The University of Mississippi Athletics
Tuesday, November 12
Oxford, Miss.
6:30 PM
Ole Miss
2-0
68
vs
55
Norfolk State
2-1
1
2
F
Norfolk State
35
20
55
Ole Miss
40
28
68
Ole Miss Downs Norfolk State Behind Strong Veteran Play
11/12/2019 | Men's Basketball
Box Score<i class="icon-paper"></i> Box Score (PDF)<i class="icon-video"></i> Highlights<i class="icon-camera"></i> Photos<i class="icon-video"></i> Kermit Davis Press Conference<i class="icon-comment"></i> Postgame Quotes
Buffen, Shuler, Tyree Combine for 56 Points
OXFORD, Miss. – The trio of KJ Buffen, Devontae Shuler and Breein Tyree outscored Norfolk State by themselves, combining for 56 points in Ole Miss Basketball's 68-55 win Tuesday night at The Pavilion. On the other side of the floor, the Rebels (2-0) limited a team averaging 96.5 ppg to a 32.7 percent (17 of 52) clip from the floor thanks in large part to their 1-3-1 zone defense.
Buffen tallied a career-high 23 points and matched his best night on the glass with nine rebounds to lead Ole Miss in the win. The Gainesville, Georgia, native could not be stopped in the second half, scoring 15 points over the final 20 points. Tyree added 21 points for his 23rd career 20-point game, while Shuler recorded 12 points to go along with team highs in assists (5) and steals (4).
As a squad, the Rebels shot 51.0 percent (26 of 51) and dominated the paint 38-20. Defensively, Ole Miss recorded 12 steals and forced 17 turnovers to lead to 24 points. Just like on the offensive side of the court, the veterans paced the Rebels on defense. Along with Shuler's team-high four steals, Buffen and Tyree collected three each.
Devante Carter scored 12 points off the bench for the Spartans (2-1), while Jermaine Bishop and Joe Bryant added 11 apiece.
Ole Miss held an early 11-7 advantage before a 9-0 run by Norfolk State flipped the script into the visitors' favor. The Spartans maintained the lead before Shuler drained his second of back-to-back threes with three minutes left in the first half, pushing the Rebels back in front, 32-31. Ole Miss closed the half on a 14-5 run, turning a four-point deficit into a five-point lead, 40-35.
The starting backcourt of Shuler and Tyree combined for 24 of the Rebels' 40 first half points, tallying 12 points apiece. The Rebels connected on 51.7 percent (15 of 29) of their first half shots, including a quartet of three-pointers. Ole Miss took advantage of Norfolk State's six turnovers, converting them into 12 points.
Back-to-back NSU turnovers led to a pair of Ole Miss buckets, nearly doubling the lead to 44-35 and forcing the Spartans to take a timeout just 44 seconds into the second half. Coming out of the timeout, Norfolk State hit a three before both teams went through a multi-minute drought. Despite going scoreless for nearly five minutes, the Rebels stayed out in front thanks to their defense and keeping the Spartans from finding the bottom of the net. A Tyree three broke the dry spell to push the cushion back to nine, 47-38.
Norfolk State got within five before seven straight points by the Rebels bumped the margin to a dozen. Behind the play of Buffen and Tyree, a duo that scored 26 of Ole Miss' 28 second half points, the lead was never in doubt for the remainder of the contest. The Rebels held the Spartans to 24.0 percent (6 of 25) shooting over the final 20 minutes, securing the 13-point win.
Ole Miss remains at home for its next contest. The day before the Ole Miss football team battles No. 1 LSU in the final home game of its season, the basketball Rebels square off against Western Michigan (Nov. 15). The game will be the back end of a doubleheader with the Ole Miss women's basketball team battling New Orleans to begin the day. Tipoff for the men's game is slated for 6 p.m. CT on SEC Network+.
For the latest news and updates regarding Ole Miss Men's Basketball, follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissMBB, on Facebook at Ole Miss Men's Basketball and on Instagram at olemissmbb.
TIP-INS
Buffen tallied a career-high 23 points and matched his best night on the glass with nine rebounds to lead Ole Miss in the win. The Gainesville, Georgia, native could not be stopped in the second half, scoring 15 points over the final 20 points. Tyree added 21 points for his 23rd career 20-point game, while Shuler recorded 12 points to go along with team highs in assists (5) and steals (4).
As a squad, the Rebels shot 51.0 percent (26 of 51) and dominated the paint 38-20. Defensively, Ole Miss recorded 12 steals and forced 17 turnovers to lead to 24 points. Just like on the offensive side of the court, the veterans paced the Rebels on defense. Along with Shuler's team-high four steals, Buffen and Tyree collected three each.
Devante Carter scored 12 points off the bench for the Spartans (2-1), while Jermaine Bishop and Joe Bryant added 11 apiece.
Ole Miss held an early 11-7 advantage before a 9-0 run by Norfolk State flipped the script into the visitors' favor. The Spartans maintained the lead before Shuler drained his second of back-to-back threes with three minutes left in the first half, pushing the Rebels back in front, 32-31. Ole Miss closed the half on a 14-5 run, turning a four-point deficit into a five-point lead, 40-35.
The starting backcourt of Shuler and Tyree combined for 24 of the Rebels' 40 first half points, tallying 12 points apiece. The Rebels connected on 51.7 percent (15 of 29) of their first half shots, including a quartet of three-pointers. Ole Miss took advantage of Norfolk State's six turnovers, converting them into 12 points.
Back-to-back NSU turnovers led to a pair of Ole Miss buckets, nearly doubling the lead to 44-35 and forcing the Spartans to take a timeout just 44 seconds into the second half. Coming out of the timeout, Norfolk State hit a three before both teams went through a multi-minute drought. Despite going scoreless for nearly five minutes, the Rebels stayed out in front thanks to their defense and keeping the Spartans from finding the bottom of the net. A Tyree three broke the dry spell to push the cushion back to nine, 47-38.
Norfolk State got within five before seven straight points by the Rebels bumped the margin to a dozen. Behind the play of Buffen and Tyree, a duo that scored 26 of Ole Miss' 28 second half points, the lead was never in doubt for the remainder of the contest. The Rebels held the Spartans to 24.0 percent (6 of 25) shooting over the final 20 minutes, securing the 13-point win.
Ole Miss remains at home for its next contest. The day before the Ole Miss football team battles No. 1 LSU in the final home game of its season, the basketball Rebels square off against Western Michigan (Nov. 15). The game will be the back end of a doubleheader with the Ole Miss women's basketball team battling New Orleans to begin the day. Tipoff for the men's game is slated for 6 p.m. CT on SEC Network+.
For the latest news and updates regarding Ole Miss Men's Basketball, follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissMBB, on Facebook at Ole Miss Men's Basketball and on Instagram at olemissmbb.
TIP-INS
- The veteran trio of KJ Buffen (23), Breein Tyree (21) and Devontae Shuler (12) combined for 56 of the Rebels' 68 points.
- Ole Miss held Norfolk State, a team averaging 96.5 ppg coming into the night, to 55 points.
- The Rebels scored 24 points off 17 Norfolk State turnovers.
- Buffen scored a career-high 23 points and tied his career high with nine rebounds; it eclipsed his previous best of 17 points at Florida last season (Jan. 30).
- With 21 points, Tyree recorded the 23rd 20-point game of his career.
- Tyree passed Rod Barnes (1,201) for 28th on the program's all-time scoring list; Tyree now has 1,214 in 101 games as a Rebel.
- Buffen and Tyree scored 26 of the team's 28 second half points.
- Devontae Shuler scored all 12 of his points in the first half, while posting team highs in assists (5) and steals (4).
- Freshman Sammy Hunter scored the first points of his career.
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Team Stats
NSUM
OM
FG%
.327
.510
3FG%
.238
.333
FT%
.762
.647
RB
33
35
TO
17
13
STL
8
12
Game Leaders
Pts
21
FGM
8
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
5
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's BasketballGuard
/ Men's BasketballGuard
/ Men's BasketballPRESSER | AJ Storr (10-09-25)
Thursday, October 09
PRESSER | Chris Beard (10-09-25)
Thursday, October 09
PRESSER | Ilias Kamardine (09-02-25)
Tuesday, September 02
PRESSER | Chris Beard (09-02-25)
Tuesday, September 02