The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
4-0
Louisiana-Monroe
1-3
Ole Miss Defeats Louisiana-Monroe, 76-62
11/28/2000 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 28, 2000
OXFORD, Miss. - Rahim Lockhart recorded his 16th career double- double, 16 points and 10 rebounds, to lead Mississippi to a 76-62 win Tuesday over Louisiana-Monroe.
Ole Miss extended its homecourt winning streak against non- conference competition to 38, the third-longest in the nation. The Rebels host No. 14 Oklahoma Saturday.
Lockhart led a balanced offensive effort for the Rebels, as Justin Reed and Jason Flanigan added 14 and 12 points, respectively. Ole Miss improved to 4-0 with the win, while Louisiana-Monroe fell to 1-3, with all the losses coming on the road to SEC teams - Mississippi, Arkansas and LSU.
"At times we played well and at times we didn't. But I'm not unhappy with any win," Ole Miss coach Rod Barnes said. "Winning is the most important thing, but I'm a little disappointed we didn't put them away, but you've got to give Louisiana-Monroe credit for that."
The Rebels, trailing 8-7 early, went on an 11-0 run and never trailed again. David Sanders and Justin Reed keyed the surge with four points apiece, while Rahim Lockhart pulled down four rebounds and added three steals.
Louisiana-Monroe pulled within 20-13 on a Kevin Paige jumper with 10:14 left, but Ole Miss closed the half with a 19-8 run for a 39-27 halftime lead. Despite shooting only 15-of-35 from the field in the first half, Ole Miss outrebounded the Indians 24-15 and forced 13 turnovers.
The Indians had a 7-0 run early in the second half to pull within 44-36 with 15 minutes remaining. Paige, who finished with 17 points, capped the rally with a layup. Brian Lubeck, who added 12 points, had an assist and a steal during the surge.
"I was concerned, because we didn't handle it well when Arkansas and LSU made their runs at us," Louisiana-Monroe coach Mike Vining said. "Tonight we did. I'm proud we hung in there. But they killed us on the boards. They had 18 offensive rebounds and we really didn't answer that."
Ole Miss reserve forward John Gunn ignited a 11-3 run in the next three minutes to settle the issue. Gunn had two inside baskets, followed by a fadeaway jumper to rebuild the lead, 55-39. The Rebels finished with a 44-31 rebounding edge.
"That was the one time frame when we played well and were getting things done," Barnes said. "We're a young team and sometimes you have some good and bad periods because of that. But we responded when we needed too and that's a positive."
The game's biggest lead, 61-42, came with 10:01 remaining on a Flanigan jumper. The Indians closed it to 69-59 on Nick Coln's three-point shot with 1:38 left, but Ole Miss closed it out with five free throws and a Reed dunk.
"We're really looking forward to Saturday. Oklahoma will be a major challenge," Barnes said. "Out kids will come prepared, but we have a lot of work to do before we play Saturday."
