Ole Miss Drops a Hard Fought Contest to No. 16 Memphis 87-86

Adam Brown
Sports Editor
adam.brown@hottytoddy.com

The Ole Miss Rebels basketball team dropped a hard-fought game to the No. 16 Memphis Tigers 87-86 on Saturday.

Breein Tyree led the Rebels with 24 points against Memphis. Photo by Joshua McCoy / Ole Miss Athletics

“In the end, we could not make a play when we need too, but a good college game in November,” head coach Kermit Davis said. “This is a great rivalry game that needs to be played every year.”

Ole Miss (4-1) had three different players score double figures in the contest. The Rebels were led by senior Breein Tyree who had 24 points.

In the final seconds of the game, Tyree was fouled as he looked to be taking a three-point shot that would have tied the game; however, it was determined he had a foul before the attempt.

“I heard them yell foul, foul, foul so I went to shoot (the ball) and that is part of the game,” Tyree said.

Tyree’s teammates Blake Hinson added 15 points and KJ Buffen posted 13 of his own.

“(Blake’s) play was good, he had not had contact since August 8,” Davis said.

Coach Davis’ squad got into foul trouble in the game as Buffen and Khadim Sy fouled out and Hinson got four fouls in the game.

“We got in deep foul trouble we need Sy on the floor Blake got in foul trouble and KJ fouled out,” Davis said.

Memphis had their biggest lead of 16 points at the 11-minute mark in the second half before the Rebels went on a run that cut the score down to a one-possession score at the end of the contest.

“These guys have great hearts, I knew that we would keep battling and playing. We fought it right down to the end to a one-possession game,” Davis said.

The Tigers were led on the floor by Precious Achiuwa with 25 points and 11 rebounds.

Memphis outscored the Rebels 52-20 in points in the paint.

“(Memphis) killed us around the goal, driving (the ball) and offensive rebounding,” Davis said.

Ole Miss was held to 39.4 percent from the floor and 44.4 percent from behind the arc.

The Rebels forced Memphis into 16 turnovers and scored 12 points off of them.

Ole Miss returns to the hardwood on Wednesday as they head up to Brooklyn, New York to take part in the NIT Tip-off against Penn State. Tip-off is slated for 4 p.m. on ESPN2.