The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
8-0
Se Louisiana
2-4
No. 23 Men's Basketball Squad Defeats Southeastern Louisiana
12/13/2000 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 13, 2000
OXFORD, Miss. - Rahim Lockhart scored 21 points and grabbed 14 rebounds as No. 23 Mississippi extended its non-conference homecourt winning streak to 41 with a 58-46 win Wednesday over stubborn Southeastern Louisiana.
Ole Miss, a newcomer to the Associated Press poll, improved to 8-0, their best start since 1936, when the Rebels started 11-0. Southeastern Lousiana, led by Jaron Singletary with 16 points, dropped to 2-4, but proved much tougher than anticipated.
The Rebels snapped a 39-39 tie with 12 minutes remaining, but limiting Southeastern Louisiana to only one basket the rest of the way. Lockhart, who hit 10-of-11 from the field, sparked a 13-0 run that finally put the game away.
"I could see it in our eyes that we were tired and we were fatigued before this game," Mississippi coach Rod Barnes said. "It doesn't matter to me if it looks good or looks good, just so we're winning. We got it behind us and we're still undefeated."
The Lions led 11-10 on a pair of Curtis Walker free throws with 12:42 left in the first half. Ole Miss answered with an 8-0 run that was highlighted by three baskets by Lockhart to build an 18-11 edge.
Southeastern Lousiana, with Singletary hitting for 11 first half points, outscored the Rebels 15-4 to build their biggest lead, 26-22 with 3:21 left. The Lions were only 7-of-17 from the field, but hit 11-of-15 free throws and three three-point shots to keep pace.
Ole Miss closed the half with a 9-2 run, including a pair of Lockhart dunks to take a 31-28 halftime lead. The Rebels might have extended the lead, but managed only 7-of-13 from the free throw line.
Southeastern Louisiana responded with nine consecutive points, capped by a pair of Derrick Franklin free throws, to tie it, 39-39 with 12 minutes remaining. That set the stage for the 13-0 run by the Rebels, including two Lockhart dunks, to give Ole Miss an insurmountable lead.
"I was very proud of the way we responded. We made our run at them," Southeastern Louisiana coach Billy Kennedy said. "But when Ole Miss needed it, they knew where to go. We played hard, but we had no answer for Lockhart."
Lockhart recorded his 18th career double-double and was decisive in the final 12 minutes. Lockhart finished with six dunks and added two blocked shots.
"They respected our outside shot, so that left me one-on-one in the post," Lockhart said. "I just had the opportunities. It's been an emotional week with Memphis, Kansas State and exams. But we fought through it. This team is good at fighting adversity."
Aaron Harper added 11 points for the Rebels, who hit 23-of-40 from the field, but only 9-of-17 from the free throw line. Southeastern Louisiana, managing only 4-of-23 from the field in the second half, got 12 points from Jackson.
"I expected us to be a little flat," Barnes said. "Fortunately, it happened at the right time. But give credit to Southeastern Louisiana, they slowed down the game and made us foul and they hit the free throws to stay in it."
Ole Miss hosts Troy State Monday before traveling to Hawaii for three games in the Pearl Harbor Invitational. The Rebels open the tournament Thursday with Southern Illinois.
