Defense Shines Again as No. 16 Men’s Basketball Defeats Southern Tuesday Night
OXFORD, Miss. – (Release) The No. 16 Ole Miss men’s basketball team (10-1) grabbed 14 steals and blocked 10 shots in route to its 10th win of the season, 74-61, over Southern Tuesday night at the SJB Pavilion. The Rebels shot 40.0 percent from long range, connecting on 10 triples in the win.
Ole Miss took a nine-point lead into the half after shooting 45.2 percent (14-for-31) over the first 20 minutes of action. Dre Davis led the Rebels with nine points on 4-of-8 shooting. The home team stretched the lead to 10 with 13:38 to play in the first half, but Southern would go on a quick 9-0 run to cut the deficit to one with 11:20 to play.
The Rebels extended the lead back to nine several times over the duration of the first half, capped off by a Jaemyn Brakefield dunk as the half winded down to take a 42-33 lead into the break.
Southern came out hot to start the second half scoring the first eight points, cutting the lead to 42-41. However, the Rebels remained composed responding with an 11-1 run over 5:55 of play, stretching the lead to 53-42 with 11:27 to play.
The defense remained strong for the Rebels as Ole Miss forced nine second-half turnovers generating 10 fast break points.
Defense.
Effort.
Hustle.
Ole Miss Basketball‼️#HottyToddy x #Culture pic.twitter.com/haZH26vlkV— Ole Miss Men’s Basketball (@OleMissMBB) December 18, 2024
Jaylen Murray caught fire from three in the second half pouring in 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting from downtown. Murray led all scorers in the game with 18 points making a career-high six threes.
Ole Miss came away with 14 steals and 10 blocks marking the second game this season for the Rebels with 10-plus in each category. It marked the most blocks for the Rebels in a game since they had 13 against Long Island to open the season.
Ole Miss continues play this Saturday against Queens (6-5). Tipoff at the SJB Pavilion is set for 4 p.m. CT on SEC Network+.
NOTABLES
- Jaylen Murray led all scorers with 18 points and a career-high six triples. It marks his eighth game in double-figures this season.
- Davon Barnes led Ole Miss on the glass for the second straight game pulling down seven boards. It marks his fourth game grabbing 5 or more rebounds.
- Barnes eclipsed the 1,000 career-point mark in tonight’s game. He added a pair of blocks and three steals on defense as well.
- Sean Pedulla loaded the box score tonight with a team-high seven assists, five rebounds, four steals, and a career-best three blocks.
🚨 𝟏𝐊 Davon Barnes 🚨@kingdavon0 x #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/kuTnFVreKw
— Ole Miss Men’s Basketball (@OleMissMBB) December 18, 2024
Evelyn Van Pelt
Evelyn has covered sports for over two decades, beginning her journalism career as a sports writer for a newspaper in Austin, Texas. She attended Texas A&M and majored in English. Evelyn's love for Ole Miss began when her daughter Katie attended the university on a volleyball scholarship. Evelyn created the Rebel Walk in 2013 and has served as publisher and managing editor since its inception.
