The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss Surges Past Tennessee Tech; Hosts Nicholls Friday
11/22/2006 | Men's Basketball
OXFORD, Miss. (AP) - Bam Doyne scored 25 points as Ole Miss erased a 10-point second half deficit Wednesday to defeat Tennessee Tech 86-77.
Ole Miss (5-1) wiped out a 56-46 deficit in the final 14 minutes and Jermey Parnell and Clarence Sanders had 14 points apiece, while Kenny Williams had 13 points for the Rebels.
Belton Rivers led Tennessee Tech (1-2) with 24 points. Anthony Fisher and Amadi McKenzie added 19 and 17 points for the Golden Eagles.
The Rebels, who finished 24 of 32 from the free-throw line, shot just 41 percent from the field. But Ole Miss limited Tennessee Tech to 11 of 40 shooting in the second half as it closed the gap.
Tennessee Tech led 43-40 at halftime and led by as many as nine points in the opening minutes.
The Golden Eagles built their biggest lead of 56-46 with 14:12 left on a 3-point shot by Anthony Fisher. But Tennessee Tech managed only six baskets the rest of the way.
Ole Miss took the lead for good on a 3-point shot by Clarence Sanders that put the Rebels up 62-60 with 8:42 left, capping a 16-4 run. The Rebels built their biggest lead at 74-66 on Todd Abernethy's two free throws with 3:45 left.
Tennessee Tech never got closer than three points again. The Rebels hit 10 of 12 free throws and forced two turnovers in the final three minutes to preserve the win.
The Rebels continue their three-game homestand with Nicholls Friday. Tip off is set for 7 p.m. CT on the eve of the football team's annual Egg Bowl battle with Mississippi State.