The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
3-1
Northern Arizona
1-3
Ole Miss Takes Down Northern Arizona
11/23/2014 | Men's Basketball
OXFORD, Miss. - Ole Miss finished the first half on an 8-0 run to take a 37-32 lead into halftime. The Rebels (3-1) carried that momentum into the second half, as they led the rest of the way in an 80-74 win over Northern Arizona.
Senior guard Jarvis Summers led the way with a season-high 22 points, his second 20-point game this season. He was joined in double figures by junior guard Stefan Moody (13 points) and senior guard LaDarius White (12 points), who each finished in double figures for the third straight game.
The Rebels held a decisive rebounding advantage, 42-27, and took advantage at the free-throw line, where they went 30-of-35 for the game.
"We made free throws," head coach Andy Kennedy said. "When you shoot 86 percent, you're going to win games. We were plus-15 (rebounding), which was a pretty good effort."
Summers converted two old-fashioned 3-point plays as part of the 8-0 run to give the Rebels a 37-32 halftime lead. He finished with a game-high 10 points in the half, including 4-of-5 from the free throw line.
"He's our guy," Kennedy said. "We need him to be an effective player, which he has showed himself to be."
Coming out of halftime, Ole Miss extended the lead to eight after a 6-0 run that included a transition steal and dunk from LaDarius White. Northern Arizona (1-3) got to within one, down 45-44, after a four-point play from junior guard Aaseem Dixon with 14:30 left.
It was back and forth between the two teams, before Ole Miss pulled away, taking a 65-51 lead after a 13-0 run. The Lumberjacks battled back to within five, but the Rebels closed out the win from the free-throw line, going 9-of-12 from the stripe in the final 3:35.
"Our first-shot defense is the middle 20's (percentage-wise)," Kennedy said. "Where we haven't done a great job is off of loose balls and scramble situations. It would hurt us again tonight. We came up with some of those during that 13-0, which allowed us to get out in the open floor."
The Rebels continue play in the Emerald Coast Classic, traveling to Niceville, Florida, where they will face Creighton on Friday and then either Cincinnati or Middle Tennessee State on Saturday.
"We're four games into this, and have learned a lot about this group," Kennedy said. "I honestly didn't know I had this much to learn, but I have learned a lot. We'll have a week of practice and then play a Creighton team, which could be nationally ranked come the poll tomorrow after beating No. 18 Oklahoma."
