The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
Wisc Green Bay
Ole Miss Claims Holiday Hoops Tourney Title
11/28/1999 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 28, 1999
By MARK PRATT
Associated Press Writer
GREENVILLE, S.C. - Mississippi outscored Wisconsin-Green Bay 6-2 in the final 2:47 to win the championship game of the SoCon Holiday Hoops Tournament, 57-53, Sunday.
The game was tied at 51-51 but Mississippi's Marcus Hicks completed a three-point play after grabbing an offensive rebound, then the Phoenix were forced to foul after two turnovers in the last minute and the Rebels hit 3 of 6 free throws.
The strain of playing three games in three days showed in the second half. The teams combined for just five points in the first seven minutes of the half. Both teams started front-rimming free throws and getting reach-in fouls. Both teams had nine personals before the 10-minute mark of the half.
The Phoenix (3-2) shot 54 percent in the first half, but just 21 percent in the second half and had just five field goals in the second half.
The Rebels (5-0) didn't fare much better, shooting 27 percent in the second half and making just six field goals, compared to 43 percent n the first half.
The Phoenix led by as many as four in the second half, 49-45, but the rebels tied on a three-point play and a free throw by Hicks, who led the Rebels with 16 points. Rahim Lockhart had 13.
Jerry Carstensen led the Phoenix with 13.
Darrian Brown hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Rebels a 36-33 halftime lead. Brown and Hicks had eight points each at the half.
Mississippi led most of the first half, but couldn't put the Phoenix away and LaRue finally tied it at 33-33 on a driving layup. LaRue, who scored his 1,000th career point in Saturday's win over Clemson, had 11 points at the half but was held scoreless in the second half. He was still named the tournament MVP.
The Rebels outrebounded the Phoenix 20-10 in the first half, but Wisconsin-Green Bay stayed close by hitting 54 percent of its shots, including 4-of-7 from 3-point range.
The game was the second meeting of the schools. Mississippi won 83-53 on Dec. 4, 1974 in Oxford, Miss.
