SAN DIEGO — In an exciting matchup on Thursday, Jaylen Murray shone brightly for No. 23 Mississippi, scoring a career-best 28 points to lead his team to a 96-85 victory over BYU during the Rady Children’s Invitational. This triumph marked the Rebels’ 19th consecutive nonconference win, which stands as the longest streak in the nation.

Murray was instrumental in overtime, contributing nine crucial points, including a jumper just 1:17 into the extra period that secured the lead for Ole Miss. He followed this with two successful free throws, a three-point play, and two additional free throws that effectively sealed the game.

Both Dre Davis and Matthew Murrell supported the offensive effort for the Rebels, each scoring 18 points, while Sean Pedulla chipped in with 13 points. The game was characterized by its fast pace and occasionally intense moments. For BYU, Kanon Catchings led the way with 17 points, helping his team to have five players score in double figures. Egor Demin, Richie Saunders, and Fousseyni Traore each contributed 16 points, while Mihailo Boskovic added 10 points to the scoreboard for the Cougars.

As Ole Miss prepares to face No. 13 Purdue in the championship match on Friday, they will look to build on this significant win. The Cougars, now at 5-1, will encounter NC State in their next game.

**Highlights**

In the early stages of the game, BYU demonstrated their shooting prowess, making three 3-pointers within the first 4:40 and finishing the first half with a total of seven threes—four of which were by Catchings. Overall, the Cougars managed to shoot 12 for 38 from beyond the arc.

For Murray, this performance surpassed his previous career high of 26 points, which he set last season against Mount St. Mary’s.

**Crucial Moments**

A pivotal moment in regulation came when Murray made a layup to level the score at 77 with just 26 seconds remaining. Following this, a missed short jumper from Traore paved the way for Pedulla’s last-second attempt, which ultimately clanged off the rim.

**Statistical Insights**

In a noteworthy statistic, Ole Miss excelled at the free-throw line, converting 29 of their 36 attempts, with Davis making an impressive 10 out of 14 free throws.

**Next Up**

As the championship approaches, Ole Miss will challenge No. 13 Purdue, while BYU gears up for a contest against NC State.