Rebels Comeback Falls Short Against MTSU

Photo by Joshua McCoy / Ole Miss Sports

Ole Miss cut a 29-point halftime deficit to single digits in the second half, but couldn’t complete the comeback as the Rebels fell 77-62 to Middle Tennessee Wednesday. Freshman Breein Tyree provided a spark for the Rebels off the bench to begin the second half, but it wasn’t enough to close the halftime gap.

Middle Tennessee (7-1) hit 9 of 16 3-pointers as a team and shot 48 percent (29 of 60) from the floor in a game they dominated from the opening tip.

Ole Miss (5-2) struggled out of the gate, starting 0-for-7 from the field and turning the ball over 14 times in the first half. Middle Tennessee built a 16-1 lead early and eventually led 48-19 at the break.

Ole Miss opened the second half on a 10-2 run and chipped away at the MTSU lead for most of the half, but never led. The Rebels managed only two second-half turnovers and finished 19-of-27 from the free throw line, but in the end could not overcome their deep first-half hole.

Middle Tennessee made shots when it needed them and finished an efficient 10-of-12 from the free throw line, including several during a late Rebel push. Reggie Upshaw added 15 points for the Blue Raiders and JaCorey Williams chipped in 10.

Deandre Burnett led the Rebels with 15 points., while Cullen Neal added 13 points and Breein Tyree 11.

The Rebels are back in action on Saturday in The Pavilion when the Memphis Tigers come to Oxford. The game tips at noon
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Courtesy of Ole Miss Sports