OXFORD,Miss. — In an impressive showdown on Saturday, Matthew Murrell and Jaemyn Brakefield both scored 15 points, leading the 24th-ranked Mississippi to a 63-51 victory over Georgia.
The Rebels, now standing at 12-2 overall and 1-0 in Southeastern Conference play, faced a 28-26 deficit at halftime. However, they swiftly turned the game around at the start of the second half, launching an 11-2 scoring run in under four minutes. This rally began with consecutive jumpers from Murrell and was concluded with two baskets from Brakefield, which put Ole Miss ahead 37-30.
Georgia, holding a record of 12-2 and 0-1 in the conference, never regained the lead after that point. They did pull within two points, 45-43, when Blue Cain hit a jumper with six minutes left on the clock. But Ole Miss quickly answered back with a three-pointer from Brakefield, followed by a jumper from Davon Barnes, solidifying their hold on the game and keeping Georgia at bay.
Asa Newell shone for the Bulldogs with a double-double performance, scoring 13 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. This loss for Georgia ended their impressive seven-game winning streak.
Key Insights:
For Georgia, the January schedule poses a significant challenge, featuring four straight games against opponents ranked in the AP Top 25.
On the other hand, Ole Miss, under Chris Beard’s guidance, demonstrated urgency in the second half, a contrast to their recent sluggish starts in prior matches.
A pivotal moment came when Ole Miss outscored Georgia 18-4 during the initial nine minutes of the second half, building a comfortable 44-32 advantage. The Rebels showcased teamwork and efficiency, as four players contributed with two baskets each, while they shot 7 of 12 from the floor. Conversely, Georgia struggled significantly, making only 2 of 14 shots during that stretch.
Statistically, Georgia struggled to find their rhythm, finishing the game shooting 17 of 58 overall and a disappointing 2 of 18 from beyond the arc. Their offensive woes were highlighted by the fact that they only managed one field goal in the final six minutes of play.
Looking ahead, Georgia will kick off a two-game home series against the 10th-ranked Kentucky on Tuesday, followed by a matchup with the 12th-ranked Oklahoma on January 11. Meanwhile, Ole Miss will travel to face 23rd-ranked Arkansas on Wednesday.
