Ole Miss defeats No. 4 Tennessee

Story from Ole Miss Athletics
OXFORD, Miss. – In the final regular season game of the year at the SJB Pavilion, the Ole Miss men’s basketball team (21-9, 10-7 SEC) earned a historic win over No. 4Tennessee (24-6, 11-6 SEC) 78-76 Wednesday night. Ole Miss was led by Jaemyn Brakefield who scored 19 points, all coming in the second half, on senior night.

A back-and-forth first half ensued as Tennessee took a 41-36 lead into the locker room. Zakai Zeigler didn’t score a point for the Vols in the first half but dished out nine assists to just one turnover. Tennessee connected on 8-of-17 from three-point range led by Chaz Lanier with three first half triples.

Ole Miss also scored the rock at a productive rate, shooting 44.8 percent (13-for-29) over the first 20 minutes of action. Malik Dia led the way for the Rebels with 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting.

Ole Miss would win the first four minutes of the second half, outscoring the Vols 6-2, to make it 44-42 Tennessee with 15:49 to play.

Tennessee extended the lead to seven with 10:49 left before Ole Miss would find a spark. Several key buckets from Jaemyn Brakefield ignited the SJB Pavilion crowd as Ole Miss pulled within one with 7:20 to play.

The offensive flow would continue for the Rebels as they connected on four consecutive field goals to go up 74-70 with 2:28 left on the clock.

With just one second on the shot clock, Sean Pedulla made a perfect pass to Brakefield on a baseline out-of-bounds play to put Ole Miss up 76-72 with 55 seconds left. Tennessee would respond with a four-point play from Igor Milicic Jr. to tie it at 76 on the next possession.

Sean Pedulla would put up a three with 12 seconds left, before the ball took three bounces on the rim. Davon Barnes tipped it towards Brakefield who hauled in the offensive board and connected on the putback with 7.5 seconds left putting Ole Miss up, 78-76.

Tennessee would advance the ball and call timeout with three seconds remaining to draw one final play up for a potential game tying or winning bucket. The Volunteers would get Milicic Jr. the ball driving to the lane, but he was unable to find the bottom of the net as time expired.

Brakefield was outstanding for Ole Miss, leading the Rebels with 19 points on 8-of-9 shooting. All 19 of his points came in the second half as he answered the call every time Ole Miss needed a bucket.

Dre Davis recorded his first double-double of the season with 13 points and a season-high 10 rebounds. Malik Dia also added 13 points for Ole Miss.

Matthew Murrell would cap off senior night as the fourth Rebel to score in double-figures on the night with 12 points.

Ole Miss will head to Gainesville, Florida for their final game of the regular season before SEC tournament play in Nashville next week. Tipoff with the No. 5 Gators (26-4, 13-4 SEC) is set for 5 p.m. CT on SEC Network.

NOTABLES

• This was the third time Ole Miss has taken down the No. 4 AP-ranked team, two of which have happened this year after the Rebels took down No. 4 Alabama on January 14.
• Jaemyn Brakefield’s 19 points marks just the fourth time this season he’s led Ole Miss in scoring.
• Dre Davis recorded the third double-double of the season by a Rebel with 13 points and a season-high 10 rebounds.
• Sean Pedulla tallied six assists marking the 14th game this season he has led the Rebels in passing.
• Ole Miss dominated inside, holding a 46-20 advantage on points in the paint.
• This is the first season Ole Miss has earned two wins over AP top-five teams.