The University of Mississippi Athletics
Sunday, December 29
Oxford, Miss.
3 PM
Ole Miss
80
vs
63
Tennessee Tech
Second Half Surge Lifts Rebels to Victory
12/29/2019 | 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 and Shuler Combine for 40 Points in Win over Tennessee Tech
OXFORD, Miss. – After shaking off some rust from the holiday break, the Ole Miss men's basketball team shot 69.2 percent (18 of 26) in the second half to surge to an 80-63 win over Tennessee Tech Sunday afternoon at The Pavilion. KJ Buffen and Devontae Shuler scored 20 points apiece to make sure the Rebels (9-3) ended the decade victoriously.
Shooting over 50 percent for the fourth straight game, Ole Miss earned its fourth consecutive win to close out the 2019 calendar year. The Rebels were 30 of 55 (54.5 percent) throughout the game, while holding the Golden Eagles (3-10) to 40 percent (24 of 60) shooting.
Along with his second career 20-point game, Buffen pulled down eight rebounds and registered a career-high three blocks on the defensive end. Shuler continued to take care of the basketball, dishing out a team-high five assists and only committing two turnovers. He provided consistency, scoring 10 points in each half. As a team, the Rebels recorded 22 assists on 30 buckets.
Khadim Sy reached double figures for the fifth consecutive contest, tallying 11 for Ole Miss. Jr. Clay and Darius Allen tallied 13 points apiece to lead Tennessee Tech in the loss.
Shuler got off to a fast start, scoring eight of the Rebels' first 14 points. However, sluggishness from the rest of the team allowed Tennessee Tech to grab early momentum. Trailing 23-18, Ole Miss turned defense into offense to take the lead. Buffen rejected a shot before finishing on the other end of the floor. An Austin Crowley steal led to a transition layup by the freshman before Breein Tyree grabbed an air ball and scored for the first time, putting the Rebels up 24-23.
The Golden Eagles regained the lead, but despite the Rebels holding them scoreless for the final 2:53 of the opening half, Tennessee Tech took a one-point advantage into the locker room. Nine Ole Miss turnovers flipped into 14 points for TTU, and after making their first three-pointer of the game, the Rebels missed the last 11 from long distance to end the half. Shuler was the only player from either team in double figures, tallying 10 first half points.
After Tennessee Tech made the first basket of the second half, Ole Miss wasted no time grabbing the lead one minute later as Sy and Crowley found the bottom of the net. The Rebels got hot from beyond the arc. Making only one triple try in the first 20 minutes, Ole Miss nailed four early in the second half to grow the advantage. An old-fashioned three-point play by Shuler pushed the cushion to double digits, 52-41.
The Rebels remained out in front, and a 13-0 run made it a 20-point game, 67-47. Buffen led the way down the stretch, scoring 16 points and pulling down five rebounds in the second half. Ole Miss produced its best shooting half of the season, going 18 of 26 (including 6 of 11) from the field over the final 20 minutes. Closing out the scoring for Ole Miss, redshirt freshman John McBride drilled a corner three for his first points as a Rebel.
Ole Miss will begin the 2020 calendar year by closing out the non-conference slate. The Rebels travel to Wichita State (Jan. 4), facing the Shockers for the first time since 2004. Tipoff is slated for 3 p.m CT on ESPNU.
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
Shooting over 50 percent for the fourth straight game, Ole Miss earned its fourth consecutive win to close out the 2019 calendar year. The Rebels were 30 of 55 (54.5 percent) throughout the game, while holding the Golden Eagles (3-10) to 40 percent (24 of 60) shooting.
Along with his second career 20-point game, Buffen pulled down eight rebounds and registered a career-high three blocks on the defensive end. Shuler continued to take care of the basketball, dishing out a team-high five assists and only committing two turnovers. He provided consistency, scoring 10 points in each half. As a team, the Rebels recorded 22 assists on 30 buckets.
Khadim Sy reached double figures for the fifth consecutive contest, tallying 11 for Ole Miss. Jr. Clay and Darius Allen tallied 13 points apiece to lead Tennessee Tech in the loss.
Shuler got off to a fast start, scoring eight of the Rebels' first 14 points. However, sluggishness from the rest of the team allowed Tennessee Tech to grab early momentum. Trailing 23-18, Ole Miss turned defense into offense to take the lead. Buffen rejected a shot before finishing on the other end of the floor. An Austin Crowley steal led to a transition layup by the freshman before Breein Tyree grabbed an air ball and scored for the first time, putting the Rebels up 24-23.
The Golden Eagles regained the lead, but despite the Rebels holding them scoreless for the final 2:53 of the opening half, Tennessee Tech took a one-point advantage into the locker room. Nine Ole Miss turnovers flipped into 14 points for TTU, and after making their first three-pointer of the game, the Rebels missed the last 11 from long distance to end the half. Shuler was the only player from either team in double figures, tallying 10 first half points.
After Tennessee Tech made the first basket of the second half, Ole Miss wasted no time grabbing the lead one minute later as Sy and Crowley found the bottom of the net. The Rebels got hot from beyond the arc. Making only one triple try in the first 20 minutes, Ole Miss nailed four early in the second half to grow the advantage. An old-fashioned three-point play by Shuler pushed the cushion to double digits, 52-41.
The Rebels remained out in front, and a 13-0 run made it a 20-point game, 67-47. Buffen led the way down the stretch, scoring 16 points and pulling down five rebounds in the second half. Ole Miss produced its best shooting half of the season, going 18 of 26 (including 6 of 11) from the field over the final 20 minutes. Closing out the scoring for Ole Miss, redshirt freshman John McBride drilled a corner three for his first points as a Rebel.
Ole Miss will begin the 2020 calendar year by closing out the non-conference slate. The Rebels travel to Wichita State (Jan. 4), facing the Shockers for the first time since 2004. Tipoff is slated for 3 p.m CT on ESPNU.
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
- Ole Miss finished the decade with a record of 204-135 (.602), the winningest decade in program history.
- The Rebels improved to 10-1 in the month of December under Kermit Davis.
- Ole Miss shot 69.2 percent (18 of 26) in the second half.
- The Rebels shot over 50 percent for the fourth straight game to pick up their fourth win in a row.
- KJ Buffen and Devontae Shuler combined for half (40) of the team's 80 points, scoring 20 apiece.
- Tying his season high, Shuler produced his third career 20-point game.
- Buffen had a career-high three blocks.
- Breein Tyree passed Jack Waters (1,384 points) for 17th on the Ole Miss all-time scoring list.
- Khadim Sy scored in double figures for the fifth consecutive game with 11 points.
- Blake Hinson pulled down a career-high 10 rebounds, the first Rebel to record double-digit rebounds this season.
- Redshirt freshman John McBride scored his first points as a Rebel, hitting a corner three.
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard/Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's Basketball
Guard
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