The University of Mississippi Athletics
Friday, November 8
Oxford, Miss.
6 PM
Ole Miss
1-0
71
vs
43
Arkansas State
1-1
1
2
F
Arkansas State
19
24
43
Ole Miss
39
32
71
Defense Leads Ole Miss Hoops to Season-Opening Win
11/8/2019 | Men's Basketball
Box Score<i class="icon-paper"></i> Box Score (PDF)<i class="icon-video"></i> Highlights<i class="icon-video"></i> Kermit Davis Press Conference<i class="icon-comment"></i> Postgame Quotes
Rebels Force 23 Turnovers in 71-43 Victory
OXFORD, Miss. – The Ole Miss men's basketball team tipped off the 2019-20 season in style, holding an opponent to its lowest output in five years. Forcing 23 turnovers and allowing only 15 made buckets, the Rebels (1-0) dominated Arkansas State in a 71-43 victory Friday night at The Pavilion.
Beginning year two of the Kermit Davis era, the Rebels posted their best defensive game under the head coach. The Red Wolves (1-1) were limited to a 32.6 percent (15 of 46) clip from the floor, which included zero second chance points. Ole Miss held a 12-0 in second chance points, while dominating the glass 40-28.
Junior guard Devontae Shuler scored a game-high 20 points to lead Ole Miss on the offensive side of the court. The Irmo, South Carolina, native made seven of his 11 shot attempts and added a trio of rebounds to go along with two steals. Right behind Shuler was sophomore forward KJ Buffen, who tallied 16 rebounds with a career-high nine rebounds to fall just shy of a double-double. Classmate Luis Rodriguez filled the stat sheet despite only five points, tallying career highs in rebounds (6) and steals (3).
Nine Rebels made their debut during the contest. Junior college transfer Khadim Sy, earning a start, led all Ole Miss newcomers with eight points.
Canberk Kus and J.J. Matthews paced Arkansas State with 10 points apiece. The duo combined for eight of the Red Wolves' 15 made baskets throughout the night.
Arkansas State made the first bucket of the contest, a three-pointer, causing Davis to call timeout just 43 seconds into the contest. The Red Wolves held a 4-1 lead before Ole Miss scored 12 unanswered points to force the visitors to use one of their own timeouts. Buffen, Shuler and Austin Crowley connected on triple tries to make it a 13-4 ballgame.
The Rebels expanded the lead behind intense defense. A 22-5 run ballooned the advantage to 14 with Arkansas State turning the ball over 11 times in the first 13 minutes. Just like in the exhibition game, Buffen got off to a fast start and was the first Rebel to reach double figures. The Gainesville, Georgia, native made his first four shots for 11 of the Rebels' first 28 points.
Another double-digit Ole Miss scoring frenzy, this time a 10-0 run, made it a 21-point contest. Shuler matched Buffen with 11 first half points, and the Rebels went into the locker room with a 39-19 advantage. Ole Miss nearly caused as many turnovers as points allowed, as the Red Wolves coughed up the ball 16 times over the first 20 minutes.
Ole Miss brought the pressure out of the halftime break, holding the Red Wolves without a bucket for the first 3:30 of the second half. An 11-2 run pushed the Rebels ahead 50-21, their largest lead of the night. Arkansas State never got within 21 points the rest of the way, as Ole Miss cruised to a season-opening victory.
Up next, the Rebels remain at home to host Norfolk State (Nov. 12). Tipoff is slated for 6:30 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
Beginning year two of the Kermit Davis era, the Rebels posted their best defensive game under the head coach. The Red Wolves (1-1) were limited to a 32.6 percent (15 of 46) clip from the floor, which included zero second chance points. Ole Miss held a 12-0 in second chance points, while dominating the glass 40-28.
Junior guard Devontae Shuler scored a game-high 20 points to lead Ole Miss on the offensive side of the court. The Irmo, South Carolina, native made seven of his 11 shot attempts and added a trio of rebounds to go along with two steals. Right behind Shuler was sophomore forward KJ Buffen, who tallied 16 rebounds with a career-high nine rebounds to fall just shy of a double-double. Classmate Luis Rodriguez filled the stat sheet despite only five points, tallying career highs in rebounds (6) and steals (3).
Nine Rebels made their debut during the contest. Junior college transfer Khadim Sy, earning a start, led all Ole Miss newcomers with eight points.
Canberk Kus and J.J. Matthews paced Arkansas State with 10 points apiece. The duo combined for eight of the Red Wolves' 15 made baskets throughout the night.
Arkansas State made the first bucket of the contest, a three-pointer, causing Davis to call timeout just 43 seconds into the contest. The Red Wolves held a 4-1 lead before Ole Miss scored 12 unanswered points to force the visitors to use one of their own timeouts. Buffen, Shuler and Austin Crowley connected on triple tries to make it a 13-4 ballgame.
The Rebels expanded the lead behind intense defense. A 22-5 run ballooned the advantage to 14 with Arkansas State turning the ball over 11 times in the first 13 minutes. Just like in the exhibition game, Buffen got off to a fast start and was the first Rebel to reach double figures. The Gainesville, Georgia, native made his first four shots for 11 of the Rebels' first 28 points.
Another double-digit Ole Miss scoring frenzy, this time a 10-0 run, made it a 21-point contest. Shuler matched Buffen with 11 first half points, and the Rebels went into the locker room with a 39-19 advantage. Ole Miss nearly caused as many turnovers as points allowed, as the Red Wolves coughed up the ball 16 times over the first 20 minutes.
Ole Miss brought the pressure out of the halftime break, holding the Red Wolves without a bucket for the first 3:30 of the second half. An 11-2 run pushed the Rebels ahead 50-21, their largest lead of the night. Arkansas State never got within 21 points the rest of the way, as Ole Miss cruised to a season-opening victory.
Up next, the Rebels remain at home to host Norfolk State (Nov. 12). Tipoff is slated for 6:30 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
- Tipping off the 110th season of Ole Miss Basketball, the Rebels improved to 15-1 over their last 16 openers.
- The 43 points were the fewest allowed by an Ole Miss team since a 69-38 win over Southern (Nov. 20, 2014).
- The Rebels held Arkansas State to only 15 made field goals, the fewest surrendered in the Kermit Davis era.
- With a game-high 20 points, Devontae Shuler recorded the second 20-point game of his career.
- KJ Buffen tallied 16 points, one off his career high, while tying his career high in rebounds (9).
- Ole Miss held a 12-0 advantage in second chance points.
- Nine Rebels made their debut in an Ole Miss uniform: Antavion Collum, Austin Crowley, Carlos Curry, Sammy Hunter, John McBride, Conner McKay, Franco Miller Jr., Khadim Sy and Bryce Williams.
Team Stats
ASU
OM
FG%
.326
.446
3FG%
.316
.308
FT%
.583
.650
RB
28
40
TO
23
15
STL
11
14
Game Leaders
Pts
20
FGM
7
3FGM
3
FTM
3
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's BasketballGuard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard/Forward
/ Men's BasketballGuard
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Guard
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