Official Game Statistics
OXFORD, Miss. ? South Alabama cut a 22-point first-half deficit to three with 1.5 seconds left, but a final in-bounds pass was stolen away as the Jags fell 81-78 to Mississippi Tuesday night at Tad Smith Coliseum. Demetric Bennett led four Jaguars in double figures with 28 points, one shy of his career high.
Ole Miss opened the game on an 11-0 run and seemed to be in control throughout the period. The Rebels shot 58.3 percent in the half in building a 51-32 lead at the break. Conversely, USA missed its first eight shots, hitting the scoreboard for the first time on a Domonic Tilford three at the 14:51 mark.
Ole Miss sophomore Eniel Polynice set his career high in scoring in the first half alone, hitting eight of 12 attempts, including five of eight from three-point range, enroute to 21. He matched Bennett with 28 points.
South Alabama opened the second half on a 9-3 run, that cut the gap to 13, 54-41 with 15:58 remaining. Ole Miss pushed the lead back to 14 before a Ronald Douglas layup and a Bennett three trimmed the margin to single digits 67-58 with 8:40 to play.
Ole Miss stretched the lead back to 14 with just under six minutes left when seven straight points started a 13-4 Jaguar run that made the score 78-73 with 2:25 remaining.
A Polynice free throw and a pair of free throws by Chris Warren seemed to ice a Rebel victory by pushing the lead to eight, 81-73 but Bennett scored five quick points--a three with 11 seconds left and jumper with 1.5 seconds left which made the game a single possession.
After an Ole Miss turnover Terrence Watson stole Tilford's inbounds pass ending a chance for overtime.
Tilford finished the game with 15 points while DeAndre Coleman posted a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds. Douglas added 10 points.
“The bottom line is we did not come to play at the start tonight,” Arrow said. “We proved how bad we can play as individuals in the first half, but came out with some fight after intermission. We have done this over and over already this season, in the scrimmages, in exhibitions and on Saturday.”
The Jaguars return home Saturday to face Grambling at 7:05 p.m. at the Mitchell Center. The game is part of a doubleheader with the women facing Tulsa at 5:00 p.m.
