The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
3-1
Penn State
4-1
Gaskins Leads Rebels To Victory Over Nittany Lions
11/26/2010 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 26, 2010
OXFORD, Miss. (AP) - Trevor Gaskins scored a career-high 24 points and Chris Warren added 20 as Ole Miss defeated previously unbeaten Penn State 84-71.
Gaskins was 6-of-11 from three-point range as the Rebels (3-1) made an 11-1 run to take an insurmountable 70-59 lead with 4:59 left. Penn State (4-1) never got closer than eight points in the final four minutes.
Nick Williams and Terrance Henry added 15 and 13 points, respective for the Rebels, who finished 27-of-52, 52 percent, from the field. The Rebels shot a season-best 13-of-29, 45 percent, from three-point range.
Talor Battle had 26 points, four assists and three steals to lead Penn State. David Jackson had 17 points and Jeff Brooks added 15 points and a game-high nine rebounds for the Nittany Lions.
"Obviously, I thought we got a huge contribution from Trevor Gaskins," Ole Miss coach Andy Kennedy said. "As for Chris Warren, it was a typical Chris Warren night. Penn State is a quality Big Ten team and this is a good win for us."
Penn State led briefly in the opening minute, 5-4 before Ole Miss took control from the three-point line. Warren hit a three-point shot, followed by three consecutive three-point shots by Gaskins to build a 31-20 lead with 8:41 left in the half.
Ole Miss led 40-34 at halftime before Penn State managed to cut the difference to 60-57 on a jumper by Brooks with 8:22 left.
The Rebels responded with the decisive 11-1 run, including three-point shots by Warren and Gaskins and Penn State never seriously challenged again. Warren had 17 points in the second half and added four assists.
The late rush by the Rebels contrasted the previous game as Ole Miss faltered late in a 78-71 overtime loss to Dayton. Forward Reginald Buckner, who missed the second half with a knee bruise against Dayton, responded with five blocked shots in 21 minutes against Penn State.
Penn State finished 23-of-52, 44 percent, from the field, including 8-of-17 from three-point range. The Nittany Lions were out rebounded 32-26 and managed only 13 points apart from Battle, Jackson and Brooks.
