From UM Media Relations:
AUBURN, Ala. – After dropping a tough meeting with the Tigers last month, the Ole Miss men's basketball team will look to retaliate as they take on Auburn on Wednesday, February 22 at 8 p.m. in Neville Arena and on the SEC Network.
TEAM FACTS
Ole Miss Rebels (10-17, 2-12 SEC)
Head Coach: Kermit Davis • 5th Season at Ole Miss (74-78) • 543-341 career record (28th Season)
Auburn Tigers (18-9, 8-6 SEC)
Head Coach: Bruce Pearl • 9th Season at Auburn (184-107) • 646-252 career record (28th Season)
ON THE AIR
Television/Online: SEC Network
Play-by-Play: Dave Neal
Color: Jon Sundvold
OLE MISS RADIO
Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
Play-by-Play: David Kellum
Color: Marc Dukes
SERIES HISTORY VS. AUBURN
This will be the second meeting between Auburn and Ole Miss this season, and the 145th overall matchup in the series history. The two programs first met on February 10, 1928 when the Rebels won a 43-42 game in Alabama. The home team holds the advantage in the series, with Ole Miss leading 43-27 in Oxford, and the Tigers leading in Alabama 52-17. Auburn holds a slight lead during the previous 10 contests 6-4, and during the Kermit Davis era 5-4, after winning the most recent game in Oxford last January by nine.
LAST MEETING: JANUARY 10, 2023 (L, 73-82, OXFORD, MISS.)
• The Rebels held a one-point lead at halftime, up 35-34 after the first 20 minutes of action, before Auburn took the second half 48-38 behind a 60.7% shooting clip from the field.
• One of his six 20-point games this season, Matthew Murrell led Ole Miss in scoring with 24 points, including a perfect 8-8 performance at the free throw line.
• The Tigers were led in scoring by Wendell Green Jr. with 23, while Johni Broome recorded a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds.
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Auburn sits in fifth in the most recent SEC standings with an overall record of 18-9, going 8-6 during conference games. After opening the season with eight-straight wins, the Tigers went 2-2 to take a 10-2 record into their SEC opener. Auburn picked up wins over Florida and Arkansas and lost to Georgia before defeating Ole Miss in Oxford. Between their games with the Rebels, Auburn went 5-6 with wins over Mississippi State, LSU, South Carolina, Georgia, and Missouri. The Tigers are most recently coming off a close loss to Vanderbilt 67-65 on February 18.
Johni Broome has been the leader for Auburn all season, as they currently own a team-best average of 14.0 points per game and 8.9 rebounds per game. Over their last five games, Broome is averaging 15.4 points and 8.8 rebounds per outing, including a pair of double-doubles against Texas A&M and Missouri. Broome ranks second in the conference with nine double-doubles on the year, also among the best in the SEC in blocks (3rd, 61), total rebounds (2nd, 231), and rebounds per game (2nd, 8.9). Wendell Green Jr. has also been a key contributor for the Tigers this year, averaging 4.3 assists per game (3rd in SEC) and 1.7 steals per game (8th in SEC).
Three of the best four teams in the nation at defending the three-point shot are in the SEC, one of which is Auburn, who ranks third in the conference and fourth in the country with an opponent shooting percentage of 27.5% from deep. The Tigers also rank second in the SEC and ninth in the NCAA in blocks per game at 5.4. They also rank among the best in field goal percentage defense (39.2%, No. 11 NCAA), offensive rebounds per game (12.3, No. 29 NCAA), rebounds per game (37.8, No. 37 NCAA), scoring defense (64.8, No. 47 NCAA), and free throw attempts per game (20.6, No. 57 NCAA).
IT'S MISTER STEAL-YOUR-PASS
Fifth-year transfer Myles Burns has been a defensive powerhouse this season for the Rebels, collecting 60 steals. He stepped into the top-10 in style on February 18, recording seven steals to tie for the third-most in a single game in school history. Entering Wednesday's game at Auburn, Burns currently ranks fourth in program history for the most steals in a single season at Ole Miss.
Ole Miss Basketball - Most Steals in a Single Season
1. 89 Gerald Glass (30 games, 1989)
2. 73 Jason Smith (33 games, 1999)
3. 70 Gerald Glass (30 games, 1990)
4. 60 Myles Burns (27 games, 2023)
5. 58 Murphy Holloway (36 games, 2013)
Rod Barnes (29 games, 1988)
7. 57 Stefan Moody (34 games, 2015)
8. 56 Devontae Shuler (33 games, 2019)
9. 55 Rahim Lockhart (33 games, 2000)
Ervin Garnes (27 games, 1994)
Eric Laird (28 games, 1984)
A DEFENSIVE GOAT
Recording a steal in the closing moments of the first half against Missouri, senior transfer Myles Burns collected the 400th steal of his collegiate career. Joining the Ole Miss program from Loyola New Orleans of the NAIA, Burns brought 358 steals from his four-time NAIA All-American career and has collected 60 since coming to Oxford. Counting his stats from the NAIA, Burns would become just the sixth person in NCAA men's basketball history across all divisions to collect 400 career steals. He is the first Rebel to hit 60 steals in a season since Jason Smith had 73 in 1999.
400 Career NCAA Steals List
1. Calvin Cheek, New England Col. (III), 2017-22: 580 steals
2. Jacob Gilyard, Richmond (I), 2017-22: 466 steals
3. Tennyson Whitted, Ramapo (III), 1999-2003: 448 steals
4. Jonte Flowers, Winona St. (II), 2004-08: 414 steals
5. John Gallogly, Salve Regina (III), 1994-98: 413 steals
*Myles Burns - 418 steals (including stats from NAIA)
BLOCK PARTY
The Ole Miss defense currently averages 68.5 points allowed per game, only letting their opponents top 70 points nine times this year. A major part of their defensive identity has been enforcing the paint, as the Rebels rank 48th in the country in blocks per game (4.3). They are led down low by senior transfers Theo Akwuba (30 total blocks, 1.1 per game) and Jayveous McKinnis (29 total blocks, 1.1 per game).
On January 3 at No. 7 Alabama, Akwuba and McKinnis combined for seven blocks, with Akwuba's four bringing his collegiate career total to 200 (now at 212). He and McKinnis (261 career blocks) are the only two teammates in college basketball with over 200 swats in their careers, and each rank among the top-10 in active career leaders.
MB2K
Myles Burns scored 1,852 points during his career at Loyola New Orleans, and surpassed the 2,000-career points mark on February 4 at Vanderbilt with a dunk on an alley-oop. If his NAIA stats transferred to the NCAA, he would be one of just five active players across all divisions in college basketball with at least 2,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds. Other active student-athletes with at least 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds are Jayden Gardner (Virginia), KJ Williams (LSU), Kevin Obanor (Texas Tech), and Jordan Janssen (Wayne St. (NE)).
Burns would also be just one of three active players across all divisions with at least 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 100 steals, and 100 blocks in their career. Janssen of Wayne St. (NE) and Williams of LSU would be the only other active members of that club.
Myles Burns Collegiate Career Totals
Games Played: 147
Games Started: 135
Points: 2,051 (14.0/game)
Rebounds: 1,235 (8.4/game)
Steals: 418 (2.8/game)
Assists: 330 (2.3/game)
Blocks: 129 (0.9/game)
ANOTHER ONE
With an average of 12.2 offensive rebounds per game, the Rebels have been among the best in the country in earning second chances on the glass, currently ranking 32nd in the nation. The team is led by senior Myles Burns with 63 offensive rebounds (2.3 per game).
THROUGH THE FIRE
Ole Miss has faced off with some of the best competition college basketball has to offer, as the Rebels current strength of schedule ranks 24th in the nation. With a combined opponent record of 420-283 (0.597), they have played against foes with a current NET ranking in the top-100 15 times, including 10 games against somebody in the top-50 and two in the top-five.
THEM REBS MOVE FAST
Ole Miss has been quick to react on defensive rebounds and turnovers, outscoring their opponents on fast-break opportunities by 105 this season (277-172). The Rebels have recorded more fast-break points than the other team in 20 of their 27 games.
DEEP POCKETS
The Rebels' depth has been on full display this season, as the Ole Miss bench has accounted for about a third of the team's scoring through 27 games (33.1%, 600 of 1,811 points). The Rebs have topped their opponents in bench points in 17 contests, and are outscoring their foes' benches by 117 on the year (600 to 483).
BEST OF THE BEST
Ole Miss' four senior transfers are among some of the best returning big men in all of college basketball. Jayveous McKinnis stands as one of the best in the nation this year, currently fifth in total rebounds (1,117), fifth in total blocks (261), eighth in career double-doubles (39), 13th in rebounds per game (8.6), 13th in blocks per game (2.0) and 28th in field goal shooting (.609). McKinnis is one of just 14 active players in all of college basketball with 1,000 career rebounds alongside South Alabama's Kevin Samuel, North Carolina's Armando Bacot, Kentucky's Oscar Tshiebwe, Nicholls' Manny Littles, Lipscomb's Ahsan Asadullah, LSU's KJ Williams, Iowa's Filip Rebraca, San Diego's Eric Williams Jr., Texas Tech's Kevin Obanor, Virginia's Jayden Gardner, Indiana's Trayce Jackson-Davis, Youngstown St.'s Adrian Nelson and Iowa State's Osun Osunniyi. He is also just one of 12, alongside Samuel, Bacot, Tshiebwe, Asadullah, Williams, Rebraca, Obanor, Williams Jr., Gardner, Nelson and Osunniyi with 1,000 career points (1,217) and 1,000 career rebounds.
Ole Miss ranks highly on the career blocks list with two top-10 entries. McKinnis ranks fifth at 261 swats, while Theo Akwuba is 10th at 212. Ole Miss stands as the only school with multiple top-10 active blockers and is the only school with two within the top-25. The Rebel trio of McKinnis (39, No. 8), Josh Mballa (29, No. 17) and Akwuba (17) combine for 85 career double-doubles, with McKinnis and Mballa owning the second-most by a pair of teammates at 68 behind Texas Tech's Almaq (41) and Obanor (37) at 78.
* Note: Myles Burns' 1,069 career rebounds while at NAIA Loyola New Orleans do not transfer over to the NCAA records lists, but he would rank third in the nation at 1,235 if they did and give Ole Miss a combined 4,602 boards between Burns (1,235), McKinnis (1,117), Mballa (827), Robert Allen (717), and Akwuba (706). Burns' combined career total of 2,051 points would also rank No. 35 among all NCAA divisions.
20-20 VISION
On February 7 at Georgia, Jaemyn Brakefield and Myles Burns each hit the 20-point mark in the Rebels' 78-74 road victory. Coming off the first double-double of his career at Vanderbilt, Brakefield led Ole Miss with a career-high 24 points on 11-15 shooting, adding seven rebounds and tying his season-best with four assists. Burns loaded the box score with a season-high 20 points as well as six rebounds, an assist, two steals, and a block. This was the first game Ole Miss had two hit the 20-point threshold since January 24, 2022, when Matthew Murrell (20 points) and Daeshun Ruffin (21 points) did so in a 70-54 win over Florida.
AIN'T WASTING TIME NO MORE
With eight new faces for Ole Miss this season, the Rebel newcomers have been seeing serious minutes and contributing in all major stat categories.
Newcomer Splits:
Minutes: 51.4% (2,786 of 5,425)
Scoring: 45.6% (826 of 1,811)
Rebounding: 50.3% (493 of 981)
Assists: 43.6% (151 of 346)
Steals: 60.2% (115 of 191)
Blocks: 77.8% (91 of 117)
They've also accounted for at least half the scoring in eight games this season.
vs. Stanford: 48 of 72 (66.7%)
vs. Siena: 37 of 74 (50.0%)
vs. Stanford: 39 of 55 (70.1%)
at Memphis: 32 of 57 (56.1%)
vs. UCF: 38 of 61 (62.3%)
vs. Georgia: 31 of 58 (53.5%)
vs. Kentucky: 48 of 66 (72.7%)
at Vanderbilt: 39 of 71 (54.9%)
THE MAGIC NUMBER IS 20
Junior guard Matthew Murrell has scored 20 or more points six times this season, and averages 14.3 per game. A large part of his offense has come from deep, as he has made 43 threes on the year. Over a four-game stretch against Mississippi State, Auburn, Georgia, and South Carolina from Jan. 7-17, Murrell averaged 19.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game, while shooting 44.1% from the field and connecting on 10 threes.
EXPERIENCE FROM THE PORTAL
Ole Miss went into the portal looking for experienced big men, and came away with four of the most well-seasoned options available. Those four senior transfers -- F Theo Akwuba, F Myles Burns, F Josh Mballa and F Jayveous McKinnis -- hold an incredible combined career stat lines across their respective careers prior to Ole Miss:
Combined Career Stats (NAIA included for Burns):
• 522 games played
• 388 games started
• 5,162 points
• 3,885 rebounds
• 694 steals (418 from Burns alone)
• 677 blocks
| OLE MISS (10-17, 2-12 SEC) at AUBURN (18-9, 8-6 SEC) Wednesday, Feb. 22 • 8:00 p.m. CT • Auburn, Ala. Neville Arena (9,121) 
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| Watch • Live Stats • Listen Ole Miss Game Notes • Auburn Game Notes • SEC Game Notes |
AUBURN, Ala. – After dropping a tough meeting with the Tigers last month, the Ole Miss men's basketball team will look to retaliate as they take on Auburn on Wednesday, February 22 at 8 p.m. in Neville Arena and on the SEC Network.
TEAM FACTS
Ole Miss Rebels (10-17, 2-12 SEC)
Head Coach: Kermit Davis • 5th Season at Ole Miss (74-78) • 543-341 career record (28th Season)
Auburn Tigers (18-9, 8-6 SEC)
Head Coach: Bruce Pearl • 9th Season at Auburn (184-107) • 646-252 career record (28th Season)
ON THE AIR
Television/Online: SEC Network
Play-by-Play: Dave Neal
Color: Jon Sundvold
OLE MISS RADIO
Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
Play-by-Play: David Kellum
Color: Marc Dukes
SERIES HISTORY VS. AUBURN
This will be the second meeting between Auburn and Ole Miss this season, and the 145th overall matchup in the series history. The two programs first met on February 10, 1928 when the Rebels won a 43-42 game in Alabama. The home team holds the advantage in the series, with Ole Miss leading 43-27 in Oxford, and the Tigers leading in Alabama 52-17. Auburn holds a slight lead during the previous 10 contests 6-4, and during the Kermit Davis era 5-4, after winning the most recent game in Oxford last January by nine.
LAST MEETING: JANUARY 10, 2023 (L, 73-82, OXFORD, MISS.)
• The Rebels held a one-point lead at halftime, up 35-34 after the first 20 minutes of action, before Auburn took the second half 48-38 behind a 60.7% shooting clip from the field.
• One of his six 20-point games this season, Matthew Murrell led Ole Miss in scoring with 24 points, including a perfect 8-8 performance at the free throw line.
• The Tigers were led in scoring by Wendell Green Jr. with 23, while Johni Broome recorded a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds.
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Auburn sits in fifth in the most recent SEC standings with an overall record of 18-9, going 8-6 during conference games. After opening the season with eight-straight wins, the Tigers went 2-2 to take a 10-2 record into their SEC opener. Auburn picked up wins over Florida and Arkansas and lost to Georgia before defeating Ole Miss in Oxford. Between their games with the Rebels, Auburn went 5-6 with wins over Mississippi State, LSU, South Carolina, Georgia, and Missouri. The Tigers are most recently coming off a close loss to Vanderbilt 67-65 on February 18.
Johni Broome has been the leader for Auburn all season, as they currently own a team-best average of 14.0 points per game and 8.9 rebounds per game. Over their last five games, Broome is averaging 15.4 points and 8.8 rebounds per outing, including a pair of double-doubles against Texas A&M and Missouri. Broome ranks second in the conference with nine double-doubles on the year, also among the best in the SEC in blocks (3rd, 61), total rebounds (2nd, 231), and rebounds per game (2nd, 8.9). Wendell Green Jr. has also been a key contributor for the Tigers this year, averaging 4.3 assists per game (3rd in SEC) and 1.7 steals per game (8th in SEC).
Three of the best four teams in the nation at defending the three-point shot are in the SEC, one of which is Auburn, who ranks third in the conference and fourth in the country with an opponent shooting percentage of 27.5% from deep. The Tigers also rank second in the SEC and ninth in the NCAA in blocks per game at 5.4. They also rank among the best in field goal percentage defense (39.2%, No. 11 NCAA), offensive rebounds per game (12.3, No. 29 NCAA), rebounds per game (37.8, No. 37 NCAA), scoring defense (64.8, No. 47 NCAA), and free throw attempts per game (20.6, No. 57 NCAA).
IT'S MISTER STEAL-YOUR-PASS
Fifth-year transfer Myles Burns has been a defensive powerhouse this season for the Rebels, collecting 60 steals. He stepped into the top-10 in style on February 18, recording seven steals to tie for the third-most in a single game in school history. Entering Wednesday's game at Auburn, Burns currently ranks fourth in program history for the most steals in a single season at Ole Miss.
Ole Miss Basketball - Most Steals in a Single Season
1. 89 Gerald Glass (30 games, 1989)
2. 73 Jason Smith (33 games, 1999)
3. 70 Gerald Glass (30 games, 1990)
4. 60 Myles Burns (27 games, 2023)
5. 58 Murphy Holloway (36 games, 2013)
Rod Barnes (29 games, 1988)
7. 57 Stefan Moody (34 games, 2015)
8. 56 Devontae Shuler (33 games, 2019)
9. 55 Rahim Lockhart (33 games, 2000)
Ervin Garnes (27 games, 1994)
Eric Laird (28 games, 1984)
A DEFENSIVE GOAT
Recording a steal in the closing moments of the first half against Missouri, senior transfer Myles Burns collected the 400th steal of his collegiate career. Joining the Ole Miss program from Loyola New Orleans of the NAIA, Burns brought 358 steals from his four-time NAIA All-American career and has collected 60 since coming to Oxford. Counting his stats from the NAIA, Burns would become just the sixth person in NCAA men's basketball history across all divisions to collect 400 career steals. He is the first Rebel to hit 60 steals in a season since Jason Smith had 73 in 1999.
400 Career NCAA Steals List
1. Calvin Cheek, New England Col. (III), 2017-22: 580 steals
2. Jacob Gilyard, Richmond (I), 2017-22: 466 steals
3. Tennyson Whitted, Ramapo (III), 1999-2003: 448 steals
4. Jonte Flowers, Winona St. (II), 2004-08: 414 steals
5. John Gallogly, Salve Regina (III), 1994-98: 413 steals
*Myles Burns - 418 steals (including stats from NAIA)
BLOCK PARTY
The Ole Miss defense currently averages 68.5 points allowed per game, only letting their opponents top 70 points nine times this year. A major part of their defensive identity has been enforcing the paint, as the Rebels rank 48th in the country in blocks per game (4.3). They are led down low by senior transfers Theo Akwuba (30 total blocks, 1.1 per game) and Jayveous McKinnis (29 total blocks, 1.1 per game).
On January 3 at No. 7 Alabama, Akwuba and McKinnis combined for seven blocks, with Akwuba's four bringing his collegiate career total to 200 (now at 212). He and McKinnis (261 career blocks) are the only two teammates in college basketball with over 200 swats in their careers, and each rank among the top-10 in active career leaders.
MB2K
Myles Burns scored 1,852 points during his career at Loyola New Orleans, and surpassed the 2,000-career points mark on February 4 at Vanderbilt with a dunk on an alley-oop. If his NAIA stats transferred to the NCAA, he would be one of just five active players across all divisions in college basketball with at least 2,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds. Other active student-athletes with at least 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds are Jayden Gardner (Virginia), KJ Williams (LSU), Kevin Obanor (Texas Tech), and Jordan Janssen (Wayne St. (NE)).
Burns would also be just one of three active players across all divisions with at least 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 100 steals, and 100 blocks in their career. Janssen of Wayne St. (NE) and Williams of LSU would be the only other active members of that club.
Myles Burns Collegiate Career Totals
Games Played: 147
Games Started: 135
Points: 2,051 (14.0/game)
Rebounds: 1,235 (8.4/game)
Steals: 418 (2.8/game)
Assists: 330 (2.3/game)
Blocks: 129 (0.9/game)
ANOTHER ONE
With an average of 12.2 offensive rebounds per game, the Rebels have been among the best in the country in earning second chances on the glass, currently ranking 32nd in the nation. The team is led by senior Myles Burns with 63 offensive rebounds (2.3 per game).
THROUGH THE FIRE
Ole Miss has faced off with some of the best competition college basketball has to offer, as the Rebels current strength of schedule ranks 24th in the nation. With a combined opponent record of 420-283 (0.597), they have played against foes with a current NET ranking in the top-100 15 times, including 10 games against somebody in the top-50 and two in the top-five.
THEM REBS MOVE FAST
Ole Miss has been quick to react on defensive rebounds and turnovers, outscoring their opponents on fast-break opportunities by 105 this season (277-172). The Rebels have recorded more fast-break points than the other team in 20 of their 27 games.
DEEP POCKETS
The Rebels' depth has been on full display this season, as the Ole Miss bench has accounted for about a third of the team's scoring through 27 games (33.1%, 600 of 1,811 points). The Rebs have topped their opponents in bench points in 17 contests, and are outscoring their foes' benches by 117 on the year (600 to 483).
BEST OF THE BEST
Ole Miss' four senior transfers are among some of the best returning big men in all of college basketball. Jayveous McKinnis stands as one of the best in the nation this year, currently fifth in total rebounds (1,117), fifth in total blocks (261), eighth in career double-doubles (39), 13th in rebounds per game (8.6), 13th in blocks per game (2.0) and 28th in field goal shooting (.609). McKinnis is one of just 14 active players in all of college basketball with 1,000 career rebounds alongside South Alabama's Kevin Samuel, North Carolina's Armando Bacot, Kentucky's Oscar Tshiebwe, Nicholls' Manny Littles, Lipscomb's Ahsan Asadullah, LSU's KJ Williams, Iowa's Filip Rebraca, San Diego's Eric Williams Jr., Texas Tech's Kevin Obanor, Virginia's Jayden Gardner, Indiana's Trayce Jackson-Davis, Youngstown St.'s Adrian Nelson and Iowa State's Osun Osunniyi. He is also just one of 12, alongside Samuel, Bacot, Tshiebwe, Asadullah, Williams, Rebraca, Obanor, Williams Jr., Gardner, Nelson and Osunniyi with 1,000 career points (1,217) and 1,000 career rebounds.
Ole Miss ranks highly on the career blocks list with two top-10 entries. McKinnis ranks fifth at 261 swats, while Theo Akwuba is 10th at 212. Ole Miss stands as the only school with multiple top-10 active blockers and is the only school with two within the top-25. The Rebel trio of McKinnis (39, No. 8), Josh Mballa (29, No. 17) and Akwuba (17) combine for 85 career double-doubles, with McKinnis and Mballa owning the second-most by a pair of teammates at 68 behind Texas Tech's Almaq (41) and Obanor (37) at 78.
* Note: Myles Burns' 1,069 career rebounds while at NAIA Loyola New Orleans do not transfer over to the NCAA records lists, but he would rank third in the nation at 1,235 if they did and give Ole Miss a combined 4,602 boards between Burns (1,235), McKinnis (1,117), Mballa (827), Robert Allen (717), and Akwuba (706). Burns' combined career total of 2,051 points would also rank No. 35 among all NCAA divisions.
20-20 VISION
On February 7 at Georgia, Jaemyn Brakefield and Myles Burns each hit the 20-point mark in the Rebels' 78-74 road victory. Coming off the first double-double of his career at Vanderbilt, Brakefield led Ole Miss with a career-high 24 points on 11-15 shooting, adding seven rebounds and tying his season-best with four assists. Burns loaded the box score with a season-high 20 points as well as six rebounds, an assist, two steals, and a block. This was the first game Ole Miss had two hit the 20-point threshold since January 24, 2022, when Matthew Murrell (20 points) and Daeshun Ruffin (21 points) did so in a 70-54 win over Florida.
AIN'T WASTING TIME NO MORE
With eight new faces for Ole Miss this season, the Rebel newcomers have been seeing serious minutes and contributing in all major stat categories.
Newcomer Splits:
Minutes: 51.4% (2,786 of 5,425)
Scoring: 45.6% (826 of 1,811)
Rebounding: 50.3% (493 of 981)
Assists: 43.6% (151 of 346)
Steals: 60.2% (115 of 191)
Blocks: 77.8% (91 of 117)
They've also accounted for at least half the scoring in eight games this season.
vs. Stanford: 48 of 72 (66.7%)
vs. Siena: 37 of 74 (50.0%)
vs. Stanford: 39 of 55 (70.1%)
at Memphis: 32 of 57 (56.1%)
vs. UCF: 38 of 61 (62.3%)
vs. Georgia: 31 of 58 (53.5%)
vs. Kentucky: 48 of 66 (72.7%)
at Vanderbilt: 39 of 71 (54.9%)
THE MAGIC NUMBER IS 20
Junior guard Matthew Murrell has scored 20 or more points six times this season, and averages 14.3 per game. A large part of his offense has come from deep, as he has made 43 threes on the year. Over a four-game stretch against Mississippi State, Auburn, Georgia, and South Carolina from Jan. 7-17, Murrell averaged 19.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game, while shooting 44.1% from the field and connecting on 10 threes.
EXPERIENCE FROM THE PORTAL
Ole Miss went into the portal looking for experienced big men, and came away with four of the most well-seasoned options available. Those four senior transfers -- F Theo Akwuba, F Myles Burns, F Josh Mballa and F Jayveous McKinnis -- hold an incredible combined career stat lines across their respective careers prior to Ole Miss:
Combined Career Stats (NAIA included for Burns):
• 522 games played
• 388 games started
• 5,162 points
• 3,885 rebounds
• 694 steals (418 from Burns alone)
• 677 blocks
