The University of Mississippi Athletics
Thursday, December 10
Oxford, Miss.
7 PM
Ole Miss
1-0,0-0SEC
80
vs
45
Jackson State
0-2,0-0SWAC
1
2
F
Jackson St.
12
33
45
Ole Miss
41
39
80
Rebels Begin Season with Dominating Win over Jackson State
12/10/2020 | 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
Shuler, Defense Shines in 80-45 Win
OXFORD, Miss. — Being the final NCAA Division I men's basketball program to begin the 2020-2021 season, the Ole Miss men's basketball made the wait all worth it Thursday night. The Rebels (1-0) scored early and often, using a smothering defense to open the 2020-2021 season with a 80-45 win at The Pavilion against the Jackson State Tigers.
"It sure was fun for our staff to watch those guys play," Ole Miss head coach Kermit Davis said. "The strength of our team is our depth and we're continuing to develop. We were very physical and connected defensively tonight."
Ole Miss forced 26 turnovers and managed to churn 20 points out of them while making the Tigers shoot 30 percent (15 of 50) from the floor.
Devontae Shuler began the season soaring, going 9 for 10 from the floor, including a perfect 5 for 5 mark from three-point land for game-high 23 points.
"We sat back and watch games on TV," Shuler said. "Coach (Davis) prepared us to go out there and play basketball. We were hungry."
Down low, Khadim Sy and KJ Buffen combined for 18 points, going 8 for 10 from the floor and seven rebounds. Several newcomers contributed throughout the night. Graduate transfer Romello White had eight points and six rebounds. Transfer and Oxford native Jarkel Joiner had six points, including his first two points back in his hometown being a slam dunk late in the first half.
In total, 12 different Rebels found buckets with 29 points coming from the bench alone. Ole Miss shot 47.5 percent (29 of 61) from the floor and went on multiple hot streaks offensively and defensively throughout the night.
Both teams traded a few turnovers coming out the tunnel. While the Rebels attacked the paint early on offensively, the Tigers led 6-4 before forcing Davis to call his first timeout. Ole Miss countered with an 20-0 run while forcing numerous turnovers over the next eight minutes. Shuler concluded the first half scorching hot, draining consecutive three-pointers late in the first half.
The Rebels led 41-12 going into the locker room with Shuler and White leading the way with 13 and 8 points, respectively. As a team, Ole Miss forced 18 first half turnovers while shooting 50 percent from the floor.
Ole Miss began the second half with yet another surge, opening with a 12-1 run just over four minutes in. Sy's first made three-pointer made it a 40-point game (55-15), leading to a JSU timeout with 15:45 left to play. The Rebels never looked back to win their first game of the season.
Ole Miss will have one day off before returning to action on Craddock Court, continuing their three-game homestand against UNCW (Dec. 12). Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. CT on SEC Network+ as part of a doubleheader with the Ole Miss women's team.
TIPINS
"It sure was fun for our staff to watch those guys play," Ole Miss head coach Kermit Davis said. "The strength of our team is our depth and we're continuing to develop. We were very physical and connected defensively tonight."
Ole Miss forced 26 turnovers and managed to churn 20 points out of them while making the Tigers shoot 30 percent (15 of 50) from the floor.
Devontae Shuler began the season soaring, going 9 for 10 from the floor, including a perfect 5 for 5 mark from three-point land for game-high 23 points.
"We sat back and watch games on TV," Shuler said. "Coach (Davis) prepared us to go out there and play basketball. We were hungry."
Down low, Khadim Sy and KJ Buffen combined for 18 points, going 8 for 10 from the floor and seven rebounds. Several newcomers contributed throughout the night. Graduate transfer Romello White had eight points and six rebounds. Transfer and Oxford native Jarkel Joiner had six points, including his first two points back in his hometown being a slam dunk late in the first half.
In total, 12 different Rebels found buckets with 29 points coming from the bench alone. Ole Miss shot 47.5 percent (29 of 61) from the floor and went on multiple hot streaks offensively and defensively throughout the night.
Both teams traded a few turnovers coming out the tunnel. While the Rebels attacked the paint early on offensively, the Tigers led 6-4 before forcing Davis to call his first timeout. Ole Miss countered with an 20-0 run while forcing numerous turnovers over the next eight minutes. Shuler concluded the first half scorching hot, draining consecutive three-pointers late in the first half.
The Rebels led 41-12 going into the locker room with Shuler and White leading the way with 13 and 8 points, respectively. As a team, Ole Miss forced 18 first half turnovers while shooting 50 percent from the floor.
Ole Miss began the second half with yet another surge, opening with a 12-1 run just over four minutes in. Sy's first made three-pointer made it a 40-point game (55-15), leading to a JSU timeout with 15:45 left to play. The Rebels never looked back to win their first game of the season.
Ole Miss will have one day off before returning to action on Craddock Court, continuing their three-game homestand against UNCW (Dec. 12). Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. CT on SEC Network+ as part of a doubleheader with the Ole Miss women's team.
TIPINS
- Ole Miss was the last school from a Power 5 conference to begin its season.
- The Rebels improved to 38-0 all-time against the SWAC, including 4-0 versus Jackson State.
- The 45 points was the second-fewest allowed under Kermit Davis and the 10th-fewest points surrendered this century (22 seasons).
- Ole Miss' 35-point win was the largest margin of victory since a 91-45 win over Lipscomb (Nov. 23, 2012).
- Devontae Shuler produced his seventh career 20-point game with a game-high 23 points.
- Shuler shot 9 of 10 from the floor, including 5 of 5 from beyond the arc; it was the best field goal percentage in a game (minimum 10 shots) since Marcanvis Hymon went 10 of 11 (90.9 percent) against Towson (Nov. 20, 2015).
- Ole Miss forced 26 turnovers, a best in the three seasons under Kermit Davis.
- The Rebels' starting lineup consisted of four returning starters from a season ago (KJ Buffen, Luis Rodriguez, Devontae Shuler and Khadim Sy) and Oxford native Jarkel Joiner.
- Six Rebels made their debut in an Ole Miss uniform: Joiner, Robert Allen, Matthew Murrell, Shon Robinson, Dimencio Vaughn and Romello White
- In the first half, Ole Miss went on a 20-0 run over 8:04, turning a 6-4 deficit into a 24-6 lead; it was the team's best run since a 28-0 run against Chattanooga (Dec. 16, 2018).
- The 12 points for Jackson State in the first half were the fewest points allowed by the Rebels under Kermit Davis.
- The 29-point lead (41-12) at the half was the largest halftime lead under Davis.
- Shuler outscored the Tigers in the first half, 13-12.
Team Stats
JSU
OM
FG%
.288
.475
3FG%
.200
.381
FT%
.722
.737
RB
41
35
TO
26
12
STL
8
9
Game Leaders
Pts
23
FGM
9
3FGM
5
FTM
0
Pts
8
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard/Forward
/ Men's BasketballGuard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard/Forward
/ Men's BasketballForward
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