Ole Miss Takes on the OSU Cowboys in NIT Tip-Off Championship

Adam Brown
Sports Editor
adam.brown@hottytoddy.com

The Ole Miss Rebels basketball team returns to the hardwood this evening in the championship game of the NIT Tip-Off against the Oklahoma State Cowboys. Game time is slated for 8:30 p.m. at the Barclays Center. The game will broadcast on ESPN2.

KJ Buffen recorded a career high in boards, assists and steals over Penn State. Photo by Petre Thomas/Ole Miss Athletics.

Ole Miss (5-1) got to the championship game after defeating Penn State 74-72 on Wednesday. The Rebels overcame a 21 point deficit behind the play of senior guard Breein Tyree’s 18 points (all in the second half).

Sophomore KJ Buffen recorded a career-high in rebounds (9), assists (6) and steals (4) in the win over the Nittany Lions. His teammate Bryce Willams tallied a career-high 15 points, going 6-for-6 at the charity stripe. In the last three games Williams has averaged 10.0 ppg including a perfect 13-of-13 at the free-throw line.

This season, Ole Miss ranks third in free throw percentage at 75.0.

Head Coach Kermit Davis’ squad welcomed forward Blake Hinson back to the court in the last two games. He has averaged 16 points per game.

Oklahoma State (6-0) is coming off a 86-72 victory over Syracuse. Sophomore guard Isaac Likekele, the team’s leading scorer at 14.5 ppg, scored 26 points to lead the Cowboys to victory. Fellow sophomore Yor Anei tallied 19 points and eight rebounds in the win as well. Anei is right behind Likekele in scoring (12.7 ppg), while leading the team in rebounds (7.3 per game).

Tonight’s matchup is the third all-time game between the two programs on the court. In the last meeting in 1953, Oklahoma State won 59-42.

Fans can watch all the action on ESPN2 or listen to the call on the Ole Miss Sports Network.