The University of Mississippi Athletics
Friday, November 15
Oxford, Miss.
6 PM
Ole Miss
3-0
85
vs
58
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Western Michigan
3-1
1
2
F
Western Michigan
32
26
58
Ole Miss
40
45
85
Rebels Dominate the Paint, Thump Broncos 85-58
11/15/2019 | 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
1-3-1 Zone Defense Flipped Game in Ole Miss’ Favor
OXFORD, Miss. – Controlling the paint and using a stifling 1-3-1 zone defense, the Ole Miss men's basketball team brushed off a slow start to rumble past Western Michigan 85-58 Friday night at The Pavilion. The Rebels (3-0) handed the Broncos (3-1) their first loss of the season by holding a 44-24 advantage in the paint and forcing 19 turnovers.
Senior guard Breein Tyree scored a team-high 20 points for his second consecutive 20-point game, while adding four rebounds and three steals. His backcourt mate Devontae Shuler was close behind, tallying 16 points along with a career-high three blocks on the other end of the floor. Sophomore Luis Rodriguez reached double figures for the first time in his young career with 10 points and a team-best six rebounds. Newcomers Sammy Hunter and Khadim Sy added eight points apiece, the most they've scored as Rebels.
Once again, Ole Miss shot over 50 percent, going 32 of 61 from the floor (52.5 percent). The Rebels recorded 25 points off turnovers, and the SEC's leaders in steals ended up with 10 on the night.
Sticking on the defensive side of the court, Ole Miss limited Western Michigan to a 33.9 percent (20 of 59) clip, including just 5 of 32 (15.6 percent) from beyond the arc. Coming into the game averaging 25.3 ppg, Preseason First Team All-MAC guard Michael Flowers was held to only 14 points on 4 of 15 shooting (1 of 9 from three). Brandon Johnson paced the Broncos with 21 points.
The Rebels got off to a sluggish start, as the Broncos raced out to a 7-2 lead that forced head coach Kermit Davis to call timeout less than four minutes into the game. Western Michigan increased its advantage to seven, 12-5, behind seven points from Flowers. It was an eight-point game before a KJ Buffen jumper allowed the Rebels to jump into their 1-3-1 defense. Shuler finished an old-fashioned three-point play and added two more free throws to get Ole Miss within one. The junior guard finished a 7-0 run of his own to give Ole Miss its first lead of the contest, 17-16.
Western Michigan continued to turn the ball over against the 1-3-1, the Rebels' run continued. Sixteen straight points turned Ole Miss' eight-point deficit into an eight-point lead, 24-16 , holding the Broncos scoreless for five minutes and forcing four turnovers during that span.
Johnson scored 11 of WMU's next 13 points, including nine straight, to get the visitors within four. However, the Rebels doubled their lead, 40-32, to head into the locker room with the momentum. Ole Miss connected on half of its shots (14 of 28) in the opening 20 minutes, and Tyree's 12 points led the way. Sy matched his career high in the first half with eight points.
Despite WMU hitting a three to start the second half, eight consecutive points by the red and blue pushed the cushion to 13. Another 8-0 run in 73 seconds made it a 60-39 game. Ole Miss maintained a comfortable lead for the rest of the contest and outscored Western Michigan 45-26 in the second half to remain unbeaten on the season and hand the Broncos their first loss.
Ole Miss will end its four-game homestand Tuesday night (Nov. 19) as Seattle travels more than 2,000 miles to face the Rebels in The Pavilion. Tipoff for the NIT Tip-Off campus game is slated for 6:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network+. The Redhawks are 2-2 on the season ahead of Saturday's game at Syracuse.
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
Senior guard Breein Tyree scored a team-high 20 points for his second consecutive 20-point game, while adding four rebounds and three steals. His backcourt mate Devontae Shuler was close behind, tallying 16 points along with a career-high three blocks on the other end of the floor. Sophomore Luis Rodriguez reached double figures for the first time in his young career with 10 points and a team-best six rebounds. Newcomers Sammy Hunter and Khadim Sy added eight points apiece, the most they've scored as Rebels.
Once again, Ole Miss shot over 50 percent, going 32 of 61 from the floor (52.5 percent). The Rebels recorded 25 points off turnovers, and the SEC's leaders in steals ended up with 10 on the night.
Sticking on the defensive side of the court, Ole Miss limited Western Michigan to a 33.9 percent (20 of 59) clip, including just 5 of 32 (15.6 percent) from beyond the arc. Coming into the game averaging 25.3 ppg, Preseason First Team All-MAC guard Michael Flowers was held to only 14 points on 4 of 15 shooting (1 of 9 from three). Brandon Johnson paced the Broncos with 21 points.
The Rebels got off to a sluggish start, as the Broncos raced out to a 7-2 lead that forced head coach Kermit Davis to call timeout less than four minutes into the game. Western Michigan increased its advantage to seven, 12-5, behind seven points from Flowers. It was an eight-point game before a KJ Buffen jumper allowed the Rebels to jump into their 1-3-1 defense. Shuler finished an old-fashioned three-point play and added two more free throws to get Ole Miss within one. The junior guard finished a 7-0 run of his own to give Ole Miss its first lead of the contest, 17-16.
Western Michigan continued to turn the ball over against the 1-3-1, the Rebels' run continued. Sixteen straight points turned Ole Miss' eight-point deficit into an eight-point lead, 24-16 , holding the Broncos scoreless for five minutes and forcing four turnovers during that span.
Johnson scored 11 of WMU's next 13 points, including nine straight, to get the visitors within four. However, the Rebels doubled their lead, 40-32, to head into the locker room with the momentum. Ole Miss connected on half of its shots (14 of 28) in the opening 20 minutes, and Tyree's 12 points led the way. Sy matched his career high in the first half with eight points.
Despite WMU hitting a three to start the second half, eight consecutive points by the red and blue pushed the cushion to 13. Another 8-0 run in 73 seconds made it a 60-39 game. Ole Miss maintained a comfortable lead for the rest of the contest and outscored Western Michigan 45-26 in the second half to remain unbeaten on the season and hand the Broncos their first loss.
Ole Miss will end its four-game homestand Tuesday night (Nov. 19) as Seattle travels more than 2,000 miles to face the Rebels in The Pavilion. Tipoff for the NIT Tip-Off campus game is slated for 6:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network+. The Redhawks are 2-2 on the season ahead of Saturday's game at Syracuse.
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 Rebels have handed all three of their opponents their first loss of the season.
- Ole Miss scored more than 20 points off turnovers for the third straight game, tallying 25 on the night.
- The Rebels dominated the paint 44-24.
- With 20 points, Breein Tyree recorded his 24th career 20-point game and jumped to 26th on the Ole Miss all-time scoring list, moving past Walter Actwood (1,216 points) and Dwayne Curtis (1,232 points).
- Along with 16 points, four rebounds and three assists, Devontae Shuler registered a career-high three blocks.
- Luis Rodriguez reached double figures for the first time in his career with 10 points, also matching his career high in rebounds with a team-high six.
- With eight points apiece, freshman Sammy Hunter and junior Khadim Sy produced career highs in scoring.
Team Stats
WMU
OM
FG%
.339
.525
3FG%
.156
.333
FT%
.765
.800
RB
33
38
TO
19
14
STL
5
10
Game Leaders
Pts
20
FGM
7
3FGM
1
FTM
5
Pts
16
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
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