Ole Miss Dominates the Paint; Rebels Overwhelm Tigers at Mizzou Arena
The Ole Miss Rebels, with a record of 0-0, faced off against the Missouri Tigers, also at 0-0, in a display of early-season conference play. The Rebels secured a convincing victory with a final score of 66-45 over the Tigers.
From the outset, the Rebels established their presence on both ends of the court. The first quarter saw them put up 13 points to Missouri's 10 and maintained this momentum into the second quarter by matching their own opening score. By halftime, Ole Miss had set themselves up with a lead that they would not relinquish.
The third quarter marked an increase in intensity for Ole Miss as they outscored Missouri by two points, adding another 18 to their tally. It was during this period that their defensive efforts shone through; eight steals contributed to numerous fast-break opportunities and ultimately led to three fast break points. This aggressive defense also forced turnovers which translated into an impressive 20 points off turnovers for Ole Miss.
Offensively, Ole Miss showcased balanced scoring across quarters but saved their best performance for last by netting an impressive 22 points in the fourth quarter alone. Their field goal percentage stood at a solid 38 percent from an attempt total of 60 shots. From beyond the arc, they shot at a commendable rate of 36 percent while maintaining efficiency from the free-throw line with a high conversion rate of approximately four out of five attempts made.
Rebounding was another area where Ole Miss excelled; they pulled down an imposing total of forty rebounds—twenty-four defensively and fourteen offensively—which included two team rebounds contributing to eighteen second-chance points. This rebounding effort dwarfed that of Missouri's twenty-four total rebounds.
The Rebels' teamwork was evident through ten assists which helped facilitate ball movement and scoring opportunities across all quarters. However, it wasn't just about offense as they displayed solid defensive capabilities too—recording two blocks and limiting personal fouls to twenty-four without any player ejections or technical fouls.
Missouri's performance was highlighted by their ability to capitalize on paint scoring with thirty-two paint points but struggled from long range without sinking any three-pointers from seven attempts—a stark contrast to Ole Miss' five successful shots from distance.
Looking ahead after this commanding win on foreign hardwoods at Mizzou Arena before an attendance crowd numbering four thousand one hundred forty spectators—the next challenge for The University Of Mississippi awaits against Kentucky Wildcats at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington KY on February twenty-ninth at six o'clock PM local time (Central Time). Fans eager to follow The University Of Mississippi’s progress can tune in for live coverage as they take on Kentucky Wildcats in what promises another exciting matchup within conference play boundaries.