The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
2-1
George Mason
1-2
Rebels Fall to George Mason at Charleston Classic
11/19/2015 | Men's Basketball
CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) - Senior Stefan Moody scored 18 points, including 13 in the second half, but Ole Miss dropped its opening round game of the Charleston Classic to George Mason 68-62 Thursday.
Shevon Thompson had 18 points and 16 rebounds as for the Patriots, who watched a 13-point lead slip away in the second half before rallying for first-year coach Dave Paulsen's debut win with the program.
The Rebels trailed 52-39, but tied it 56-all on Sam Finley's two foul shots with 4:07 remaining. That's when Marquisse Moore hit a 3-pointer to put George Mason up for good.
Ole Miss closed to 61-60 with 1:31 remaining on foul shots by Robert Brooks. Moore again came through with a layup on the next possession as George Mason closed with a 7-1 run. Jaire Grayer had 15 points and Moore 12 for the Patriots.
Sebastian Saiz came into this game with double-doubles in his first two contests for the Rebels. But he was just 3 of 9 with Thompson underneath. The last of Thompson's three blocks came on Saiz's shot in the final minute with Ole Miss trailing 63-60.
The Patriots eventually built the lead to 29-22 on DeAndre Abram's 3-pointer with four minutes left in the half. That's when Ole Miss used its outside shooting to get back in it.
J.T. Escobar and Tomasz Giello each had 3-pointers to cut the lead to 31-30. Escobar's drive with 18 seconds left put the Rebels in front until Otis Livingston hit a jumper to give George Mason a 33-32 lead at the break.
Thompson led the Patriots with 12 points - on 5-of-5 shooting - and seven rebounds.
