OXFORD, Miss. — Manny Obaseki’s clutch 3-pointer with just 13 seconds on the clock sealed a thrilling 63-62 victory for No. 13 Texas A&M against No. 16 Mississippi on Wednesday evening.
Obaseki’s shot from the corner, which came with significant pressure, marked the first lead of the game for Texas A&M (15-4, 3-2 in the Southeastern Conference). In a last-ditch effort, Jaemyn Brakefield of Ole Miss (15-4, 4-2) attempted to respond, but his shot fell short with only two seconds left.
Zhuric Phelps led Texas A&M’s scoring with 14 points, while Obaseki contributed 12 points in just 18 minutes off the bench, and Pharrel Payne chipped in 10 points. For Mississippi, Sean Pedulla recorded the highest score with 16 points. Both Malik Dia and Jaylen Murray added 12 points each, and Brakefield accounted for 10 points.
In terms of takeaways, Texas A&M achieved a significant milestone by recording their first win over a ranked conference team this season, improving their record to 2-1 in SEC away games. Although Wade Taylor IV, a two-time All-SEC guard, returned for his second game after recovering from an injury, he struggled with only four points and registered five turnovers.
On the flip side, this loss was notable for the Rebels as they suffered their first defeat at home, placing them in a crowded third position in the SEC standings, sharing it with five other teams each holding two losses, behind No. 1 Auburn and No. 4 Alabama. Pedulla and Murray both showcased their shooting skills by sinking four 3-pointers during the game.
The decisive moment in the match came as Obaseki’s late three capped an impressive 11-2 run for the Aggies, with a remarkable surge of 7-0 in the last 29 seconds. Ole Miss struggled in the closing moments and was unable to score a basket in the last 3 minutes and 49 seconds.
A key statistic worth noting is Texas A&M’s dominant performance on the boards, as they held a significant 48-31 advantage in rebounds throughout the game.
Looking ahead, both teams will return to action on Saturday, with Texas A&M set to face Texas while Ole Miss travels to match up against No. 22 Missouri.
