Oxford Shines as Rebels Roll to Fourth Straight Win
In the heart of Oxford, Mississippi, on a crisp Tuesday night, the buzz of excitement filled the air as fans gathered in the Sandy and John Black Pavilion to witness some thrilling college basketball action. The crowd left with smiles on their faces as the 17th-ranked Mississippi Rebels emerged victorious against the Southern University Jaguars with a score of 74-61.
Top Performers of the Night
The star of the night was none other than Jaylen Murray, who lit it up from beyond the arc, sinking 6 out of 7 three-pointers and finishing with 18 points total. The excitement grew as the crowd erupted after each basket he made, especially the deep, arcing three-pointers that seemed to deflate Southern’s momentum.
Not far behind in the scoring game were Jaemyn Brakefield and Dre Davis, who contributed 15 and 14 points respectively. Their solid performances, alongside Murray’s sharpshooting, allowed the Rebels to build a comfortable lead as the game progressed.
Jaguar’s Tenacity
The Jaguars, however, were no pushovers. They showcased their resilience by getting contributions from 11 different players, with Derrick Tezeno and Michael Jacobs each scoring 11 points. Southern University maintained an impressive season shooting percentage, hitting just under 38% on this night, which kept them competitive.
A Game of Turns
Early in the game, the Rebels capitalized on Southern’s turnovers, scoring 10 points off mistakes by their opponents. Yet, as the game progressed, Ole Miss struggled with their own ball control, committing 17 turnovers that allowed the Jaguars to score 16 points on those mistakes.
Second Half Comeback and More
After trailing by nine points at halftime, Southern University came out firing, starting the second half with an 8-0 run that had them breathing down the Rebels’ necks, closing the gap to just one point. But the Rebels quickly pushed back, answering with seven points in a row, including two key three-pointers from Murray, putting the Jaguars back in their place.
As the clock wound down, the Rebels showcased their dominance, extending their lead to as much as 19 points with less than five minutes to go. The Rebels also showcased their defense, racking up an impressive 10 blocked shots throughout the night.
Rebounding Battle
Despite their loss, Southern showed they had fight in them, particularly in the paint where they outpaced the Rebels in rebounding, grabbing 37 rebounds compared to Ole Miss’s 36. They also managed to score more in the paint, with a total of 26 points to Ole Miss’s 22 points.
What’s Next?
As the dust settles on this matchup, the Rebels, now boasting a record of 10-1, are set to face off against Queens in their last game before Christmas this coming Saturday. Southern University will be looking to regroup as they head to play against Loyola Marymount on Friday.
As always, college basketball fans can stay tuned for the latest updates and poll alerts on the electrifying journey leading up to March Madness!
