an emphasis in Sports Communication and Promotion. He has previous experience covering sports for another site, including a variety of Ole Miss sports. Growing up in New Orleans, La., he has the Pelicans and Saints running through his blood. He also grew up in an LSU family, but his love for Ole Miss continues to grow. Trevor hopes to cover sports back in his hometown after college. Laissez les bons temps rouler!
