OXFORD, Miss. — In a commanding performance, No. 25 Mississippi overcame No. 14 Kentucky with a final score of 98-84, propelled by the outstanding play of Matthew Murrell, who tallied 24 points on the night.
Murrell was key for Ole Miss (17-6, 6-4 Southeastern Conference), sinking six 3-pointers, four of which came in the first half. The Rebels surged ahead early, never letting their lead slip, as they executed impressive runs of 10-0 and 15-3 to secure a 54-31 advantage at halftime.
In addition to Murrell’s contributions, the Rebels saw significant efforts from Dre Davis, who netted 17 points, while Malik Dia contributed 16 points. Jaylen Murray rounded out the scoring with 15 points and a season-best 10 assists. Jaeymn Brakefield added 10 points in the first half, aiding Ole Miss in their overall shooting performance of 54.7%.
For Kentucky (15-7, 4-5), Amari Williams achieved a triple-double, recording 12 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. Otega Oweh emerged as the scoring leader for the Wildcats with 24 points, with 19 of those coming in the second half. Jaxson Robinson also made his presence felt with 18 points.
Although Kentucky shot 50% from the field across the game, their first half performance was lacking as they only managed 38.7% (12 out of 31 attempts).
In terms of insights, Kentucky, under first-year head coach Mark Pope, is now struggling with four losses in their last five games. Fortunately for them, three of their forthcoming four games will be played at home. The Wildcats’ point guard, Lamont Butler, was absent for the third straight game due to injury.
On the other hand, Ole Miss bounced back strongly after a series of close losses in the SEC, showcasing a notable defensive effort alongside timely shooting from beyond the arc. The Rebels now stand at 6-4 in games played on the road or at neutral venues and will be facing a challenging schedule, with four of their next five contests away from home. Impressively, they committed only one turnover throughout the game, marking a season-low.
A pivotal moment in the game came when Murrell knocked down three 3-pointers during a decisive 15-3 run that concluded the first half, helping to set the tone for the remainder of the contest.
Looking at the statistics, the Rebels, who typically average eight 3-pointers per game, exceeded expectations by hitting nine in the first half and finishing with a total of 13 out of 30 attempts. Ole Miss was particularly effective in capitalizing on Kentucky’s mistakes, outscoring them 9-0 on turnovers and winning the turnover battle 8-1.
Both teams will be back in action on Saturday, with Kentucky set to host South Carolina and Ole Miss traveling to face LSU.
