SOUTHAVEN, Miss. — In a compelling matchup on Saturday evening, the 25th-ranked Mississippi Rebels triumphed over Colorado State with a final score of 84-69.
Jaylen Murray was a standout performer for the Rebels, contributing 16 points to the victory. Other key contributors included Mikeal Brown-Jones with 14 points, and both Malik Dia and Dre Davis, who added 11 points each.
Matthew Murrell, returning from a back injury that kept him out of the previous game, made an impact by scoring 10 points, including a 3-pointer that opened the scoring for Ole Miss.
For Colorado State, Jalen Lake and Nique Clifford were the top scorers, netting 21 and 18 points, respectively. Despite facing a significant deficit of 45-26 by halftime, the Rams mounted a challenge in the second half, closing the gap to nine points, aided by an impressive performance from beyond the arc, hitting nine 3-pointers, five of which came from Lake.
Analyzing the game, Colorado State, ranked seventh in the preseason Mountain West Conference coaches poll, struggled to overcome the early deficit despite the solid outings by Lake and Clifford. Meanwhile, the Rebels displayed impressive shooting, finishing 28 of 55 from the field, which reflects a shooting percentage of 50.9%. After some previous non-conference victories marked by less-than-ideal shooting, the Rebels demonstrated their potential as a ranked team, particularly evident in their strong first-half performance.
A pivotal moment occurred when Ole Miss surged ahead to a 36-15 lead within the first 13 minutes of the game. They showcased a potent offense, connecting on 15 of their first 24 shots, which included five timely 3-pointers from five different players.
Statistically, the Rebels excelled with 15 assists compared to only four turnovers, while also converting 13 of 17 layup attempts. This balanced approach complemented their effective perimeter shooting.
Looking ahead, Colorado State will return home to face UC Riverside on Friday night, while Ole Miss is set to host Oral Roberts on Thursday night.