Ole Miss Men’s Basketball Returns Home to Face MVSU

			OLE MISS (3-2, 0-0 SEC) vs. MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE (0-2, 0-0 SWAC) Friday, November 26 • 3 p.m. • Oxford, Miss. The Sandy and John Black Pavilion at Ole Miss
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OXFORD, Miss. – Ole Miss men's basketball returns home to SJB Pavilion after a two-week absence to play host to Mississippi Valley State on Friday afternoon. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. CT, and the game will stream live online on SEC Network+.

TEAM FACTS

Ole Miss Rebels (3-2, 0-0 SEC)
Head Coach: Kermit Davis • 4th Season at Ole Miss (54-44) • 523-307 career record (27th Season)

Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils (0-2, 0-0 SWAC)
Head Coach: Lindsey Hunter • 3rd Season at MVSU (5-51) • 5-51 career record (3rd Season)

ON THE AIR

Television/Online: SEC Network+
Play-by-Play: Will Kollmeyer
Color: John Stroud

OLE MISS RADIO

Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
Play-by-Play: David Kellum
Color: Marc Dukes

CHARLESTON CLASSIC RECAP
Ole Miss is coming off a 1-2 visit against a tough field at the Shriners Children's Charleston Classic on Nov. 18-21, with a solid win over Elon (74-56, Nov. 19) and close losses to Marquette (78-72, Nov. 18) and Boise State (60-50, Nov. 21). The Rebels opened in fast and furious fashion against Marquette, which was coming off an upset of No. 10 Illinois and wound up in the title game against then 22nd-ranked St. Bonaventure (now No. 16). The Rebels shot 50 percent in the first half and 46.8 percent overall, but it was not enough to slow down a torrid three-point shooting effort from the Golden Eagles in a wild finish that included seven lead changes and five ties. Ole Miss bounced back against Elon, leading wire-to-wire thanks to a relentless defensive effort that shut down an Elon offense shooting 46 percent overall and 41.1 percent from three entering to just 34.6 overall and a 3-of-17 output from beyond the arc. Both defenses shined in the fifth place game to close out against Boise State, but the Broncos awoke in the second half, shooting 56 percent overall and ripping off a 22-6 run to separate for the win.

In three games, Jarkel Joiner led Ole Miss with an average of 13.0 points, while Jaemyn Brakefield also averaged 11.7 points after a career-high 16-point outing vs. Elon.

Game 1 • vs. Marquette (L, 78-72) • Nov. 18
Top Scorer: Nysier Brooks and Jarkel Joiner (13)
Top Rebounder: Nysier Brooks (7)

Game 2 • vs. Elon (W, 74-56) • Nov. 19
Top Scorer: Jaemyn Brakefield and Jarkel Joiner (16)
Top Rebounder: Robert Allen (8)

Game 3 • vs. Boise State (L, 60-50) • Nov. 21
Top Scorer: Jarkel Joiner (10)
Top Rebounder: Nysier Brooks (6)

PASS THE ROCK
Ole Miss currently has the two most efficient passers in the SEC in Jarkel Joiner and Austin Crowley who have been crucial in the Rebels' offensive efforts so far this season. Joiner leads the conference and ranks 23rd nationally at his assist-to-turnover ratio of 4.0, while Crowley ranks as the SEC runner-up and No. 63 in the NCAA at his ratio of 3.0. Tye Fagan also ranks within the SEC top-10 at No. 9 with a ratio of 2.0.

Crowley has been particularly solid, curre ntly ranking 10th in the SEC at 4.2 assists per game through five games that include a career-best nine dimes against Charleston Southern. It took three games for Joiner to record his first turnover of the season, and he also had a career day vs. Charleston Southern with seven assists of his own to combine with Crowley for 16 of the 23 Rebel dimes.

On the season, Ole Miss have notched an assist on 57.4 percent of all made field goals (85-of-148).

SHARING IS CARING
Ole Miss has been a machine in distribution through the early going, notching exactly 23 dimes in each of its first two games. No Rebel team since 1994 has recorded 20 assists in the first two games of the season, with the '94-95 Ole Miss squad tallying 22 to open against Morgan State on Dec. 1, 1994, and 20 against Sam Houston State two days later on Dec. 3, 1994. In available records through 1987-88, no Rebel team has had 23 or more in their first two games of the season.

The Rebels rank second in the SEC and 34th nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.5), as well as second in the SEC and 37th in the NCAA in assists per game (17.0). Helping that assist-turnover ratio are the third-fewest turnovers per game (11.4).

TIGHT SHIP
Team defense has been a calling card of the Rebels in the early going, holding opponents to 70 or fewer four times in five games, including 60 or fewer in each of their last two outings vs. Elon (56) and Boise State (60). Disruption and mayhem have led to plenty of buckets in transition for Ole Miss, with their SEC fifth-best turnover margin (+4.0) helping lead to a nearly identical Rebel advantage in both points off turnovers (75-48) and points on the fastbreak (74-36). Luis Rodriguez has been helped lead that charge for the Rebel defense, currently ranking ninth in the SEC with 2.0 steals per game.

SCORE FROM FAR
Ole Miss has shown spurts of being able to light the net on fire, shooting 46 percent or better in four of five games played. Additionally, the Rebels have posted five halves this season at a 50 percent overall clip or better, including in three of four to start the season. Ole Miss opened the season with two 50 percent shooting games for the first time since 2007, and what has helped has been the combination of a dynamite transition offense and a bevy of contributors from beyond the arc. Ole Miss is currently outscoring opponents 164-128 in the paint and 74-36 on the fastbreak, while six different Rebels have hit multiple threes this season toward a season line of 34-of-94 (.362) -- including five who have hit four or more. Ole Miss hit at least eight trifectas in each of its first three games, and it has received help from a couple of unlikely heroes to start the year.

Austin Crowley and Tye Fagan, who entered the season a combined 37-of-137 (.270) in their careers from three, are right now shooting 13-of-25 (.520) from deep as a duo to start the year. Crowley at 8-of-16 is already beyond the halfway mark for his single-season best in three-pointers made (11, 2019-20), and Fagan at 5-of-9 is halfway to his season-best 10 from last season at Georgia. The team leader so far is Jarkel Joiner, who is shooting 10-of-22 (.455) from beyond the arc, accounting for 40 percent of all his scoring.

PUTTING THE TEAM ON HIS BACK
Senior Jarkel Joiner has proven his veteran leadership in the early stages of the season, not only leading in several categories but by also rarely leaving the floor. Joiner ranks fourth in the SEC in minutes played per game at 31.6, and he has put the team on his back with the SEC's sixth-most field goal attempts (59) and ninth-most field goals made (28). Joiner also ranks seventh in total points (75). In his career, Joiner averages 30.4 minutes played per game in 97 career games played and 90 career starts.

JACK OF ALL TRADES
Senior Tye Fagan has been a Swiss Army knife for Ole Miss, contributing in significant ways in multiple facets of the game. On the year, Fagan is averaging a balanced stat line of 8.6 points (third on team), 3.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists (tied for second on team), 0.6 steals and 0.4 blocks while averaging an assist-turnover ratio of 2.0 in 20.4 minutes played per game. Fagan tallied a career-high six assists to go along with an Ole Miss career-high 11 points vs. Elon -- his second double-digit effort as a Rebel following an opening 10-point performance vs. New Orleans. Fagan has also added a three-point shot to his repertoire, currently sitting at 5-of-9 despite entering the year with a career line of 19-of-68 (.279). Combined with his three previous years of experience at Georgia, Fagan has played in 94 career games.

YEAR FOUR OF THE DAVIS ERA
Kermit Davis enters his fourth season at the helm of Ole Miss Basketball. Over his first three seasons, Davis led the Rebels to a pair of postseason appearances (2020 postseason was cancelled due to COVID-19). With 54 victories as head coach of the Rebels, Davis is one of only four coaches in Ole Miss history to rack up at least 50 wins over their first three seasons. A nine-time conference coach of the year, Davis is 38th among active Division I head coaches with 457 career wins over 24 seasons, including stints at Middle Tennessee, Idaho and Texas A&M. In 27 seasons as a college basketball head coach, he has amassed 523 wins.

DAVIS ERA TRENDS TO WATCH
• 46-14 when leading at half
• 5-0 when scoring 90+, 26-3 when scoring 80+, 42-18 when scoring 70+
• 39-16 when winning the rebounding battle
• 24-3 when at 50 percent shooting or better
• 16-5 when shooting 40 percent or better from three
• 52-28 when keeping opponents below 50 percent shooting (29-5 when below 40 percent)

PROTECTING CRADDOCK COURT
Winning at home has been a trademark at Ole Miss. Over the past 15 seasons, the Rebels are 178-56 (.761 win pct.) in home games. In five-plus seasons (opened January 2016) playing in the $96.5 million SJB Pavilion, the Rebels hold a 65-30 (.684) advantage against the opposition. Ole Miss has won 303 of its last 391 games (.775 win pct.) in Oxford dating back to the 1996-97 campaign. Under head coach Kermit Davis, the Rebels are 35-14 (.714 win pct.) at home.

HOMETOWN REBEL LEADS THE WAY
Jarkel Joiner, the hometown Rebel, has opened his senior campaign in demonstrative fashion after two strong outings vs. New Orleans and Charleston Southern. Joiner leads all Rebels with 15.0 points per game, which includes 24 points vs. CSU -- two points off his Ole Miss career-high total of 26 vs. LSU in the 2021 SEC Tournament.

Joiner was an immediate shot in the arm for the Rebels in 2020-21, averaging 12.0 points per game as a junior while leading the team and ranking third in the SEC at an 84.5 percent clip from the charity stripe. Joiner transferred home after spending his first two seasons at CSU Bakersfield, where he set seven school records in 64 games played and 61 games started. At Oxford High School, Joiner was prolific, ranking fourth in the country his senior season at 36.5 PPG.

DUNK YOU VERY MUCH
Ole Miss put on a show for fans in its first two games at home this season, throwing down a combined 15 dunks -- with nine alone coming in the season opener vs. New Orleans for 22 percent of all Rebel scoring. Against Charleston Southern, Luis Rodriguez accounted for three of the six Rebel slams all by himself, and all in the first half. On the season, Ole Miss has thrown it down 24 total times -- worth 12.9 percent of all Rebel scoring.

CROWLEY IN THE SPOTLIGHT
West Point, Mississippi native Austin Crowley took control of the game in rapid fashion vs. New Orleans, sparking a huge 20-2 run to firmly put the Rebels ahead. Crowley scored 11 points in a span of just 1:58, going a perfect 3-of-3 from three and throwing down a thunderous fastbreak dunk in that stretch all by himself. Crowley would end with a career-high 13 points and was ultimately 3-of-4 from distance on the night. Crowley was also key as a distributor with four assists and as a disrupter with three steals.

RUFFIN OUT
Freshman Daeshun Ruffin, the program's first McDonald's All-American signee, will miss four weeks of action after fracturing his hand in the second half against New Orleans on Nov. 9. Ruffin exited the game with four points, two rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block. Coming out of Callaway High School, Ruffin was a consensus four-star prospect, and was rated No. 1 in the state of Mississippi and No. 40 nationally. He was the 2021 winner of Mississippi's Gatorade Player of the Year, and he ended his illustrious high school career with 2,337 points scored (25.4 PPG).

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.

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Players Mentioned

Robert Allen

Jaemyn Brakefield

Nysier Brooks

Austin Crowley

Tye Fagan

Jarkel Joiner

Luis Rodriguez

Daeshun Ruffin

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