The University of Mississippi Athletics
Tuesday, February 25
Auburn, Ala.
6 PM
Ole Miss
13-15,4-11SEC
58
at
67
#15 Auburn
24-4,11-4SEC
1
2
F
Ole Miss
24
34
58
Auburn
31
36
67
Rebels Battle, Fall at No. 15 Auburn
2/25/2020 | Men's Basketball
Buffen Tallies 16 Points and Eight Rebounds
AUBURN, Ala. – The Ole Miss men's basketball team battled for 40 minutes against one of the best teams in the Southeastern Conference, but No. 15 Auburn proved why it's unbeaten at home this season and delivered a 67-58 loss to the Rebels (13-15, 4-11 SEC).
Ole Miss slowed down the high-scoring Tigers (24-4, 11-4 SEC), holding them to their fewest points at home this season. The Rebels were in it at the end despite somewhat of an off night from senior Breein Tyree. The SEC's leading scorer tallied 16 points on 3 of 19 shooting, while knocking down 8 of 9 free throws. As a team, the Rebels shot the ball well from the charity stripe, making 17 of 19 (89.5 percent). KJ Buffen had his best game in the month of February, matching Tyree with 16 points to go along with a team-high eight rebounds.
Austin Wiley had a double-double (15 points, 11 rebounds) to pace Auburn, while Samir Doughty added 14 points. The Rebels limited the Tigers to 4 of 14 (28.6 percent) shooting from behind the arc.
Auburn jumped out to an early seven-point lead, but the Rebels sliced into the deficit, 11-9, as Tyree and Buffen scored the team's first nine points. A 12-0 run pushed the Tigers ahead by 14 midway through the first half.
The Rebels weathered the storm and continued to battle, slicing the deficit in half by the time the buzzer sounded. Tyree drilled his second three of the game as the seconds trickled down, and Ole Miss went into the locker room down seven, 31-24. The senior had half of the team's points, while eight different Tigers scored in the opening 20 minutes for a balanced attack from the home team.
After going scoreless in the first half, Devontae Shuler scored five quick points with an elbow jumper and a three from the wing to start the second half. Buffen added back-to-back buckets to make it a one-possession game, 36-33. Ole Miss kept Auburn scoreless for four minutes, but the Rebels had their own trouble finding the bucket. A pair of Tyree free throws cut the margin to two. However, Auburn remained in front as the Rebels went eight minutes without a field goal.
A 9-0 run put the Tigers up 12 before Blake Hinson and Bryce Williams hit back-to-back threes to slice the deficit in half. Buffen added two free throws, and just like that the Rebels were within four, 58-54 with 3:55 to go. Down the stretch, Auburn maintained its lead by converting at the free throw line and held on for a single-digit win.
Up next, the Rebels play their final two home games of the season. First, Vanderbilt comes to The Pavilion for a Saturday afternoon matchup (Feb. 29). Tipoff is slated for noon 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
Ole Miss slowed down the high-scoring Tigers (24-4, 11-4 SEC), holding them to their fewest points at home this season. The Rebels were in it at the end despite somewhat of an off night from senior Breein Tyree. The SEC's leading scorer tallied 16 points on 3 of 19 shooting, while knocking down 8 of 9 free throws. As a team, the Rebels shot the ball well from the charity stripe, making 17 of 19 (89.5 percent). KJ Buffen had his best game in the month of February, matching Tyree with 16 points to go along with a team-high eight rebounds.
Austin Wiley had a double-double (15 points, 11 rebounds) to pace Auburn, while Samir Doughty added 14 points. The Rebels limited the Tigers to 4 of 14 (28.6 percent) shooting from behind the arc.
Auburn jumped out to an early seven-point lead, but the Rebels sliced into the deficit, 11-9, as Tyree and Buffen scored the team's first nine points. A 12-0 run pushed the Tigers ahead by 14 midway through the first half.
The Rebels weathered the storm and continued to battle, slicing the deficit in half by the time the buzzer sounded. Tyree drilled his second three of the game as the seconds trickled down, and Ole Miss went into the locker room down seven, 31-24. The senior had half of the team's points, while eight different Tigers scored in the opening 20 minutes for a balanced attack from the home team.
After going scoreless in the first half, Devontae Shuler scored five quick points with an elbow jumper and a three from the wing to start the second half. Buffen added back-to-back buckets to make it a one-possession game, 36-33. Ole Miss kept Auburn scoreless for four minutes, but the Rebels had their own trouble finding the bucket. A pair of Tyree free throws cut the margin to two. However, Auburn remained in front as the Rebels went eight minutes without a field goal.
A 9-0 run put the Tigers up 12 before Blake Hinson and Bryce Williams hit back-to-back threes to slice the deficit in half. Buffen added two free throws, and just like that the Rebels were within four, 58-54 with 3:55 to go. Down the stretch, Auburn maintained its lead by converting at the free throw line and held on for a single-digit win.
Up next, the Rebels play their final two home games of the season. First, Vanderbilt comes to The Pavilion for a Saturday afternoon matchup (Feb. 29). Tipoff is slated for noon 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
- Ole Miss held Auburn to a season low in points at home.
- The Tigers remained perfect at home (16-0), and their last loss at Auburn Arena was to Ole Miss last season (Feb. 13, 2019).
- Despite the loss, Ole Miss has won 12 of the past 16 matchups in the series.
- KJ Buffen scored 16 points, his most this month, and pulled down a team-high eight rebounds.
- Breein Tyree became the sixth Rebel in history to make 200 three-pointers over a career.
Team Stats
OM
AUB
FG%
.340
.471
3FG%
.333
.286
FT%
.895
.652
RB
33
32
TO
17
14
STL
6
4
Game Leaders
Pts
16
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
8
Pts
7
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
Guard/Forward
/ Men's BasketballGuard
/ Men's BasketballGuard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
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