The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss Heads To Syracuse For NIT Second Round
3/16/2017 | Men's Basketball
Ole Miss Game Notes - Syracuse 
No. 5 Ole Miss (21-13, 10-8 SEC) at No. 1 Syracuse (19-14, 10-8 ACC)
Date: Saturday, March 18, 2017
Time: 10 a.m. CT
Location: Syracuse, N.Y.
Arena: Carrier Dome (35,446)
Television: ESPN
Bob Wischusen, play-by-play
Fran Fraschilla, analyst
Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
David Kellum, play-by-play
Keith Carter, analyst
Live Audio: OleMissSports.com
Live Video: WatchESPN.com
Series: First Meeting
TIP OFF
• Ole Miss travels to Syracuse in the second round of the NIT Saturday. This is the eighth postseason appearance in 11 years for the Rebels under Andy Kennedy. Ole Miss had only 12 postseason appearances in the 96 years before Kennedy's arrival and boasts a 14-11 all-time record in 12 NIT appearances.
• The Rebels finished the regular season tied for fifth in the league standings after being predicted to finish ninth in the SEC this year by the media. Ole Miss has not finished worse than sixth in the league and has finished above its preseason projected finish each of the last six seasons since the league moved away from a divisional format.
• Ole Miss and Kentucky are the only two schools to finish .500 or better in the SEC each of the last six seasons.
• Head coach Andy Kennedy moved past Florida coach Norm Sloan into 18th on the SEC career coaching wins list with 233 victories. He is also moved past Rick Stansbury (MSU) for the fourth most wins in SEC history by a coach in his first 11 years in the league at one school.
• The Rebels have hit 296 of 380 (.779) attempts from the free throw line over the last 14 games. Ole Miss leads the nation in made free throws this year with 678. The Rebels are averaging 81.2 ppg over their last 10 games.
• With a 1280-1281 all time record, Ole Miss is nearing a .500 winning percentage as a program. The Rebels were 95 games under .500 when Andy Kennedy took over in Oxford and have not been .500 or better as a program since Ole Miss was 440-440 on Jan. 17, 1958.
• Sophomore G Terence Davis is averaging 17.6 points a game over his last 10 games. He has increased his scoring this season 12.6 ppg over last year, which is the largest increase in scoring for any player in the SEC. • Ole Miss has 20 wins for the ninth time in 11 seasons under Andy Kennedy, who joins Billy Donovan, Joe. B. Hall, Nolan Richardson and Tubby Smith as the only coaches in SEC history to accomplish that feat. The Rebels had just seven 20 win seasons in the 96 seasons before Kennedy's arrival.
• Senior F Sebastian Saiz recorded his 30th career double-double with 23 points and 11 boards in the win over Monmouth and now has 21 double-doubles this season, which leads the SEC and ranks sixth nationally. Saiz leads the SEC and ranks fifth in the nation pulling down 11.2 rebounds a game and is the only player in the conference this season averaging a double-double. The league's active career rebounding leader, he recently moved past Walter Actwood into second in Ole Miss history with 981 rebounds. Saiz is also first player in school history and just the 16th player in SEC history with 1,000 points, 900 rebounds and 100 blocked shots. He was named the 2017 C Spire Howell Trophy winner as the most outstanding player in Mississippi. It was the fifth straight time a Rebel has won the award. He also earned first team All-SEC honors from the league's coaches.
• Two Ole Miss signees - Devontae Shuler and Jamarko Pickett - were recently ranked inside the top 100 and four- star prospects in the latest release of the Scout.com ranking. Shuler was rated the No. 57 prospect in the nation, while Pickett checked in at No. 99.
REBELS KNOCK OFF MONMOUTH IN NIT FIRST ROUND
Senior Sebastian Saiz posted a double-double with 23 points and 11 rebounds and junior Deandre Burnett added 17 points, including 15 in the second half, to lift the Rebels over Monmouth 91-83 in the first round of the NIT. Saiz went a perfect 10-10 from the charity stripe to pick up his 30th career double-double and 21st of the season to set the Ole Miss single-season record. The Rebels trailed by three at the half, but came out firing in the second half. Burnett knocked down 4 of 7 3-point shots in the first seven minutes of the second period to lead the Rebels to a 52 point second-half performance.
OLE MISS HEADS TO SYRACUSE FOR NIT SECOND ROUND
Ole Miss head Andy Kennedy posted a 1-2 mark against the 'Cuse in his one season as the Cincinnati head coach, knocking off Jim Boeheim and Co. 82-65 in the Carrier Dome in 2006. The Rebels and the Orange have faced three common opponents this season in Monmouth, South Carolina and Virginia Tech. Ole Miss posted a 2-2 mark against those foes, winning at Monmouth and vs. South Carolina, while Syracuse recorded a 1-2 mark, winning vs. Monmouth and falling vs. South Carolina and at Virginia Tech. Ole Miss making just its fifth-ever trip to the Empire State and is playing its first game outside New York City. The Rebels are 2-3 all time in New York, but have won their last two games including capturing the 2014 Barclays Classic Title in Brooklyn. Ole Miss is 2-2 all time against teams from the state of New York (Hofstra: 1-0; Iona: 1-1 and St. John's: 0-1).
NIT EXPERIMENTAL RULES
The NIT will utilize the following experimental rules during all Tournament games:
1. The shot clock shall remain the same as when play was interrupted or reset to 20 seconds, whichever is greater, at any time a foul is called or other stoppage.
2. Team fouls shall be reset to zero during each 10-minute segment of each half. When a team has reached the four-foul limitation, it will be penalized by two free throw attempts.
OLE MISS IN THE NIT
The Rebels are making their 12th overall NIT appearance and sixth under head coach Andy Kennedy. Ole Miss has a 14-11 record in all NIT games, including an 8-5 mark under Kennedy. Ole Miss has advanced to two NIT Final Fours - 2008 and 2010 - under Kennedy.
REBELS ROLL TIGERS TO ADVANCE IN NASHVILLE
Junior Deandre Burnett scored a game-high 23 points and senior Sebastian Saiz posted his 20th double-double of the season with 14 and 16 rebounds as Ole Miss rolled Missouri 86-74 to advance in the SEC Tournament. Saiz tied the Ole Miss SEC Tournament record with 16 rebounds in the game. The Rebels outrebounded the Tigers 40-32 and committed a season-low seven turnovers. Ole Miss has now beaten 11 straight opponents with a Tiger mascot and has beaten Mizzou eight consecutive times.
REBELS CONSISTENTLY UNDERRATED
The Rebels were predicted to finish ninth in the SEC this year by the media and finished the regular season tied for fifth in the league standings. Ole Miss has not finished worse than sixth in the league and have finished above their preseason projected finish each of the last six seasons since the league moved away from a divisional format.
OLE MISS NEARING .500 MARK AS A PROGRAM
With a 1280-1281 all time record, Ole Miss is nearing a .500 winning percentage as a program. The Rebels were 95 games under .500 when Andy Kennedy took over in Oxford and have not been .500 or better as a program since Ole Miss was 440-440 on Jan. 17, 1958.
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER IN THE SEC
Sophomore Terence Davis earned SEC Player of the Week honors earlier this season after posting two double-doubles in wins over Tennessee and Missouri. Davis averaged 19.0 points, 11.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists in the two victories. He had a then career-high 20 points in the win over the Vols, including 13 in the second half as the Rebels overcame a 13-point deficit, and added 19 points and 11 boards at Mizzou. Davis has increased his scoring 12.6 ppg this year over last season's average (1.8 ppg to 14.4 ppg), which is the largest jump in scoring for any player in the SEC.
SAIZ PICKS UP POSTSEASON HONORS
Senior F Sebastian Saiz was selected All-SEC first team by the league's coaches. This is the third straight season a Rebel has earned first team All-SEC honors and this marks the 16th All-SEC honor under head coach Andy Kennedy, which is the third-most in the league over the last 11 years behind Florida and Kentucky. Saiz was also named to the USBWA All-District IV team.
KENNEDY ADMINISTRATION BEGINS 11TH YEAR
In 11 seasons under Mississippi native Andy Kennedy, Ole Miss has a 233-139 record, one SEC Tournament championship, two SEC West championships, nine 20-win campaigns and eight postseason berths, which includes two NCAA Tournament appearances and pair of trips to the NIT Final Four. The all-time winningest coach in school history, Kennedy has averaged more than 21 wins per season in his 10 full years in Oxford after the Rebels posted just three 21-win seasons in the 96 years before his arrival.
KENNEDY MOVING UP SEC COACHING WINS LIST
Ole Miss head coach Andy Kennedy moved past former Florida coach Norm Sloan into 18th in SEC history with 233 career victories. See complete list below:
1. Adolph Rupp (Kentucky) - 875
2. Billy Donovan (Florida) - 467
3. Dale Brown (LSU) - 448
4. C.M. Newtown (UA/VU) - 340
Harry Rabenhorst (LSU) - 340
6. Kevin Stallings (Vanderbilt) - 332
7. Tubby Smith (UGA/UK) - 308
8. Joe B. Hall (Kentucky) - 297
Hugh Durhman (Georgia) - 297
10. Rick Stansbury (MSU) - 293
11. Ray Mears (Tennessee) - 278
Roy Skinner (Vanderbilt) - 278
13. Wimp Sanderson (Alabama) - 265
John Mauer (UK/UT/UF) - 265
15. Hank Crisp (Alabama) - 264
16. Nolan Richardson (Arkansas) - 249
17. John Calipari (Kentucky) - 239
18. Andy Kennedy (Ole Miss) - 233
19. Norm Sloan (Florida) - 232
20. Rick Pitino (Kentucky) - 219
21. Joel Eaves (Auburn) - 214
OLE MISS AMONG SEC'S BEST
Ole Miss and Kentucky are the only two schools in the league to finish .500 or better in the SEC each of the last six seasons and the only two schools to finish in the top half of the conference standings each of the last six seasons.
REBEL-ORANGE TIES
Ole Miss freshman G Breein Tyree and Syracuse freshman G Tyus Battle were teammates last season at St. Joseph's High School in New Jersey for head coach David Turco. The duo helped the Falcons post a 22-6 record and reach the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) semifinals.
REBELS SECURE WINNING SEASON
Ole Miss has secured its 11th consecutive winning season this year, all under head coach Andy Kennedy, and is one of just two teams in the SEC and 15 programs in the nation to have 11 straight winning seasons. That list includes Syracuse (47), Kansas (34), Arizona (33), Kentucky (27), Maryland (24), Duke (22), Michigan State (21), Xavier (21), Wisconsin (19), Louisville (16), North Carolina (15), Ohio State (13) and Florida State (12).
SAIZ WINS HOWELL TROPHY
Senior F Sebastian Saiz was named the 2017 C Spire Howell Trophy winner, presented by the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame. The Howell Trophy, named for Bailey Howell, goes to the most outstanding men's collegiate basketball player in Mississippi. Ole Miss has won the award each of the last five years, as Stefan Moody won the trophy each of the last two years, Jarvis Summers took home the award in 2014 and Marshall Henderson earned the honor in 2013.
WINNING WAYS
Ole Miss head coach Andy Kennedy is the first coach in SEC to post 11 straight winning seasons after taking over a program with four straight losing seasons. Below is the list of coaches that took over a program after four consecutive losing seasons:
Goat Hale (Ole Miss) - 1944
B.L. 'Country' Graham (Ole Miss) - 1949
Ken Rosemond (Georgia) - 1965
John Lotz (Florida) - 1973
Hugh Durham (Georgia) - 1978
Jerry Green (Tennessee) - 1997
John Brady (LSU) - 1997
Andy Kennedy (Ole Miss) - 2006
Bruce Pearl (Auburn) - 2014
OLE MISS WINS 20 ... AGAIN
Ole Miss has posted 20 wins for the ninth time in 11 seasons under Andy Kennedy. Ole Miss had seven 20-win campaigns in the 96 seasons prior to Kennedy's arrival in Oxford. Kennedy is just the fifth coach in SEC history to guide his teams to 20+ wins in at least nine of his first 11 years in the league. The others: Billy Donovan (Florida), Joe. B. Hall (Kentucky), Nolan Richardson (Arkansas), Tubby Smith (Georgia/Kentucky). Kennedy is also the first coach in Ole Miss history to win 20 games in five-straight seasons.
SAIZ SAYS DOUBLE-DOUBLE
Senior F Sebastian Saiz is the SEC active career leader in rebounding with 981 boards. He leads the league, and ranks fifth nationally, in rebounding this year pulling down 11.2 boards a game and is the only player in the SEC averaging a double-double this season. Saiz leads the SEC, and ranks fifth nationally, with 20 double-doubles this year and leads all active players in the conference with 29 career double-doubles. His 21 double-doubles this season is tied for the third most in the SEC over the last 20 years and an Ole Miss single-season record.
NCAA Rebounding Leaders
1. Angel Delgado, Seton Hall 13.1 PRG
2. Caleb Swanigan, Purdue 12.6 PRG
2. Steve Taylor Jr., Toledo 12.4 RPG
4. Rokas Gustys, Hofstra 12.1 PRG
5. Sebastian Saiz, Ole Miss 11.2 PRG
6. James Thompson IV, Eastern Mich. 11.2 RPG
7. Bryce Washington, ULL 11.2 RPG
8. Marquise Moore, George Mason 10.9 RPG
9. Aubrey Williams, Kennesaw St. 10.8 RPG
10. Alize Johnson, Missouri St. 10.6 RPG
SAIZ JOINS 1,000/900 CLUB
With 23 points and 10 rebounds against Mississippi State, senior F Sebastian Saiz became just the second player in Ole Miss history to eclipse 1,000 points and 900 rebounds in his career. Saiz is the 38th player in Ole Miss history to break 1,000 career points and the 10th under head coach Andy Kennedy. He is also the third player in school history to post 900 career rebounds and recently passed Walter Actwood for second on the Ole Miss career rebounding list with 981. Saiz and Murphy Holloway are the only players in Ole Miss history with 1,000 points and 900 rebounds. He is also the only player in Rebel history with 1,000 points, 900 boards and 100 blocked shots and just the 16th player in SEC history to reach the milestone joining conference legends like Glenn Davis (LSU), Shaquille O'Neal (LSU) and Kenny Walker (UK). With 19 more rebounds, he would became just the seventh player in league history with 1,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 100 blocked shots joining Ricky Brown (MSU), Leon Douglas (Alabama), Bobby Lee Hurt (Alabama), Lavon Mercer (UGA), O'Neal and Jarvis Varnado (MSU).
DEAN OF SEC COACHES
In his 11th season in the league, Ole Miss head coach Andy Kennedy is the Dean of SEC basketball coaches. Kennedy has faced 38 different head coaches in the SEC during his time in Oxford. He is also the longest tenured head coach in the league in both basketball and football having entered the league prior to Alabama football coach Nick Saban.
DAVIS LEADS OLE MISS COMEBACK OVER LSU
Sophomore G Terence Davis poured in a career high 33 points, with 22 coming in the second half, as Ole Miss erased an 11-point second half deficit to storm past LSU, 96-76. The Rebels ended the game on a 17-0 run, hitting 10 of their last 11 shots. Ole Miss closed out the game on a 42-12 streak to blow past the Tigers. Senior F Sebastian Saiz scored 15 points and grabbed six rebounds, while junior G Deandre Burnett also chipped in 15 points and added five assists. Senior G Rasheed Brooks scored nine points and posted a career high seven steals, as the Rebels tallied a season best 14 steals. Ole Miss also knocked down 18 of 20 attempts from the free throw line.
CONSISTENT WINNER
Andy Kennedy is one of nine active head coaches with 12 or more consecutive winning seasons to start a career. The list includes: Jim Boeheim (41), Roy Williams (29), Tom Izzo (22), Thad Matta (17), Mark Few (18), Jamie Dixon (14), Sean Miller (13) and Dave Rose (12).
KENNEDY'S FIRST 10 YEARS RANK AMONG ALL-TIME SEC GREATS ...
Last season, head coach Andy Kennedy moved past MSU's Rick Stansbury for the fourth-most wins by a head coach in their first 10 years who took over an SEC program. See the list below:
1. Joe B. Hall (Kentucky) - 227
2. Bill Donovan (Florida) - 226
3. Wimp Sanderson (Alabama) - 216
4. Andy Kennedy (Ole Miss) - 212
5. Rick Stansbury (Mississippi State) - 208
6. Mark Gottfried (Alabama) - 198
7. Kevin Stallings (Vanderbilt) - 189
8. Cliff Ellis (Auburn) - 186
Ray Mears (Tennessee) - 186
10. Don Devoe (Tennessee) - 185
11. John Brady (LSU) - 184
Hugh Durham (Georgia) - 184
13. Dale Brown (LSU) - 175
14. Roy Skinner (Vanderbilt) - 173
16. Babe McCarthy (Mississippi State) - 169
... AND HE IS CLIMBING UP THE 11-YEAR LIST
Kennedy is also fourth on the list for most wins by a coach in their first 11 years in the league after taking over an SEC program. See the list below:
1. Bill Donovan (Florida) - 261
2. Joe B. Hall (Kentucky) - 250
3. Wimp Sanderson (Alabama) - 239
4. Andy Kennedy (Ole Miss) - 233
5. Rick Stansbury (Mississippi State) - 231
6. Kevin Stallings (Vanderbilt) - 213
7. Mark Gottfried (Alabama) - 210
8. Don Devoe (Tennessee) - 204
9. Ray Mears (Tennessee) - 201
10. Hugh Durham (Georgia) - 199
11. Dale Brown (LSU) - 194
12. John Brady (LSU) - 192
13. C.M. Newtown (Alabama) - 193
14. Roy Skinner (Vanderbilt) - 188
15. Adolph Rupp (Kentucky) - 185
SERIES HISTORY VS. SYRACUSE
Saturday's game will be the first-ever meeting between the Rebels and the Orange. Ole Miss is 0-1 against ACC schools this season falling earlier this year at Virginia Tech and are 2-3 all time versus the ACC in the NIT, including a 2-2 mark on the road. Head coach Andy Kennedy is 1-2 all time against SU in his career, knocking off the Orangmen in Syracuse in his lone season as the Cincinnati head man in 2005-06.
REBELS VS. THE ACC
Ole Miss is 21-28 all time against the current members of the ACC. The Rebels have faced Clemson (2-3), Florida State (1-3), Georgia Tech (9-11), Louisville (2-1), Miami (1-3), North Carolina (1-1), N.C. State (1-1), Norte Dame (1-1), Pitt (0-1), UVA (1-1) and Virginia Tech (2-2).
BURNETT MAKING FREEBIES
Junior G Deandre Burnett made 25 consecutive free throws to start the season and finished just 12 shy of Dave Rhodes' school record. Burnett is 192 of 218 (.881) from the charity stripe this season, which ranks third in the SEC, and no player in the nation made more consecutive free throws to start the season. As a team, the Rebels ranked second in the league in SEC play making 75.9 percent of its attempts this year and are 296 of 380 (.779) from the line over the last 14 games.
REBELS CLEANING UP ON THE GLASS
The Rebels are second in the SEC pulling down 39.7 rebounds a game this year and are fourth in the league with a +3.2 rebounding margin. Ole Miss has only been outrebounded by 10 opponents this year and are cleaning up on the offensive glass pulling down 12.7 offensive rebounds a game, which ranks second in the league.
SAIZ POWERS REBELS OVER SOUTH CAROLINA ON SENIOR NIGHT
Senior F Sebastian Saiz posted his 19th double-double of the season with 21 points and 15 rebounds to lead Ole Miss past South Carolina, 75-70, on senior night. Freshman G Breein Tyree added 19 points for the Rebels, while junior F Justas Furmanavicius posted his first career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
REBELS RATE HIGHLY IN LATEST RPI RELEASE
Ole Miss checks in at No. 76 in the latest Ratings Percentage Index released by the NCAA, while Saturday's opponent Syracuse comes in at No. 84. Ole Miss is 9-13 against the RPI top 150 with wins over Vanderbilt (No. 38), South Carolina (No. 43), Monmouth (No. 49), Tennessee (No. 82), Auburn (No. 113), Memphis (No. 121) and MSU (No. 148). The Rebels' 13 losses this season have come against No. 4 Kentucky, No. 10 Florida, No. 11 Baylor, No. 25 Arkansas, No. 26 Creighton, No. 35 Middle Tennessee, No. 43 South Carolina, No. 47 Virginia Tech, No. 52 Georgia, No. 72 Tennessee, No. 78 Alabama and No. 93 Texas A&M. Ole Miss boasts the 44th toughest strength of schedule this season and the Rebels have played the 74th toughest non-conference schedule according to ESPN.com.
OLE MISS KNOCKS OFF MIZZOU
Senior G Deandre Burnett scored 28 points on 5 of 8 shooting from behind the arc and added five assists as Ole Miss knocked off Missouri 80-77. Burnett knocked down 13 of 14 free throw attempts in the win, as the Rebels hit 27 of 29 from the line as a team. Freshman G Breein Tyree added 15 points and senior F Sebastian Saiz chipped in 10 points and grabbed seven boards, as Ole Miss outrebounded the Tigers 38-28. The win was Ole Miss' seventh straight over Mizzou.
REBELS PULL OUT OVERTIME WIN AT MSU
Freshman G Breein Tyree scored a career-high 24 points, including 20 points in the second half and overtime, to help lift Ole Miss to an 87-82 overtime win at Mississippi State. It marked the Rebels' seventh victory in eight tries over MSU, which is the best streak over the Bulldogs since 1980-83. Tyree scored the first eight points in overtime and Ole Miss jumped out on a 10-0 run to start the extra period to secure the win. Senior F Sebastian Saiz posted his 18th double-double of the year with 23 points and 10 rebounds in the win.
REBELS ROUT BULLDOGS
Ole Miss routed Mississippi State 88-61 as four Rebels scored in double figures led by sophomore G Terence Davis with 18 points and senior F Sebastian Saiz with 17. It marked the largest margin of victory over MSU for the Rebels since 1951. Saiz posted his 15th double-double of the season with 17 points and 11 rebounds, while junior G Deandre Burnett added 16 points, five assists and a career-high four steals. Junior F Justas Furmanavicius chipped in six points and pulled down 10 boards as the Rebels posted a +13 rebounding margin and outscored the Bulldogs 44-28 in the paint.
DAVIS, SAIZ LEAD REBELS TO ROAD WIN AT MIZZOU
Senior F Sebastian Saiz picked up his 13th double-double of the year with 19 points and 10 rebounds and sophomore G Terence Davis recorded his second straight double-double 18 points and 11 rebounds as Ole Miss knocked off Missouri 75-71 on the road. Junior G Deandre Burnett added 14 points and hit three 3-pointers in his first action since the Georgia game.
REBELS STORM BACK FOR 10TH STRAIGHT OVER THE TIGERS
Ole Miss tied a school record with a 23-point comeback to knock off Auburn 90-84 for the 10th straight time. The Rebels overcame a 20-point halftime deficit and a 23-point second half deficit, which both tied Ole Miss' comeback victory at Alabama in 2010. Sophomore G Terence Davis scored a career-high 26 points, all in the second half, after playing just four minutes in the first half. Davis knocked down 11 of 13 shot from the field in the second half and pulled down six rebounds. Junior G Cullen Neal added 20 points, 15 coming in the second half, and hit 3 of 7 attempts from behind the arc. Junior Deandre Burnett chipped in 18 points and was a perfect 10 of 10 from the line, as the Rebels made 27 of 31 attempts from the line in the comeback. Ole Miss scored 63 points in the second half and shot 62.5 percent from the field.
SECOND HALF SURGE GIVE REBELS COMEBACK WIN AT VANDERBILT
Sophomore G Terence Davis and junior Deandre Burnett scored 17 points each as Ole Miss overcame a five-point halftime deficit to knock off Vanderbilt 81-74. Davis scored all 17 of his points in the second half to help Ole Miss to the come-from-behind victory. Ole Miss opened the second half with a 9-2 run take the lead for good. The Rebels knocked down 7 of 9 from behind the arc in the second half and out rebounded the Commodores 41-33. Ole Miss also forced 11 VU turnovers, while committing just eight. Junior F Justas Furmanavicius and freshman G Breein Tyree both added 11 points for the Rebels and senior F Sebastian Saiz recorded 16th double-double of the year with 16 rebounds and 10 points.
REBELS DROP NAIL BITER TO NO. 5 BAYLOR
Ole Miss dropped a nail biter 78-75 to No. 5 Baylor in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge. Senior F Sebastian Saiz posted his 14th double-double of the year with 20 points and 10 rebounds and freshman Breein Tyree added a career-high 20 points, including 18 in the second half. Ole Miss made 22 of 23 attempts (.957) at the line, which is the second-best free throw percentage as a team in a game with 20 or more attempts in school history. The Bears were the highest ranked non-conference opponent to visit Oxford since the Rebels hosted No. 5 Memphis in 1984.
REBELS RALLY FOR NINTH STRAIGHT OVER THE TIGERS
Ole Miss overcame an eight-point halftime deficit to knock off Auburn 88-85 on the road Saturday. It was the Rebels' ninth-straight win over Auburn, which is the most consecutive wins over an SEC opponent in school history besting a pair of eight game streak against LSU and Mississippi State. Senior F Sebastian Saiz posted his sixth straight double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds and junior G Deandre Burnett added a team-high 18 points and a career-best eight assists. Ole Miss forced 16 Auburn turnovers, recorded eight steals and six Rebels scored in double figures.
OLE MISS SECURES COMEBACK OVER VOLS
Senior F Sebastian Saiz and sophomore G Terence Davis each posted double-doubles to help erase a 13-point deficit in the second half as Ole Miss outlasted Tennessee 80-69. Davis scored a career-high 20 points and pulled down 11 boards, while Saiz added 17 points and 10 rebounds. Freshman G Breein Tyree and junior F Justas Furmanavicius both added a career-best 15 points. The Rebels held Tennessee without a field goal in the final 4:13 for their sixth win over the Vols in the last seven meetings.
