OXFORD — Blake Hinson got an open look for a potential game-winner in double overtime Tuesday night at The Pavilion at Ole Miss.
However, it was off the mark, sending the Rebels home to think about easily their most heartbreaking, devastating loss of the season.
Auburn’s 83-82 win over the Rebels improved the Tigers to 18-2 overall and 5-2 in the Southeastern Conference. Ole Miss, meanwhile, fell to 10-10 overall and 1-6 in the SEC.
Anfernee McLemore led Auburn with 19 points off the bench. Samir Doughty added 17. Isaac Okoro had 14, Daniel Purifoy 13 and J’Von McCormick 12.
Devontae Shuler led Ole Miss with 26 points. Hinson added 16, while Khadim Sy had 13 and KJ Buffen 10.
Here are 10 observations from the Rebels’ loss to Auburn:
1. Breein Tyree rolled his left ankle with 11:49 left and Ole Miss leading, 48-36. That meant critical minutes with Bryce Williams and Austin Crowley on the floor together. Tyree returned 43 seconds later, as Ole Miss just broke down offensively without Tyree on the floor. It was a precursor of things to come.
2. Tyree picked up his fourth foul with 6:40 left and Ole Miss leading by eight after the two free throws. Ole Miss coach Kermit Davis left him in. Tyree fouled out with 5:15 left and Ole Miss leading by seven after the free throws. Ole Miss’ offense was a train wreck the rest of the way.
3. It’ll be remembered for the overtime periods, but Ole Miss led by 17 points at halftime and 19 points one minute into the second half. Teams with experienced backcourts just can’t lose those games. With a chance to gain momentum coming off an impressive win at Georgia, the Rebels blew it. It’s a loss that figures to sting for weeks to come.
4. Shuler was terrific. He played 48 minutes and never blinked. He was 6-for-10 from the floor, 13 of 18 from the free throw line and had five assists to three turnovers. Considering the load he was carrying, it was a strong performance. Shuler attacked the rim Tuesday night. He hasn’t been able to consistently find his range from the perimeter, but his athleticism and strength off the dribble is a weapon. He used it Tuesday to his and Ole Miss’ advantage.
5. Hinson’s final shot has to be a drive. Ole Miss, down just one point, had almost 10 seconds to produce a play. Hinson simply has to drive to the basket there and force Auburn to make a play. Taking a 20-footer is a bad decision, and I’d write that even it fell. Hinson missed his final six shots, mostly because he stopped driving and instead settled.
6. There was great defense by Ole Miss early, not letting Auburn shooters have room on the perimeter to get open looks from the 3-point line, even well behind the arc. Three of the Tigers’ first four offensive possessions ended in shot clock violations. Ole Miss, meanwhile, ran offense and got bucket after bucket at the basket. Throw in a Tyree 3-pointer and a Hinson layup off a Shuler steal and the Rebels jumped out to an 11-2 lead, forcing a Bruce Pearl timeout. The Rebels got hands in passing lanes, played smart defense. They were tenacious, forcing another Pearl timeout with 10:56 left in the first half and Ole Miss leading, 15-2. Auburn committed seven turnovers on its first 14 possessions.
7. Buffen really held his own in the post against Wiley despite a real size disadvantage. Buffen blocked a shot using disciplined verticality, took advantage of his athleticism and played one of his smartest games in an Ole Miss uniform.
8. Auburn had a great defensive plan for Tyree. They doubled him behind the 3-point line, switched on screens and basically made him work overtime for anything he got. Tyree responded with a lethargic start to the second half, picking up a couple of fouls that turned out to be costly.
9. Ole Miss got killed on the glass, 45-33. Auburn had 19 second-chance points compared to Ole Miss’ six. It’s a failure to make winning plays, and it’s been happening with this group all season. Ole Miss could easily be in the mix at this point but it’s blown double-digit leads in four SEC games. Bigger picture: The Rebels are now 3-16 in their last 19 games against top-100 NET teams. That’s a devastating stat.
10. Ole Miss travels to LSU Saturday at 11 a.m. The Rebels lost to the Tigers in Oxford earlier this month.
However, it was off the mark, sending the Rebels home to think about easily their most heartbreaking, devastating loss of the season.
Auburn’s 83-82 win over the Rebels improved the Tigers to 18-2 overall and 5-2 in the Southeastern Conference. Ole Miss, meanwhile, fell to 10-10 overall and 1-6 in the SEC.
Anfernee McLemore led Auburn with 19 points off the bench. Samir Doughty added 17. Isaac Okoro had 14, Daniel Purifoy 13 and J’Von McCormick 12.
Devontae Shuler led Ole Miss with 26 points. Hinson added 16, while Khadim Sy had 13 and KJ Buffen 10.
Here are 10 observations from the Rebels’ loss to Auburn:
1. Breein Tyree rolled his left ankle with 11:49 left and Ole Miss leading, 48-36. That meant critical minutes with Bryce Williams and Austin Crowley on the floor together. Tyree returned 43 seconds later, as Ole Miss just broke down offensively without Tyree on the floor. It was a precursor of things to come.
2. Tyree picked up his fourth foul with 6:40 left and Ole Miss leading by eight after the two free throws. Ole Miss coach Kermit Davis left him in. Tyree fouled out with 5:15 left and Ole Miss leading by seven after the free throws. Ole Miss’ offense was a train wreck the rest of the way.
3. It’ll be remembered for the overtime periods, but Ole Miss led by 17 points at halftime and 19 points one minute into the second half. Teams with experienced backcourts just can’t lose those games. With a chance to gain momentum coming off an impressive win at Georgia, the Rebels blew it. It’s a loss that figures to sting for weeks to come.
4. Shuler was terrific. He played 48 minutes and never blinked. He was 6-for-10 from the floor, 13 of 18 from the free throw line and had five assists to three turnovers. Considering the load he was carrying, it was a strong performance. Shuler attacked the rim Tuesday night. He hasn’t been able to consistently find his range from the perimeter, but his athleticism and strength off the dribble is a weapon. He used it Tuesday to his and Ole Miss’ advantage.
5. Hinson’s final shot has to be a drive. Ole Miss, down just one point, had almost 10 seconds to produce a play. Hinson simply has to drive to the basket there and force Auburn to make a play. Taking a 20-footer is a bad decision, and I’d write that even it fell. Hinson missed his final six shots, mostly because he stopped driving and instead settled.
6. There was great defense by Ole Miss early, not letting Auburn shooters have room on the perimeter to get open looks from the 3-point line, even well behind the arc. Three of the Tigers’ first four offensive possessions ended in shot clock violations. Ole Miss, meanwhile, ran offense and got bucket after bucket at the basket. Throw in a Tyree 3-pointer and a Hinson layup off a Shuler steal and the Rebels jumped out to an 11-2 lead, forcing a Bruce Pearl timeout. The Rebels got hands in passing lanes, played smart defense. They were tenacious, forcing another Pearl timeout with 10:56 left in the first half and Ole Miss leading, 15-2. Auburn committed seven turnovers on its first 14 possessions.
7. Buffen really held his own in the post against Wiley despite a real size disadvantage. Buffen blocked a shot using disciplined verticality, took advantage of his athleticism and played one of his smartest games in an Ole Miss uniform.
8. Auburn had a great defensive plan for Tyree. They doubled him behind the 3-point line, switched on screens and basically made him work overtime for anything he got. Tyree responded with a lethargic start to the second half, picking up a couple of fouls that turned out to be costly.
9. Ole Miss got killed on the glass, 45-33. Auburn had 19 second-chance points compared to Ole Miss’ six. It’s a failure to make winning plays, and it’s been happening with this group all season. Ole Miss could easily be in the mix at this point but it’s blown double-digit leads in four SEC games. Bigger picture: The Rebels are now 3-16 in their last 19 games against top-100 NET teams. That’s a devastating stat.
10. Ole Miss travels to LSU Saturday at 11 a.m. The Rebels lost to the Tigers in Oxford earlier this month.
