Flanigan, Murrell lead No. 24 Ole Miss past Bryant 95-78 as Rebels remain unbeaten
OXFORD, Miss. (AP) Allen Flanigan scored 20 points, Matthew Murrell had 18 and the duo combined for 31 second-half points to help No. 24 Mississippi remain unbeaten with a 95-78 victory over Bryant on Sunday.
Ole Miss (13-0) heads into Southeastern Conference play having matched the 2007-08 team for the best start in program history, which also equals the school's longest overall winning streak. Under first-year coach Chris Beard, the Rebels have already bettered last season’s 12-21 mark.
“If we're going to do the things that we want to get done here and why we came to Oxford, there's going to be a lot of records that need to be approached and broken over the years and over the next months and weeks," Beard said.
"I think our nonconference schedule proved a lot. To me, it proved that we can play on the offensive end and defensive end.”
Murrell had four points at halftime and Flanigan had just three before ripping off seven straight points early in the second half. Flanigan's spurt pushed an 11-point halftime edge for Ole Miss to 52-34.
Flanigan finished with nine rebounds and four assists. Jaemyn Brakefield had a similarly well-rounded stat line for the Rebels with 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Jamarion Sharp added eight points and 10 rebounds, while Moussa Cisse scored 10.
Sherif Gross-Bullocks led Bryant (8-7) with 24 points and made four 3-pointers. Rafael Pinzon hit five 3s and scored 21, while Earl Timberlake had 19 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and two steals. Timberlake made 8 of 10 shots.
“I thought on offense, this was one of our cleanest games,” Beard said. "I wasn’t pleased with the way we played defense today. This team has two dominant scorers and we let both those guys get going.
“We've just got to keep focusing on defense, and it's going to be a big part of our SEC journey.”
The Rebels trailed 7-6 early before scoring 13 consecutive points over a 2:36 stretch to take control. Bryant didn't get within single digits again. Doug Edert and Gross-Bullocks hit back-to-back 3s to cut it to 70-60 with 7:38 left, but the Bulldogs couldn't muster a real threat.
The record-tying New Year's Eve win capped a big weekend for Ole Miss sports after the football team beat Penn State in the Peach Bowl for the Rebels’ first 11-win season.
“My New Year's resolution is to continue winning,” Sharp said. “That's my New Year's resolution.”
BIG PICTURE
Bryant: Couldn't pull off another Top 25 upset. The Bulldogs beat No. 7 Florida Atlantic on Nov. 18, three days after Phil Martelli Jr. was named to replace coach Jared Grasso, who had resigned.
Ole Miss: Remains one of three unbeaten Division I teams, along with No. 3 Houston and No. 20 James Madison. The Rebels made 35 of 65 field goals (53.8%) and committed just nine turnovers.
UP NEXT
Bryant visits UMBC in its America East Conference opener Saturday.
Ole Miss opens SEC play at No. 6 Tennessee on Saturday.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
19:58 | (Jaemyn Brakefield gains possession) | |||
19:43 | +2 | Jaemyn Brakefield makes two point layup (Jaylen Murray assists) | 0-2 | |
19:24 | Sherif Gross-Bullock turnover (bad pass) | |||
19:00 | Daniel Rivera shooting foul (Jamarion Sharp draws the foul) | |||
19:00 | +1 | Jamarion Sharp makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 0-3 | |
19:00 | +1 | Jamarion Sharp makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 0-4 | |
18:42 | Daniel Rivera misses two point jump shot | |||
18:40 | Earl Timberlake offensive rebound | |||
18:32 | Jamarion Sharp shooting foul (Daniel Rivera draws the foul) | |||
18:32 | Daniel Rivera misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
18:32 | Daniel Rivera misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
18:32 | Allen Flanigan defensive rebound | |||
18:23 | Allen Flanigan turnover (bad pass) (Sherif Gross-Bullock steals) | |||
18:13 | Sherif Gross-Bullock misses three point jump shot | |||
18:11 | Jaemyn Brakefield defensive rebound | |||
18:06 | Allen Flanigan misses three point jump shot | |||
18:04 | Moussa Cisse offensive rebound | |||
17:56 | Jaylen Murray turnover (bad pass) (Connor Withers steals) | |||
17:52 | Moussa Cisse shooting foul (Earl Timberlake draws the foul) | |||
17:52 | Earl Timberlake misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
17:52 | +1 | Earl Timberlake makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 1-4 | |
17:41 | Daniel Rivera personal foul | |||
17:38 | Matthew Murrell misses three point jump shot | |||
17:36 | Tyler Brelsford defensive rebound | |||
17:26 | +2 | Rafael Pinzon makes two point jump shot (Tyler Brelsford assists) | 3-4 | |
17:09 | Jaylen Murray misses two point jump shot | |||
17:07 | Connor Withers defensive rebound | |||
16:54 | Rafael Pinzon misses two point layup | |||
16:52 | Jaemyn Brakefield defensive rebound | |||
16:46 | +2 | Jaemyn Brakefield makes two point layup | 3-6 | |
16:22 | +2 | Sherif Gross-Bullock makes two point layup | 5-6 | |
16:07 | Moussa Cisse misses two point jump shot | |||
16:05 | Earl Timberlake defensive rebound | |||
15:51 | Matthew Murrell blocks Connor Withers's two point jump shot | |||
15:49 | Bulldogs offensive rebound | |||
15:49 | TV timeout | |||
15:35 | Connor Withers misses three point jump shot | |||
15:33 | Rafael Pinzon offensive rebound | |||
15:26 | +2 | Earl Timberlake makes two point jump shot (Connor Withers assists) | 7-6 | |
15:09 | +2 | Jaemyn Brakefield makes two point layup (TJ Caldwell assists) | 7-8 | |
14:52 | Rafael Pinzon misses two point layup | |||
14:50 | Jamarion Sharp defensive rebound | |||
14:39 | Sherif Gross-Bullock shooting foul (TJ Caldwell draws the foul) | |||
14:39 | TJ Caldwell misses regular free throw 1 of 3 | |||
14:36 | TJ Caldwell misses regular free throw 2 of 3 | |||
14:36 | +1 | TJ Caldwell makes regular free throw 3 of 3 | 7-9 | |
14:18 | Connor Withers misses two point layup | |||
14:16 | Jaemyn Brakefield defensive rebound | |||
14:02 | +2 | Jamarion Sharp makes two point jump shot (Jaemyn Brakefield assists) | 7-11 | |
13:50 | Rafael Pinzon misses three point jump shot | |||
13:48 | Jamarion Sharp defensive rebound | |||
13:31 | +3 | Jaylen Murray makes three point jump shot (TJ Caldwell assists) | 7-14 | |
13:21 | Sherif Gross-Bullock misses three point jump shot | |||
13:19 | Jamarion Sharp defensive rebound | |||
13:11 | +3 | Jaemyn Brakefield makes three point jump shot (Jaylen Murray assists) | 7-17 | |
13:06 | Bulldogs 30 second timeout | |||
12:50 | Moussa Cisse blocks Sherif Gross-Bullock's two point layup | |||
12:48 | Jaemyn Brakefield defensive rebound | |||
12:29 | +2 | Moussa Cisse makes two point alley-oop dunk (TJ Caldwell assists) | 7-19 | |
12:17 | Brandon Murray personal foul | |||
12:07 | Moussa Cisse blocks Sherif Gross-Bullock's two point layup | |||
12:05 | TJ Caldwell defensive rebound | |||
12:02 | TJ Caldwell misses two point layup | |||
12:00 | Earl Timberlake defensive rebound | |||
11:58 | Jaylen Murray shooting foul | |||
11:58 | TV timeout | |||
11:58 | Sherif Gross-Bullock misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
11:58 | +1 | Sherif Gross-Bullock makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 8-19 | |
11:42 | Moussa Cisse turnover (3-second violation) | |||
11:23 | Rafael Pinzon misses two point jump shot | |||
11:21 | Rebels defensive rebound | |||
11:07 | +2 | Moussa Cisse makes two point dunk (Allen Flanigan assists) | 8-21 | |
10:45 | +3 | Sherif Gross-Bullock makes three point jump shot (Tyler Brelsford assists) | 11-21 | |
10:22 | Matthew Murrell misses three point jump shot | |||
10:20 | Tyler Brelsford defensive rebound | |||
10:07 | Earl Timberlake misses two point layup | |||
10:05 | Matthew Murrell defensive rebound | |||
9:57 | Jaylen Murray misses two point layup | |||
9:55 | Earl Timberlake defensive rebound | |||
9:51 | Rafael Pinzon misses three point jump shot | |||
9:49 | Earl Timberlake offensive rebound | |||
9:41 | Doug Edert misses two point jump shot | |||
9:39 | Allen Flanigan defensive rebound | |||
9:30 | Allen Flanigan misses two point layup | |||
9:28 | Connor Withers defensive rebound | |||
9:11 | Sherif Gross-Bullock misses two point layup | |||
9:09 | Sherif Gross-Bullock offensive rebound | |||
9:03 | Sherif Gross-Bullock misses two point layup | |||
9:01 | Jaemyn Brakefield defensive rebound | |||
8:49 | +3 | Jaylen Murray makes three point jump shot | 11-24 | |
8:33 | Tyler Brelsford misses three point jump shot | |||
8:31 | Jamarion Sharp defensive rebound | |||
8:18 | Jaemyn Brakefield misses two point layup | |||
8:16 | Connor Withers defensive rebound | |||
8:13 | Jaemyn Brakefield personal foul | |||
8:13 | TV timeout | |||
8:03 | Sherif Gross-Bullock misses two point layup | |||
7:58 | Rebels defensive rebound | |||
7:44 | Sherif Gross-Bullock personal foul | |||
7:35 | Jaemyn Brakefield misses two point layup | |||
7:33 | Moussa Cisse offensive rebound | |||
7:28 | +2 | Moussa Cisse makes two point dunk | 11-26 | |
7:13 | Rafael Pinzon offensive foul | |||
7:13 | Rafael Pinzon turnover (offensive foul) | |||
6:53 | Allen Flanigan misses two point layup | |||
6:51 | Tyler Brelsford defensive rebound | |||
6:31 | +3 | Rafael Pinzon makes three point jump shot (Earl Timberlake assists) | 14-26 | |
6:16 | +3 | Allen Flanigan makes three point jump shot (Jaylen Murray assists) | 14-29 | |
6:04 | +3 | Rafael Pinzon makes three point jump shot (Tyler Brelsford assists) | 17-29 | |
5:50 | Jaemyn Brakefield misses three point jump shot | |||
5:48 | Sherif Gross-Bullock defensive rebound | |||
5:40 | Tyler Brelsford misses two point layup | |||
5:38 | Allen Flanigan defensive rebound | |||
5:31 | Daniel Rivera shooting foul (Matthew Murrell draws the foul) | |||
5:31 | +1 | Matthew Murrell makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 17-30 | |
5:31 | +1 | Matthew Murrell makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 17-31 | |
5:17 | Doug Edert misses three point jump shot | |||
5:15 | Earl Timberlake offensive rebound | |||
5:02 | Rafael Pinzon misses three point jump shot | |||
5:00 | Brandon Murray defensive rebound | |||
4:49 | +2 | Brandon Murray makes two point jump shot (Jaemyn Brakefield assists) | 17-33 | |
4:31 | +2 | Earl Timberlake makes two point jump shot | 19-33 | |
4:15 | Jaylen Murray misses three point jump shot | |||
4:13 | Doug Edert defensive rebound | |||
4:00 | +3 | Rafael Pinzon makes three point jump shot | 22-33 | |
3:49 | Jaylen Murray turnover (bad pass) (Earl Timberlake steals) | |||
3:39 | Rafael Pinzon misses three point jump shot | |||
3:37 | Jamarion Sharp defensive rebound | |||
3:32 | Earl Timberlake personal foul | |||
3:32 | TV timeout | |||
3:32 | +1 | Jamarion Sharp makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 22-34 | |
3:32 | +1 | Jamarion Sharp makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 22-35 | |
3:10 | Connor Withers misses three point jump shot | |||
3:08 | TJ Caldwell defensive rebound | |||
2:43 | TJ Caldwell turnover (traveling) | |||
2:38 | +3 | Sherif Gross-Bullock makes three point jump shot (Earl Timberlake assists) | 25-35 | |
2:13 | +2 | Brandon Murray makes two point jump shot | 25-37 | |
1:56 | +3 | Connor Withers makes three point jump shot (Earl Timberlake assists) | 28-37 | |
1:37 | Matthew Murrell misses two point jump shot | |||
1:35 | Jamarion Sharp offensive rebound | |||
1:28 | Earl Timberlake shooting foul (Jaylen Murray draws the foul) | |||
1:28 | Jaylen Murray misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
1:28 | +1 | Jaylen Murray makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 28-38 | |
1:17 | +2 | Sherif Gross-Bullock makes two point jump shot (Earl Timberlake assists) | 30-38 | |
1:02 | +2 | Matthew Murrell makes two point jump shot | 30-40 | |
1:02 | Connor Withers shooting foul (Matthew Murrell draws the foul) | |||
1:02 | Matthew Murrell misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
1:02 | Rafael Pinzon defensive rebound | |||
0:43 | Rafael Pinzon misses three point jump shot | |||
0:41 | TJ Caldwell defensive rebound | |||
0:18 | Connor Withers personal foul | |||
0:18 | Jaylen Murray misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
0:18 | +1 | Jaylen Murray makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 30-41 | |
0:02 | Sherif Gross-Bullock turnover (lost ball) (Brandon Murray steals) | |||
0:00 | End of period |