The Ole Miss Rebels secured a 71-67 victory over the Southern Miss Golden Eagles, improving their record to 1-0. The game, held at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum, saw the Rebels take control in the second half after a closely contested first half that ended with them leading by just 2 points.

Dec 3, 2022; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Mississippi Rebels guard James White (5) dunks during the second half against the Memphis Tigers at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

First Half

The opening half was marked by back-and-forth action as both teams exchanged leads multiple times. The Rebels managed to edge ahead with a narrow lead of 31-29 by halftime. AJ Storr was instrumental during this period, contributing significantly with his scoring prowess and defensive efforts. His ability to convert crucial shots kept the Landsharks competitive against a resilient Golden Eagles squad.

Second Half

In the second half, Ole Miss capitalized on their bench strength, which proved pivotal in maintaining their lead and eventually securing victory. Kezza Giffa's performance off the bench was noteworthy; he added energy and points that helped widen the gap between both teams. The Rebels' defense also stepped up significantly in this period, recording several steals that disrupted Southern Miss's offensive rhythm.

Key Moments

A decisive moment came when Malik Dia made key plays under pressure, helping extend Ole Miss's biggest lead to 10 points during critical junctures of play. This cushion allowed them some breathing room as they navigated through Southern Miss's attempts at closing the gap late in the game.

On defense, Corey Chest showcased his shot-blocking ability which contributed to limiting easy baskets for Southern Miss inside the paint area—a factor that played into maintaining their advantage throughout.

Despite valiant efforts from Southern Miss players who managed an impressive field goal percentage of 46 percent overall and dominated inside scoring with 34 points in paint areas—Ole Miss’s strategic adjustments ensured they stayed ahead till final buzzer sounded.

Overall assessment from this matchup indicates strong potential within Rebel ranks moving forward into season campaigns; particularly highlighting depth available across roster positions evident through contributions made beyond starting lineup alone—an aspect likely beneficial facing tougher opponents down line such as Alabama A&M Bulldogs next week!

Fans can catch upcoming action against Alabama A&M Bulldogs scheduled for December 17th at Cadence Bank Arena located Tupelo MS starting time set around evening hours approximately eight o'clock Eastern Daylight Time broadcasted live via SEC Network+ online streaming service platform accessible nationwide viewers alike eager witness continued progress displayed thus far under current coaching regime leadership guiding team aspirations higher levels success anticipated future contests await eagerly anticipated showdown looming horizon soon enough indeed!

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