Ole Miss Outshoot Short-Handed Arkansas

Jan 24, 2024; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi Rebels forward Jaemyn Brakefield (4) drives to the basket as Arkansas Razorbacks forward Jalen Graham (11) defends during the first half at The Sandy and John Black Pavilion at Ole Miss.

Jaylen Murray scored 21 points, Matthew Murrell had 18 and Ole Miss dominated short-handed Arkansas 77-51 on Wednesday night in Oxford, Miss.Did the Bucks want Doc Rivers as head coach all along?

Jaemyn Brakefield added 11 points and Allen Flanigan had 10 points and 11 rebounds for the Rebels (16-3, 3-3 Southeastern Conference), who never trailed and allowed a season-low point total while improving to 12-0 at home.

Ole Miss outshot Arkansas (10-9, 1-5) on field-goal attempts (47 percent-33.3 percent), 3-pointer attempts (36.8 percent-22.7 percent) and free-throw attempts (80 percent-66.7 percent).

The Rebels finished with a 22-4 advantage in points off turnovers after giving the ball away just nine times. They had a 43-28 rebounding edge and a 38-20 edge in points in the paint.

Khalif Battle scored 11 and Joseph Pinion had 10 to lead the Razorbacks, who played without leading scorer Tramon Mark (migraine) and saw third-leading scorer Trevon Brazile sit out the second half because of knee soreness.

Brazile scored just three points but still tied for the team lead with four rebounds despite playing just 12 minutes.Arkansas still wound up with a 29-15 scoring advantage from the bench, but its starters got outscored 62-22.

Flanigan had two field goals as the Rebels began the second half with a 10-3 run that produced a 48-29 lead. Ole Miss went on to lead by as many as 29 points.

Brakefield made a 3-pointer to open the game and Murrell scored five points as Ole Miss raced to a 12-2 lead.

Brazile made two free throws to pull the Razorbacks within six points before Murray and Murrell each made a 3-pointer as the Rebels opened a 24-9 lead.

Arkansas scored the next five points, but Ole Miss rebuilt the lead to 14.Battle made two free throws and converted a three-point play to get the Razorbacks within 29-23.

Brakefield had two three-point plays during a closing 9-3 run that gave the Rebels a 38-26 halftime lead.

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