The University of Mississippi Athletics
Saturday, February 29
Oxford, Miss.
12 PM
Ole Miss
14-15, 5-11SEC
86
vs
60
Vanderbilt
9-20, 1-15SEC
1
2
F
Vanderbilt
27
33
60
Ole Miss
43
43
86
Ole Miss Thumps Vanderbilt 86-60
2/29/2020 | 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<i class="icon-comment"></i> Postgame Quotes
Rebels Set Season Highs in Assists and Blocks
OXFORD, Miss. – Recording season highs in assists (26) and blocks (5), the Ole Miss men's hoops team shared the basketball and defended the rim in a dominating 86-60 victory over Vanderbilt Saturday afternoon in The Pavilion. The Rebels (14-15, 5-11 SEC) controlled the game throughout, snapping a four-game losing streak with its largest margin of victory in SEC play since 2017.
All five Ole Miss starters scored in double figures for the first time in conference play this season. Junior guard Devontae Shuler led the way with 18 points, six assists, five rebounds and zero turnovers. KJ Buffen added 17 points and brought down a team-high six rebounds alongside Khadim Sy. Not only did Sy match Buffen in rebounds, but he got the Rebels off to a fast start and finished with 12 points. Blake Hinson tallied 13 points, five rebounds and a team-best two steals. Not having to carry the workload like usual, Breein Tyree settled for 11 points on 4 of 8 shooting.
Coming off the bench, Austin Crowley scored five points with career highs in assists (8) and rebounds (4). Fellow freshman Sammy Hunter recorded seven points to go along with a career-high three blocks. Thanks to the season-high 26 assists, the Rebels shot 54.7 percent (35 of 64) from the field.
Ejike Obinna scored 13 points to pace the Commodores (9-20, 1-15 SEC). Ole Miss held Vanderbilt to just 33.9 percent (20 of 59) from the floor, including a 3 for 16 day from Saben Lee. The Commodores' leading scorer finished with 10 points, seven below his season average.
Ole Miss wasted no time grabbing momentum, racing out to a 13-1 lead with buckets from four different Rebels. Sy scored the team's first four points before adding another basket down low to start 3 for 3. Vanderbilt responded with four consecutive three-pointers followed by a steal-and-score that gave the visitors their first lead of the game. However, the lead didn't last long as Tyree knocked down a pair of free throws on the next possession to tie the game at 15-15.
The Rebels quickly regained the lead and held it for the remainder of the first half with the help of a 16-2 run. Tyree got hot, scoring seven points during the stretch. Sy powered down in the post for Ole Miss' final deuce of the half, giving him a team-high 12 over the first 20 minutes. Shooting 54.8 percent (17 of 31) from the floor, Ole Miss went into the locker room up 43-27.
The lead increased at the start of the second half, and Ole Miss made sure that Vanderbilt never threatened. The Rebels made six straight at one point, capped off by a Crowley three, to push it to 57-36. As the margin grew to as big as 31, Ole Miss maintained a comfortable advantage for the remainder of the game to get back to the winning way.
Up next, the Rebels remain at home for their final game in The Pavilion this season. Ole Miss faces Missouri for the second time in 15 days (March 4), while honoring Breein Tyree on Senior Night. The Rebels will look for revenge after the Tigers won the first matchup (Feb. 18) in Columbia 71-68. Tipoff is slated for 8 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
All five Ole Miss starters scored in double figures for the first time in conference play this season. Junior guard Devontae Shuler led the way with 18 points, six assists, five rebounds and zero turnovers. KJ Buffen added 17 points and brought down a team-high six rebounds alongside Khadim Sy. Not only did Sy match Buffen in rebounds, but he got the Rebels off to a fast start and finished with 12 points. Blake Hinson tallied 13 points, five rebounds and a team-best two steals. Not having to carry the workload like usual, Breein Tyree settled for 11 points on 4 of 8 shooting.
Coming off the bench, Austin Crowley scored five points with career highs in assists (8) and rebounds (4). Fellow freshman Sammy Hunter recorded seven points to go along with a career-high three blocks. Thanks to the season-high 26 assists, the Rebels shot 54.7 percent (35 of 64) from the field.
Ejike Obinna scored 13 points to pace the Commodores (9-20, 1-15 SEC). Ole Miss held Vanderbilt to just 33.9 percent (20 of 59) from the floor, including a 3 for 16 day from Saben Lee. The Commodores' leading scorer finished with 10 points, seven below his season average.
Ole Miss wasted no time grabbing momentum, racing out to a 13-1 lead with buckets from four different Rebels. Sy scored the team's first four points before adding another basket down low to start 3 for 3. Vanderbilt responded with four consecutive three-pointers followed by a steal-and-score that gave the visitors their first lead of the game. However, the lead didn't last long as Tyree knocked down a pair of free throws on the next possession to tie the game at 15-15.
The Rebels quickly regained the lead and held it for the remainder of the first half with the help of a 16-2 run. Tyree got hot, scoring seven points during the stretch. Sy powered down in the post for Ole Miss' final deuce of the half, giving him a team-high 12 over the first 20 minutes. Shooting 54.8 percent (17 of 31) from the floor, Ole Miss went into the locker room up 43-27.
The lead increased at the start of the second half, and Ole Miss made sure that Vanderbilt never threatened. The Rebels made six straight at one point, capped off by a Crowley three, to push it to 57-36. As the margin grew to as big as 31, Ole Miss maintained a comfortable advantage for the remainder of the game to get back to the winning way.
Up next, the Rebels remain at home for their final game in The Pavilion this season. Ole Miss faces Missouri for the second time in 15 days (March 4), while honoring Breein Tyree on Senior Night. The Rebels will look for revenge after the Tigers won the first matchup (Feb. 18) in Columbia 71-68. Tipoff is slated for 8 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
- Ole Miss has won eight of the past 10 matchups in the series.
- The 26-point win was the largest margin of victory in an SEC game since beating Mississippi State by 27 (88-61, Jan. 31, 2017).
- Ole Miss recorded season highs in assists (26) and blocks (6).
- The Rebels matched a season high in points, recording their most in an SEC game this year.
- All five starters scored in double figures for the first time since Dec. 7, 2019 (against CSU Bakersfield).
- Freshmen Austin Crowley and Sammy Hunter recorded career highs; Crowley had a team-high eight assists, while Hunter had a team-high three blocks.
- All 11 of Ole Miss' home victories this season have been by double digits; all four in SEC play have been by an average of 20.5 points.
Team Stats
VU
OM
FG%
.339
.547
3FG%
.353
.391
FT%
.778
.778
RB
33
37
TO
11
7
STL
3
7
Game Leaders
Pts
18
FGM
7
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Men's BasketballGuard/Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's BasketballGuard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's BasketballPRESSER: Chris Beard (Miami FL Postgame)
Tuesday, December 02
PRESSER: Chris Beard & AJ Storr (Miami FL Postgame)
Tuesday, December 02
HIGHLIGHTS: Men's Basketball vs. Miami FL (12/2/25)
Tuesday, December 02
PRESSER: Kezza Giffa & Malik Dia & Chris Beard & AJ Storr & Ilias Kamardine & James Scott (Austin Peay Postgame)
Tuesday, November 18