Ole Miss MBB vs. N.C. State
Ole Miss faced its first real test of the season when the North Carolina State Wolfpack came to town as a part of the ACC/SEC Men’s College Basketball Challenge. N.C. State touts a very fast offense and an aggressive defense, but the Wolfpack could not get things going against a red-hot Rebel team.
Ole Miss hosts a number of incredible scorers such as Jaemyn Brakefield and Allen Flanigan, two Rebels who paved the way for this win. Ole Miss won the game with a score of 72-52, and in this contest, Ole Miss was able to learn a lot about itself as a team.
Here are some of the major takeaways from this game.
The Rebels finally dominated a game of basketball
Fans have been waiting the entire season for this sort of upset, with Ole Miss seemingly squeaking by its opponents game after game. Although the Rebels boasted an undefeated record going into this game, many fans thought that there was a chance for a blowout, but not in favor of Ole Miss.
In the first half, however, Ole Miss broke away, ending the half with 35 points to N.C. State’s 27. Brakefield was the leading scorer for the first half with 13 points, and he finished with a game-high 25 points.
The Rebels were able to score on this supposedly strong N.C. State defense at will, something this offense has struggled to do in this young season.
The defense
In the first half, the Rebels had a very good showing on the defensive side of the ball, forcing six turnovers and blocking four shots in the first 20 minutes of play alone.
The second half was much of the same, with N.C. State trying to rally and the Rebels blocking them. Ole Miss’ defense came through without having too many fouls — only 14 — for the entire game.
Offensive MVP: Jaemyn Brakefield
As stated earlier, Brakefield finished with 25 points, but he also had four steals and two rebounds. It was a dominant performance for him, as he shot 66% from the field, finally flashing his offensive skill set. Brakefield has been off to a slow start this season, so we will see if he can keep up the momentum; if so, the Rebels will be in good shape on the offensive side of the ball.
Best overall performance: Allen Flanagan
Flanagan finished with 15 points, 10 rebounds and three assists. He ended the night with an efficient and impressive double-double, putting on a show in the process. Flanagan has maintained this steady level of production so far this season, and if he can continue to do so, he will have, perhaps, the most impact on the team’s success.
Defensive MVPs: Matthew Murrell and Jamarion Sharp
Both Murrell and Sharp had impressive nights on the defensive side of the ball. Murrell led the team in steals with four, and Sharp led the team in blocks with three. Sharp has been a steady presence on defense all year, and it was a surprising night for Murrell on the defensive side. With Moussa Cisse waiting in the wings, a Sharp and Cisse interior is very scary for this team.
Up next: vs. Memphis
Ole Miss faces off against Head Coach Penny Hardaway and the Memphis Tigers Saturday, Dec. 2 at 1 p.m. The game will stream on ESPN, but it is also a home game for the Rebels inside the SJB Pavilion.
