The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebels Bounce Back Against Florida A&M
12/22/2008 | Men's Basketball
OXFORD, Miss. (AP) - Ole Miss placed four players in double figures, led by freshman Terrico White and sophomore Malcolm White with 18 points apiece, Monday as the Rebels defeated Florida A&M 86-63.
However, it was the one starter that did not place in double figures, point guard Will Bogan, that drew the most praise in the postgame press conference by Ole Miss head coach Andy Kennedy.
"I'd give Will Bogan an A-plus tonight," Kennedy said. "He was the biggest factor in the game tonight. You're talking about a guy that hadn't played all year, pulled 32 minutes and got more comfortable as the game wore on."
Bogan played only because the Rebels (8-4) were making their first appearance without preseason All-SEC point guard Chris Warren, who was lost for the season with an ACL injury in a loss to Louisville. Warren had been averaging 19 points per game and was among the nation's leaders in several statistical categories.
"There is nobody we can pick up on waivers," Kennedy said. "The reality is the situation isn't going to change. We can't dwell on the injury situation, but this is a good first step for us."
Bogan finished with six points, but had three assists, a steal and helped the Rebels get off to a 13-0 start in the opening six minutes. By halftime, Ole Miss led 45-27 and Florida A&M never got within 12 points again, leading by as many as 26 points in the final minute.
"I was trying to make sure I got us into the offense and not mess anything up," Bogan said. "It was important to get off to the good start and keep the energy level."
Kennedy agreed the Rebels got key contributions throughout the contest from different player combinations.
"The 13-0 start was huge, something we haven't been doing," Kennedy said. "Then, Murphy (Holloway) stepped up with a big game. He's going to be a terrific player for us."
Murphy Holloway had 15 points and a game-high 16 rebounds, while David Huertas added 15 points for the Rebels, who shot 34-of-70, 49 percent, from the field and outrebounded Florida A&M (2-9) by a season-best 47-22 margin.
Dale Hughes led Florida A&M with 14 points. Brandon Bryant had 13 points, while Darryl Demps and David Buchanon added 10 apiece for the Rattlers, who have lost four road games to SEC schools Alabama, Arkansas, Florida and Ole Miss.