Ole Miss turns away NC State in ACC/SEC Challenge

OXFORD, Miss. – Taking the lead in their opening possession of the game, the Ole Miss men’s basketball team never trailed against a tough NC State team, holding on for a 20-point victory in a 72-52 game Tuesday night at the SJB Pavilion in the ACC/SEC Challenge.

Jaemyn Brakefield paced the Rebels with a career-best 25 points, while Allen Flanigan recorded his second double-double of the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Jaylen Murray and Matthew Murrell each added 12 points.

Ole Miss (6-0) came out of the gates with aggressive play on defense, holding NC State (4-2) to three points while the Rebels chipped in their first 14. A 13-2 run was capped off with a free throw by Murray with 10:45 on the clock, before the Wolfpack responded with a run to make it a three-point game, 20-17. Four blocks and four steals in the first half illustrated the defensive side of the court for Ole Miss, as they held NC State to their lowest first-half field goal percentage of the season at 37.5%.

The level of play on defense continued in the second half, as the Rebels held the visitors to 26.5% from the floor in the back half of action.

A fast-break layup from Brakefield kicked off the second period, giving Ole Miss a double-digit lead they held the remainder of the night. Midway through the half, TJ Caldwell secured an offensive rebound and scored to give the Rebels a 21-point advantage. A roaring crowd in the SJB Pavilion joined the Rebels in celebrating their impressive victory over an NC State team that made the NCAA Tournament a season ago.

Entering the night ranked 23rd in the nation in blocks per game at 5.6, Ole Miss had a season-best nine, including three by Jamarion Sharp and Flanigan. Murrell set a new career-best for steals in a game tonight with four.

Ben Middlebrooks led the Wolfpack in scoring with 13 off the bench, while Casey Morsell added 12.

A big week for the men’s basketball program continues on Saturday, December 2 when the Rebels host Memphis in the SJB Pavilion at 1 p.m. on ESPN2.