The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss Opens Season with Pounding of Mississippi Valley State
11/10/2006 | Men's Basketball
OXFORD, Miss. (AP) -- Bam Doyne scored 19 points to lead Ole Miss to a 72-49 win over Mississippi Valley State on Friday in the season opener for both time and the beginning of the Andy Kennedy era in Oxford.
Jermey Parnell and Xavier Hansbro added 11 points apiece and Brian Smith had 10 for the Rebels (1-0), who have won 10 of the last 11 home openers. Richard Cannon led Mississippi Valley State (0-1) with nine points.
The Rebels shot 28-of-63 from the field, including 6-of-12 from 3-point range. Mississippi Valley State managed only 14-of-54, 26 percent, from the field and no player had more than two baskets.
The Delta Devils led 15-10 after 10 minutes of play, but managed only one basket for the remainder of the half. Ole Miss led 32-24 at halftime.
The Rebels opened the second half with a 17-3 spurt, building a 49-27 lead. Hansbro and Smith hit 3-point shots and Doyne had six points to highlight the decisive run.
Mississippi Valley State never got closer than 19 points again. Ole Miss built its biggest lead to 59-33 with 8:23 left on a 3-point shot by Trey Hampton.
Ole Miss starting guard Todd Abernethy was injured three minutes in the contest, suffering a slight concussion and having five stitches over his left eye. Abernethy did not play the rest of the way, but did return to the bench for the second half. He is expected to be ready for Tuesday's game with Louisiana-Lafayette, Kennedy said.
