Ole Miss Men’s Basketball Ready for Road Test at Texas A&M

			OLE MISS (9-5, 1-1 SEC) at TEXAS A&M (13-2, 2-0 SEC) Tuesday, January 11 • 7:30 p.m. CT • Bryan-College Station, Texas Reed Arena (12,989)
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BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Ole Miss men's basketball looks to carry over its recent string of hot shooting when it heads to the Lone Star State to take on Texas A&M on Tuesday night. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. CT live on SEC Network.

TEAM FACTS

Ole Miss Rebels (9-5, 1-1 SEC)
Head Coach: Kermit Davis • 4th Season at Ole Miss (60-47) • 529-310 career record (27th Season)

Texas A&M Aggies (13-2, 2-0 SEC)
Head Coach: Buzz Williams • 3rd Season at Texas A&M (37-26) • 285-180 career record (15th Season)

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Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
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SERIES HISTORY VS. TEXAS A&M
Tuesday marks just the 12th all-time meeting between the Rebels and the Aggies, their 11th since Texas A&M joined the SEC in the 2012-13 season. Ole Miss and A&M first met at a neutral site matchup in Oklahoma City on Dec. 29, 1972, with the Aggies emerging victorious, 100-83. It wouldn't be until A&M's first season in the SEC that the two teams would meet again on Feb. 13, 2013, a narrow 69-67 loss in College Station. Ole Miss got its first win of the series in Oxford later that month on Feb. 27 to the tune of an 82-73 final score. In Oxford, the Rebels lead all-time, 4-1, but Ole Miss has yet to notch a victory at Texas A&M, with the Aggies holding a 5-0 all-time edge on their turf. Under Ole Miss head coach Kermit Davis, the Rebels are 2-1 against Texas A&M, with the most recent result being a 61-50 Rebel win in Oxford on Jan. 23, 2021.

LAST MEETING: Jan. 23, 2021 (W, 61-50, in Oxford)
• Ole Miss: 44 percent shooting overall, 18 turnovers forced (25 points off turnovers)
• Jarkel Joiner: 21 points, 7-of-11 FG, 7 rebounds
• Devontae Shuler: 17 points
• Combined with holding Mississippi State to 46 points in previous game, this constituted the first consecutive games holding SEC opponents to 50 points or fewer since 1982
• Fourth time up to that point holding an opponent to 50 or fewer (first time with four such games since 2011-12)

SCOUTING TEXAS A&M
Texas A&M enters Tuesday night at 13-2 overall and 2-0 in conference play following a dramatic opening victory over Georgia on Jan. 4 (81-79) and a win over Arkansas on Jan. 8 (86-81). The Aggies hold a NET ranking of 60, and hold notable non-conference wins over Butler (57-50), Notre Dame (73-67) and Oregon State (83-73), with Power-5 losses to Wisconsin (69-58) and TCU (69-64).

The Aggies hold a potent three-point shooting attach that leads the SEC and ranks 22nd nationally at 38.7 percent, alongside an overall shooting percentage of 47.0 that ranks third in the SEC. Texas A&M also has a powerful ball-hawk defensive unit that leads the SEC in turnovers forced per game at 19.1 (No. 6 NCAA) and second in the SEC in steals per game at 10.9 (No. 6 NCAA), helping the Aggies to the NCAA's No. 8 turnover margin at +5.9 per game (No. 2 SEC). Texas A&M also ranks third in the conference in total free throws attempted (306) and fifth in scoring margin (+13.6 PPG).

Leading the way for the Aggies is Quenton Jackson, who has come off the bench in all 15 games played by leads Texas A&M with 13.5 points per game and an 85.7 percent clip from the free throw line. Four Aggies have hit 20 or more threes this season, with Marcus Williams (10.5 PPG) and Andre Gordon (8.5 PPG) tied for the team lead with 24. The duo are also tied for the team lead in steals with 25 apiece.

LAST TIME OUT (vs. Mississippi State: W, 82-72)
• 265th all-time meeting in SEC's oldest rivalry
• Matthew Murrell: career-high 31 points on 10-of-11 shooting, 5-of-5 three-point shooting and a 6-of-6 clip from the free throw line
• Murrell: one of three Rebels to ever go 5-of-5 from three (Devontae Shuler, 2020; Joe Harvell, 1990)
• Started out 10-of-10 from the field
• Murrell's 23 first-half points most by a Rebel against an SEC opponent in the first half since Stefan Moody scored 24 vs. Mississippi State on March 2, 2016
• 50 first half points: most against an SEC opponent since 51 against Mississippi State on Jan. 31, 2017
• Nysier Brooks: 15 points, 16 rebounds (career-high), 5 blocks (ties career-high)
• Daeshun Ruffin: 17 points, 8 assists (career-high), 4 steals, 3 3PM (career-high)
• Jaemyn Brakefield: 15 points, 4 rebounds, 1 block
• Ole Miss: 50.9 percent overall, 47.8 from three, 72.2 free throw, only 1 bench point

MURRELL GOES UNCONSCIOUS
Sophomore Matthew Murrell absolutely lit the net on fire against in-state rival Mississippi State on Jan. 8, dropping a career-high 31 points on an absurd 10-of-11 shooting performance that included a perfect 5-of-5 line from beyond the arc and a 6-of-6 clip from the free throw line. Murrell actually started the game 10-of-10 from the field before a late miss with 2:32 to play gave him his lone blemish on the night. Murrell stands as one of only three Rebels all-time to have gone 5-of-5 from three, joining Devontae Shuler's performance vs. Jackson State on Dec. 10, 2020, and Joe Harvell's 5-of-5 outing against Tennessee in the SEC Tournament on March 9, 1990 -- making Murrell's the only such performance against an SEC opponent during the regular season. Murrell was unconscious in the first half, scoring 23 points in the opening frame alone, which had already beat his previous career-high of 19 points scored against No. 18 Memphis on Dec. 4. His 23 first-half points stands as the most scored by a Rebel against an SEC opponent since Stefan Moody dropped 24 against Mississippi State on March 2, 2016.

To anyone paying attention lately, though, this was just the latest and greatest output from Murrell. Over his last two games, he is now 9-of-11 (.818) from three and 16-of-21 (.762) overall, averaging 24.0 points per game in that stretch. Murrell started the season 2-of-10 (.200) from three across his first six games, but a 3-of-6 three-point performance against Rider and a 4-of-9 rip against the nationally-ranked Tigers helped spark a three-point line of 20-of-43 (.465) since across his last eight games played since Nov. 30 against Rider.

Murrell is the program's highest rated recruit ever nationally, signing with Ole Miss ranked No. 39 overall by both ESPN and the 247Sports Composite in 2019-20.

FROM WAY DOWNTOWN
Ole Miss has found its stroke from three-ball land again just in time for conference play. The Rebels lead all SEC schools in three-point shooting in conference action thus far with a 22-of-45 (.489) line, setting up an intriguing matchup against the current No. 2 in SEC play, Texas A&M at 19-of-42 (.452). Ole Miss has hit double-digit threes in each of its first two games of SEC season, going 11-of-22 at No. 18 Tennessee in a near-upset thriller that went into overtime before an 11-of-23 performance against in-state rival Mississippi State on Jan. 8. On the season Ole Miss has hit double-digit threes made three times when included an 11-of-29 performance against Charleston Southern back on Nov. 12, the most such games since the Rebels tallied seven double-digit games during head coach Kermit Davis' first season in 2018-19. Combined with their SEC season three-point defensive percentage of just 26 percent (13-of-50), the Rebels own the largest spread at +.229 in SEC-only three-point disparity. Matthew Murrell's five threes vs. Mississippi State and Tye Fagan's five against Tennessee make Ole Miss the only school currently with multiple shooters to hit five threes in conference play so far.

CLEANING UP THE OFFENSIVE GLASS
Graduate transfer Nysier Brooks has been a beast on the offensive glass to start SEC play, ranking third in conference action at 4.5 offensive boards per game. Brooks hauled in a whopping eight offensive boards against Mississippi State to help lead to a career-high 16 rebounds, the most by a Rebel since Sebastian Saiz hauled in 17 vs. Georgia Tech in the 2017 NIT. Brooks has had five or more offensive boards in three games this season, and he has had at least six rebounds in all but one game this season after only nabbing four in his Rebel debut vs. New Orleans on Nov. 9. Furthermore, Brooks has hit double-digit rebounds five times, including the first two games to start SEC play to average an SEC second-best average of 13.0 per game in conference play. Over his last four games since a 16-point, 11-rebound double-double vs. Dayton on Dec. 18, Brooks has grabbed an average of 11.0 boards per game to go along with 11.3 points and 1.8 blocks. Overall, Brooks ranks fourth in the SEC and 50th nationally at 8.5 rebounds per game, and his overall offensive rebounding average of 2.9 per game ranks third in the conference. Brooks most recently recorded his third Rebel double-double and eighth of his career following a 15-point, 16 rebound performance against Mississippi State on Jan. 8.

WATCH YOUR BACK
Freshman guard Daeshun Ruffin has quickly become a force to reckon with defensively, averaging 2.7 steals per game in just six career contests. Ruffin has been particularly proficient and picking pockets lately, averaging a league-leading 4.5 steals per game in SEC play after a career-high five steal performance at No. 18 Tennessee and four more against Mississippi State. At his current pace of 2.7 steals per game, Ruffin is on pace to dismantle the Ole Miss freshman record for total steals of 47 set by Elston Turner in 27 games played in 1978. Ruffin missed eight games while sitting out one month due to breaking his right hand in the season opener vs. New Orleans on Nov. 9.

RUFFIN RETURNS IN BIG SPOT
Ole Miss freshman Daeshun Ruffin returned from a four-week absence in dynamic fashion and has taken a prominent leadership role, averaging 13.6 points, 3.8 assists, 2.8 steals while shooting 36.2 percent overall and 71 percent from the free throw line since returning from injury vs. Middle Tennessee on Dec. 15. His first three games back were a revelation, as Ruffin averaged 16.0 points, 2.7 assists, 1.7 steals and shot 41.7 percent overall and 70.8 percent from the free throw line against Middle Tennessee (Dec. 15), Dayton (Dec. 18) and Samford (Dec. 21). Ruffin suffered a fractured hand in the second half of the season opener against New Orleans, and missed the subsequent four weeks of action. Ruffin first saw the floor again against Middle Tennessee on Dec. 15, scoring 12 points in just 12 minutes of action -- nine of which came in the first half as he came off the bench. Ruffin followed that up with a splendid showing against Dayton, scoring a career-high 19 points after a powerful 17-point second half to help lift the Rebels to victory. Ruffin hit 9-of-12 from the free throw line against the Flyers, and in his first two games back from injury his 13 free throws made accounted for 44.8 percent of all Rebel free throws made (29) in that stretch. Recently, Ruffin found success running the Rebel offense as well with a career-high eight assists against Mississippi State on Jan. 8 to go along with 17 points and a career-high three trifectas made.

Ruffin is the first McDonald's All-American signee in program history following a storied career at Callaway High School in his native Jackson, Mississippi.

TYE-ING IT ALL TOGETHER
Senior Tye Fagan answered the call again and again for the shorthanded Rebels at No. 18 Tennessee when his team needed him, nearly leading Ole Miss to a record fifth straight top-25 win on Jan. 5. Fagan scored a career-high 23 points against the nationally-ranked Vols, and was a key catalyst for the Rebel offense at several crucial junctures in the second half. Fagan scored 20 of his 23 points in the second half and overtime, all from beyond the arc, going a perfect 5-of-5 from deep in the second period before missing a last-second try at the final buzzer in OT. Entering the contest, Fagan was 6-of-21 (.286) from three on the season, and entering this year he held a career line of 19-of-68 (.279). This isn't the first hot streak from three for Fagan this year, though, as he started the season 5-of-7 (.714) from deep across his first three games. Since that three-game opening stretch, Fagan had gone 1-of-14 (.071) prior to the explosion in Knoxville. Fagan transferred to Ole Miss this season after spending the prior three years at Georgia, where he scored 450 career points and shot 56.4 percent overall in 89 games played for the Bulldogs. Included in his UGA career was a big outing against the Rebels in Oxford in 2021, scoring 19 points on a career-best 9-of-9 shooting effort.

On the season, Fagan has been a Swiss Army knife for Ole Miss, contributing in significant ways in multiple facets of the game. Fagan is averaging a balanced stat line of 7.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.4 assists, while averaging an assist-turnover ratio of 1.6 in 20.9 minutes played per game.

TOUGH ROAD AHEAD
With SEC season now heating up, Ole Miss holds the nation's No. 19 toughest future schedule. Of the 13 other SEC schools the Rebels play, 11 hold NET rankings within the top-100, with six currently within the top-50 and five within the top-25. Ole Miss also has a top-100 non-conference matchup on the horizon, with NET No. 87 Kansas State coming to Oxford for the SEC/Big 12 Challenge on Jan. 29. The 9-5 Rebels currently rank No. 111 and hold top-50 wins over current No. 50, Memphis (Dec. 4, 67-63) and No. 45 Mississippi State (Jan. 8, 82-72).

OFF THE LINE
It's been difficult to damage the Rebels from distance, but especially so over the last handful of games. Ole Miss has held five of its last eight opponents to 22.2 percent or lower from beyond the arc and nine total below 30 percent (including six times in those last eight games). In those five wins against Rider (2-of-13), No. 18 Memphis (2-of-11), Middle Tennessee (3-of-27), Dayton (4-18) and Mississippi State (3-16), Rebel opponents shot a combined 14-of-85 (.165). On the season, Ole Miss has held four opponents below 18.2 percent, also holding Elon to 3-of-17 (.176) on Nov. 19. The Rebels currently rank 30th nationally and second in the SEC with a season opposing three-point clip of 28.7 percent, and Ole Miss also ranks second in the conference in SEC-only three-point defense at .260. In the Kermit Davis era, Ole Miss is 30-16 when holding opponents to 30 percent or lower and 48-24 when holding opponents below 40 percent from deep.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
After not getting to the line very often to start the season, the Rebels have been getting to the charity stripe and using it to great effect in the process. After starting the season just 17-of-31 (.548) from the free throw line amid three straight single-digit performances, Ole Miss has only been held to single digits three times in the succeeding 10 games at a combined line of 145-of-203 (.714) since playing Elon on Nov. 19 -- averaging 13.2 free throws made per game in that stretch. During its three-game winning streak that started on Nov. 26 vs. MVSU, Ole Miss went 54-of-76 (.711) -- which accounted for 25 percent of all Rebel scoring during the streak -- and over its last three wins over Middle Tennessee (13-20), Dayton (16-21) and Mississippi State (13-18), the Rebels have shot 42-of-59 (.712). Ole Miss averaged 13.0 trips to the free throw line in its first five games of the season, but has since averaged 18.8.

PROTECT THE BALL
Ole Miss has forced double-digit turnovers in all 14 of their contests so far this season, and have only turned the ball over more than its opponent twice this season. The Rebels hold a season turnover margin of +2.5 (7th SEC), and are fifth in the SEC in fewest turnovers per game (12.6). In the Kermit Davis era, the Rebels are 47-20 when having fewer turnovers than their opponents, and are 36-14 when forcing 15 turnovers or more.

TIGHT SHIP
Team defense has been a calling card of the Rebels in the early going, holding opponents to 70 or fewer 10 times in 14 games, including 60 or fewer in five of their last 11 outings -- capped by a season-low 51 to Rider.

REBELS TAME NATIONALLY-RANKED TIGERS
No. 18 Memphis nearly erased what had been an 11-point Ole Miss second half lead, but the Rebels never faltered and closed out strong at the free throw line to cap off an impressive 67-63 upset over the Tigers in front of an electric crowd of 8,629 at SJB Pavilion on Dec. 4. Ole Miss frustrated a Memphis squad that entered as one of the elite defending units in the nation, ranking No. 1 in the NCAA in blocks and No. 19 in opposing field goal percentage prior to tipoff. Defense was the name of the game as both teams shot a combined 37 percent, but the Rebels were also beneficiaries of timely shooting, two bombastic showings from Jarkel Joiner and Matthew Murrell, and – most importantly – a 23-of-29 clip from the charity stripe that helped hold their lead over the Tigers down the stretch.

The Rebels were paced offensively from two stellar performances from Oxford native Joiner and Memphis native Murrell, who combined for 39 points, 40 percent shooting, five threes made and a 14-of-17 mark from the free throw line. Joiner was clutch every time his number was called, ending the day with 20 points and a season-high in both rebounds (8) and steals (5) – as well as a near-perfect 7-of-8 clip from the free throw line. Murrell's offensive awakening continued to great effect for the Rebels, as he blew by his career-high with a new best of 19 points on a dynamite 4-of-9 three-point shooting effort that fired up the crowd at SJB Pavilion. Murrell was also clutch from the free throw line, going 7-of-9 overall, all coming in the second half. The Rebel defense fought fire-with-fire against the nationally ranked Tigers, forcing an Ole Miss opponent season-high 20 turnovers that turned into 20 points, while stifling standouts Emoni Bates (seven points, four rebounds) and Jalen Duren (two points, four rebounds) to a combined nine points. Ole Miss was also smart with the basketball on the offensive end, not allowing the ferocious Memphis shot blocking defense to affect the game by keeping them to a season-low three blocks.

BEWARE THE REBELS
Following its 67-63 upset over No. 18 Memphis on Dec. 4, Ole Miss had notched its fourth consecutive Top-25 win for just the second time in school history. The other such occurrence came across the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons, when Ole Miss ripped off four in a row against No. 6 Florida on Feb. 16, 2002 (68-51), No. 6 Alabama on March 3, 2002 (84-56), at No. 23 LSU the following season on Jan. 18, 2003 (67-57), and three days later vs. No. 15 Alabama on Jan. 21, 2003 (76-57). The latest streak came against No. 10 Tennessee on Feb. 2, 2021 (52-50), No. 10 Missouri on Feb. 10, 2021 (80-59) and at No. 24 Missouri on Feb. 23, 2021 before the win vs. Memphis. This was also the first time since 2001 that Ole Miss won against four ranked teams within the same calendar year. That season the Rebels did so five times against No. 10 Tennessee on Feb. 10 (87-71), No. 20 Alabama on March 3 (105-71), No. 5 Florida in the SEC Tournament (74-69), No. 19 Notre Dame in the NCAA Tournament (59-56) and the following season against No. 22 Memphis on Dec. 7 (71-67).

2020-21 / 2021-22
Feb. 2, 2021 - vs. #10 Tennessee (52-50)
Feb. 10, 2021 - vs. #10 Missouri (80-59)
Feb. 23, 2021 - at #24 Missouri (60-53)
Dec. 4, 2021 - vs. #18 Memphis (67-63)

2001-02 / 2002-03
Feb. 16, 2002 - vs. #6 Florida (68-51)
March 3, 2002 - vs. #6 Alabama (84-56)
Jan. 18, 2003 - at #23 LSU (67-57)
Jan. 21, 2003 - vs. #15 Alabama (76-57)

REBS DURING THE LATEST RANKED WINS STREAK
• 64.8 PPG offense, 56.3 PPG defense (+8.5)
• FG%: 88-of-208 (.423)
• 3PT%: 22-of-69 (.319)
• 3PM/Game: 5.5
• FT%: 61-of-79 (.772)
• FTM/Game: 15.3
• FTA/Game: 19.8
• Rebounds/Game: 36.3
• Rebounding Margin: +6.3
• Assists/Game: 11.5
• Turnovers/Game: 14.5
• Turnovers Forced/Game: 15.3
• Turnover Margin: +0.8
• Steals/Game: 8.3
• Blocks/Game: 2.5
• Points off Turnovers: 64-38 (Avg: 16.0/9.5)
• Points in the Paint: 98-80 (Avg: 24.5/20.0)
• 2nd Chance Points: 33-36 (Avg: 8.3/9.0)
• Fastbreak Points: 34-10 (Avg: 8.5/2.5)
• Bench Points: 61-72 (Avg: 15.3/18.0)
• Average Time Led: 24:36

HOMETOWN HERO
Senior Jarkel Joiner was named one of 60 men's and women's basketball student-athletes nationally named as candidates for the 2021-22 Senior CLASS Award on Dec. 7. Ole Miss women's basketball senior Shakira Austin was also named a candidate, making Ole Miss the only SEC school to be represented on both lists and one of just four schools nationally alongside BYU, Michigan and Virginia Tech.

To be eligible, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School ®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.

In the classroom, Joiner holds a 3.13 GPA in multi-disciplinary studies, and is a staple in his hometown community. Joiner was named to the 2020-21 SEC Community Service Team, working closely with the Reading with the Rebels program in addition to the Stronger Together Mississippi initiative and Adopt-A-Basket, which helps feed local families during the holiday season.

The men's and women's candidates will be narrowed to two fields of ten finalists later in the season, and those names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans, who will then select one male candidate and one female candidate who best exemplifies excellence in the four C's of community, classroom, character and competition. The Senior CLASS Award winners will be announced during the 2022 NCAA Men's Final Four® and NCAA Women's Final Four® this spring.

CRASHING THE BOARDS
Ole Miss recorded a historic rebounding effort against Rider on Nov. 30, hauling in 57 total boards and winning the battle on the glass by a margin of 21. The 57 rebounds stood as the most by a Rebel team since recording 64 vs. Troy on Nov. 27, 2007. Since 2007, Ole Miss has tallied 50 rebounds in 14 total games. Those 57 team rebounds also stand as the second-most by an SEC team this season.

Games With 50+ Rebounds Since 2007 (14)
11-30-21 - vs. Rider (57)
01-17-17 - Tennessee (50)
12-22-16 - South Alabama (50)
12-12-15 - Southeast Missouri (53)
11-16-15 - Georgia Southern (50)
11-14-14 - Charleston Southern (50)
11-08-13 - Troy (53)
01-29-13 - Kentucky (52)
11-09-12 - MVSU (54)
11-14-11 - Grambling (51)
02-24-10 - Auburn (50)
12-28-07 - Southern Miss (51)
11-27-07 - Troy (64)
11-16-07 - Lamar (53)

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 60 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 463 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 529 wins.

DAVIS ERA TRENDS TO WATCH
• 51-16 when leading at half
• 5-0 when scoring 90+, 27-3 when scoring 80+, 46-19 when scoring 70+
• 41-16 when winning the rebounding battle
• 26-3 when at 50 percent shooting or better
• 17-6 when shooting 40 percent or better from three
• 57-29 when keeping opponents below 50 percent shooting (33-6 when below 40 percent)

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

Jaemyn Brakefield

Nysier Brooks

Tye Fagan

Jarkel Joiner

Matthew Murrell

Daeshun Ruffin

Devontae Shuler

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