Men's Hoops Battles Oklahoma State for NIT Tip-Off Championship

			OLE MISS (5-1, 0-0 SEC) vs. OKLAHOMA STATE (6-0, 0-0 Big 12) Friday, November 29 • 8:30 PM • Brooklyn, N.Y. Barclays Center (19,000)
Watch • Listen • Live Stats • Buy Tickets Ole Miss Game Notes (PDF) • Oklahoma State Game Notes • SEC Game Notes (PDF)

GAME 7 - NIT TIP-OFF CHAMPIONSHIP
Date: Friday, Nov. 29, 2019
Time: 8:30 p.m. CT
Location: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Arena: Barclays Center (19,000)
Television: ESPN2
   Doug Sherman, play-by-play
   Fran Fraschilla, analyst
Radio: Ole Miss Sports Network
   Eli Savoie, play-by-play
   Marc Dukes, analyst
Live Video: ESPN.com/ESPN app
Live Audio: OleMissSports.com/TuneIn app
Series: Oklahoma State leads 2-0
Last Meeting: Oklahoma State won 59-42
   Dec. 28, 1953
   Oklahoma City, Okla.

TIPOFF TIDBITS
- The Rebels are looking to win their fourth regular season tournament over the past 14 seasons.
- Ole Miss is making its first appearance in the NIT Tip-Off but second appearance in Brooklyn; the Rebels won the 2013 Barclays Center Classic and hold a 3-0 record all-time in the Barclays Center.
- The Rebels are coming off a 74-72 victory over Penn State, rallying from 21 points down in the second half to take their first lead with 14 seconds left in the game.
- The epic comeback was the largest Ole Miss second half comeback since overcoming a 23-point deficit at home against Auburn (Feb. 11, 2017).
- A native of Somerset, New Jersey, 50 miles from Brooklyn, senior Breein Tyree made his return to the northeast and scored a team-high 18 points versus Penn State; all 18 points were scored in the second half.
- Bryce Williams scored a career-high 15 points in the win over the Nittany Lions, going perfect from beyond the arc (6 of 6) and at the free throw line (3 of 3); Williams made the game-winning free throws with 13 seconds left.
- In the win over Penn State, KJ Buffen recorded career highs in rebounds (9), assists (6) and steals (4).
- The Rebels rank fourth in the country in three-point field goal percentage defense (23.5) and 26th nationally in steals per game (9.8).
- Blake Hinson has averaged 16.0 ppg over the last two games, his first two of the season.
- Breein Tyree is the SEC's leading active scorer with 1,286 career points, which also ranks 22nd in Ole Miss history.
- Bryce Williams is averaging 10.0 ppg over the last three games, including a perfect 13 of 13 from the line.
- The Rebels are facing Oklahoma State for the first time in 66 years.
- Ole Miss has made 12 postseason NIT appearances, including a pair of trips to the final four in New York (2008, 2010).
- The Rebels are playing in a regular season tournament for the 16th consecutive season, having won at least one game in all 16 tournaments.

SEC LEADERS
- Ole Miss ranks second in the SEC in 3-point field goal percentage defense (23.5 and steals per game (9.8).
- The Rebels rank third in free throw percentage (75.0) and turnover margin (+2.3).
- KJ Buffen and Devontae Shuler rank third in the SEC averaging 2.2 steals per game apiece.
- Buffen ranks third in defensive rebounds per game (6.0).

IN THE NATIONAL RANKS
- The Rebels rank fourth nationally in 3-point field goal percentage defense (23.5).
- Ole Miss ranks 26th nationally with 9.8 steals per game.

SCOUTING OKLAHOMA STATE
Oklahoma State enters Friday's championship game with a 6-0 record following an 86-72 win over Syracuse. Sophomore guard Isaac Likekele, the team's leading scorer at 14.5 ppg, scored 26 points to lead the Cowboys to victory. Fellow sophomore Yor Anei tallied 19 points and eight rebounds in the win as well. Anei is right behind Likekele in scoring (12.7 ppg), while leading the team in rebounds (7.3 per game). Friday's championship contest will be a matchup between two of the nation's best in defending the three-pointer. While Ole Miss ranks fourth in the nation by holding opponents to a 23.5 percent clip from long distance, OSU's 25.7 three-point field goal percentage defense ranks 16th nationally. Mike Boynton is in his third season as Oklahoma State's head coach after spending three seasons at Stephen F. Austin.

SERIES HISTORY
The Rebels are facing the Cowboys for the first time in 66 years. Ole Miss lost both matchups to Oklahoma State, once in 1948 and the other in 1953 when the Cowboys were known as Oklahoma A&M.

REBELS RALLY FROM 21 DOWN TO BEAT PENN STATE
Trailing by 21 in the second half, the Rebels rallied to knock off unbeaten Penn State 74-72 Wednesday evening (Nov. 27) in the NIT Tip-Off semifinals. Junior guard Bryce Williams had ice in his veins, making two free throws with 13 seconds left, and the Rebels came up with one more big defensive stop to complete the come-from-behind victory. A steal in the backcourt by sophomore KJ Buffen led to a Williams offensive rebound and foul by Penn State. Prior to that, senior Breein Tyree scored five points to tie the contest on two occasions with less than 66 seconds to go. After going scoreless in the first half, Tyree exploded for 18 second half points to lead Ole Miss in scoring. Blake Hinson added 17 points, sparking the comeback alongside Williams. Buffen stuffed the stat sheet with 13 points to go along with career highs in rebounds (9), assists (6) and steals (4). Khadim Sy added eight points and a career-high eight rebounds. On the defensive side of the floor, Ole Miss kept up as one of the nation's best teams in defending the 3-pointer as Penn State finished 5 of 19 (26.3 percent) from long distance. Outscoring PSU 47-29 in the second half, the Rebels held the opposition to a 35.7 field goal percentage (10 of 28) and only committed one turnover of their own over the final 20 minutes.

AN EPIC COMEBACK
With 16:23 to go in the game, Ole Miss trailed Penn State 53-32. However, the Rebels continued to fight and climbed all the way back to tie the contest with one minute to go. The two free throws by Bryce Williams with 13 seconds left gave Ole Miss its first lead of the game, one they would not let slip away. The 21-point comeback was the largest second half rally since the Rebels overcame a 23-point deficit at home against Auburn (Feb. 11, 2017).

REBELS VS. BIG 12
Ole Miss is 16-28 all-time versus current members of the Big 12, having faced every current member. Along with battling Oklahoma State twice, the Rebels have also faced Baylor (1-2), Iowa State (0-2), Kansas (0-1), Kansas State (3-2), Oklahoma (2-2), TCU (3-2), Texas (6-9), Texas Tech (1-4) and West Virginia (0-2).

REBELS IN REGULAR SEASON TOURNAMENTS
Ole Miss is playing in a regular season tournament (SEC Tournament not included) for the 16th consecutive season. The Rebels have traveled all over the Western Hemisphere for these tournaments, including destinations outside the continental U.S. such as Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Ole Miss has won three tournaments during that stretch (2007 San Juan Shootout, 2013 Barclays Center Classic, 2014 Emerald Coast Classic), while winning at least one game in all 16 tournaments. Last year, the Rebels went down to Destin, Florida to compete in the Emerald Coast Classic. Ole Miss finished runner-up to Cincinnati after defeating Baylor in the semifinals.

BACK IN BROOKLYN
The Rebels are back in Brooklyn, competing in a tournament at the Barclays Center for the second time. The first occurrence was a successful one, as Ole Miss defeated Georgia Tech and Penn State to capture the 2013 Barclays Center Classic. Wednesday's win over Penn State kept the Rebels unbeaten in the Barclays Center (3-0).

OLE MISS IN THE NIT
While the Rebels are making their first appearance in the NIT Tip-Off, they are no strangers to the postseason NIT. Ole Miss has made the postseason NIT 12 times, compiling a 15-12 record (.556) in the tournament. Two of those trips (2008, 2010) ended in runs to the NIT Final Four in Madison Square Garden. The last time the Rebels played in the NIT (2016-17), they upset Syracuse in the Carrier Dome on their way to the quarterfinals.

RETURNING TO THE NORTHEAST
Senior guard Breein Tyree is a native of Somerset, New Jersey, located just 50 miles from Brooklyn. Tyree attended St. Joseph's High School alongside NBA players Karl-Anthony Towns and Wade Baldwin IV. He made his return a memorable one. After going scoreless in the first half, Tyree helped bring Ole Miss back from 21 points down with 18 second half points. The senior scored five of the Rebels' final seven points, converting an old-fashioned three-point play as well as a stepback jumper; both tied the game late.

WILLIAMS HELPS WILL THE REBELS TO VICTORY
Junior college transfer Bryce Williams had a breakout game to help the Rebels come back and beat Penn State Wednesday evening (Nov. 27). The Tampa, Florida, native scored a career-high 15 points, making all three of his three-point attempts. Williams was perfect at the line as well, going 6 of 6 that included the two game-winning free throws with 13 seconds left. Over the last three games, he has emerged as a scoring threat off the bench with 10.0 ppg. Williams has also made all 13 free throw attempts during that span.

LOSING LUIS
Luis Rodriguez suffered a foot injury during shootaround Wednesday morning (Nov. 27), ahead of the Rebels' game against Penn State in the NIT Tip-Off at the Barclays Center. Rodriguez will have surgery on his left foot Sunday and is expected to miss 6-8 weeks. After playing in 25 games as a freshman, Rodriguez saw an expanded role to begin his sophomore season. The Los Angeles, California, native started each of the first five games for the Rebels and averaged 5.8 points per game. His 5.2 rebounds per game and 2.6 assists per game ranked second on the team in both categories.

BLAKE IS BACK
In the Rebels' narrow 87-86 loss at No. 16 Memphis (Nov. 23), sophomore Blake Hinson made his 2019-20 season debut after missing the first four games due to a blood abnormality discovered during the offseason. The Deltona, Florida, native has provided a spark since his return, averaging 16.0 over the two games. He tallied 15 points against the Tigers before helping rally the Rebels in the win over Penn State. The sophomore tallied 17 points over 30 minutes before fouling out. Hinson brings experience and added depth to the Rebels after starting 31 games as freshman (third most by an Ole Miss freshman over the past two decades). In his first year as a Rebel, Hinson averaged 8.3 ppg and 2.9 rpg. He reached double figures in 10 games and shot 40.6 percent from the floor. His 26 points in last season's win at No. 14 Mississippi State was the most by an Ole Miss freshman since 2011.

BEYOND THE ARC
Ole Miss is one of the nation's best in defending the long ball, holding its opposition to a 23.5 percent clip from three-point land. That mark ranks second in the SEC as well as fourth in the nation. Opponents are 28 of 119 from beyond the arc, while the Rebels have gone 41 of 116 (35.3 percent). Over the last two games, Ole Miss has shot 44.2 percent (19 of 43) from long distance.

VETERANS LEAD THE WAY
While several newcomers have made immediate impacts to expand Ole Miss' depth, the Rebels are led by a veteran quartet averaging double figures in scoring. Senior guard Breein Tyree (16.5 ppg), sophomore Blake Hinson (16.0 ppg), sophomore forward KJ Buffen (13.8 ppg) and junior Devontae Shuler (10.5 ppg) have accounted for 61.7 percent of the team's scoring this season. Tyree ranks 11th in the league in scoring, while Buffen is the team's leading rebounder. Shuler and Buffen tie for third in the SEC with 2.2 steals per game. Since returning from injury, Hinson has put together a pair of double-digit scoring performances while shooting 58.3 percent (7 of 12) from beyond the arc.

BUFFEN BREAKS OUT
KJ Buffen was a primary bench player during his freshman campaign, but the 6-foot-7 forward is to off to superb start to his sophomore season. Starting all six games, already surpassing his amount of starts as a freshman (2), Buffen is averaging 13.8 ppg along with a team-best 7.8 rpg. The Gainesville, Georgia, native is shooting lights out from the field as his 61.4 field goal percentage that ranks fourth in the SEC. His 7.8 rebounding average is eighth in the conference. Buffen tallied a career-high 23 points in a win over Norfolk State (Nov. 12). He added career highs in rebounds (9), assists (6) and steals (4) in the incredible comeback win over Penn State (Nov. 27). After averaging only 6.0 ppg and 4.4 rpg in his first season as a Rebel, Buffen has emerged as one of the team's best players to begin the 2019-20 season.

CLIMBING THE CAREER CHARTS
In his final year as a Rebel, senior guard Breein Tyree ranks 22nd on the all-time scoring list with 1,286 points. That career output leads all active players in the SEC. The Somerset, New Jersey, native scored 18 points against Penn State (Nov. 27) to pass Sebastian Saiz (1,273), Zach Graham (1,274) and tie Jason Smith (1,286) on the all-time scoring list. Next on the list is the dynamic duo of Marshall Henderson (1,293) and Stefan Moody (1,294). If he matches his scoring output from a season ago, he'll end his career in the top 10. Through 105 games in an Ole Miss uniform, Tyree has knocked down 150 three-pointers to sit 11th in the program's rankings. He is just two three-pointers away from cracking the top 10.

FORMER REBEL BASKETBALL ALL-AMERICAN KEITH CARTER NAMED OLE MISS ATHLETICS DIRECTOR
Rebel Basketball now has one of its own leading the Ole Miss Athletic Department. Keith Carter was named as the new Ole Miss Athletics Director (Nov. 22), 20 years after leading Ole Miss Basketball to the top of the Southeastern Conference. A four-year starter at Ole Miss, Carter helped the Rebels to a pair of SEC Western Division titles in 1997 and 1998 and earned All-America honors after his senior season in 1999. The four-year starter received All-SEC first and second team honors in 1998 and 1999. His 1,682 career points ranks seventh all-time, and his 249 three-pointers set a school record at the time and still ranks fourth in the Rebel record book. He also won a gold medal as a member of the U.S. national team at the 1998 Goodwill Games and played professional basketball in Italy from 2001 until 2008. Following his playing career, Carter returned to his alma mater to work for the University Foundation before moving to the Ole Miss Athletics Foundation.

YEAR TWO OF THE DAVIS ERA
Kermit Davis is in his second season at the helm of Ole Miss Basketball. A nine-time conference coach of the year, Davis is 38th among active Division I head coaches with 428 career wins over 22 seasons, including stints at MT, Idaho and Texas A&M. In 25 seasons as a college basketball head coach, he has amassed 494 wins. Davis wasted no time making an impact in Oxford. With the Rebels coming off a last-place finish in 2017-18, the media picked Ole Miss to land at the bottom of the SEC standings again in 2018-19. However, the Rebels posted a 20-13 record to earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in four years. With a return to March Madness for the sixth time in his career, Davis joined a list of 63 coaches in college basketball history to take three different schools to the NCAA Tournament. Davis was named SEC Coach of the Year by his peers and the Associated Press, earning conference coach of the year accolades for the ninth time in his career. He became the sixth Ole Miss coach to earn SEC Coach of the Year honors, while joining Andy Kennedy as the only Rebel coaches to collect the award in their first year in Oxford.

TYREE LEADS THE WAY
After earning First Team All-SEC accolades and leading Ole Miss back to the NCAA Tournament a season ago, Breein Tyree earned several preseason accolades as a senior. Along with being named Preseason First Team All-SEC, the Rebel is one of 20 guards nationwide to be selected to the Jerry West Award Watch List (shooting guard of the year). Sporting News also tabbed him a Preseason Third Team All-American. The SEC's leading returning scorer heading into the season, Tyree averaged 17.9 ppg as a junior to rank third in the conference. He bumped his scoring average to 19.1 ppg in conference play, increasing his output from non-conference to SEC action for the third consecutive year. Last season, Tyree was the only player in the SEC to rank in the conference's top 10 in scoring (3rd-17.9 ppg), free throw percentage (3rd-83.1), three-pointers made (7th-2.1 per game) and field goal percentage (10th-45.9).

SHULER TABBED PRESEASON SECOND TEAM ALL-SEC
While Breein Tyree was tabbed Preseason First Team All-SEC, the conference coaches named Devontae Shuler Preseason Second Team All-SEC. Ole Miss was one of five schools to have multiple selections, joining Florida, Kentucky, LSU and Tennessee. Shuler had a breakout sophomore season under first year head coach Kermit Davis. Making the transition to point guard, he averaged 10.3 ppg, 4.2 rpg and 3.0 apg (second on team). The Irmo, South Carolina, native ranked sixth in the SEC with 1.7 steals per game and eighth in assist/turnover ratio (1.7). His 56 steals were the most ever by an Ole Miss sophomore, the seventh-most by any Rebel in a single season. Shuler had one of the nation's biggest increases in three-point field goal percentage, going from a 25.9 percent clip as a freshman to a team-best 40.2 percent a season ago. He also knocked down 82.3 percent (51 of 62) of his free throw attempts.

YOUNG SQUAD
With Breein Tyree as the lone senior, Ole Miss is one of 27 teams in the country to have either one or zero seniors on the roster. In contrast, the Rebels have the fifth-most freshmen on a Division I roster. Ole Miss is one of only eight teams nationwide to have at least seven freshmen.

School	Number of Freshmen
Navy	11
Utah	11
Air Force	10
TCU	10
Ole Miss	7
James Madison	7
LMU	7
Nebraska	7

TD TO THE NBA
The Rebels are without Second Team All-SEC guard Terence Davis, who finished his career ranked 12th on the program's all-time scoring list with 1,512 points. After going undrafted, Davis turned heads in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas and quickly earned a multi-year deal with the reigning champion Toronto Raptors. Davis has become a regular in the Raptors' rotation to start the NBA season. The Southaven, Mississippi, native matched LeBron James with 13 points in the Raptors' win over the Lakers (Nov. 10). Last week (Nov. 19), Davis recorded NBA career highs in points (19) and rebounds (8) to help Toronto take down the Orlando Magic at home.

NEXT ON THE HARDWOOD
After enjoying Thanksgiving in the Big Apple, Ole Miss returns home to begin the month of December. The Rebels' difficult schedule continues by hosting Butler inside The Pavilion at Ole Miss (Dec. 3). Receiving votes in both national polls, the Bulldogs are 7-0 and could be ranked by the time the new polls come out on Monday. Tipoff for the big non-conference matchup is slated for 6 p.m. CT on SEC Network.

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Players Mentioned

KJ Buffen

Terence Davis

Blake Hinson

Luis Rodriguez

Devontae Shuler

Khadim Sy

Breein Tyree

Bryce Williams

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