Ole Miss Basketball Survives Michigan’s Second-Half Surge, Wins 84-78
Ole Miss men’s basketball held off a furious second-half comeback by Michigan to secure a hard-fought 84-78 victory on Wednesday night. The Rebels built a commanding lead early but had to withstand a late push by the Wolverines to clinch the win.
The game started with Ole Miss setting the tone offensively, knocking down shots from beyond the arc and dominating in transition. Junior guard Matthew Murrell led the charge, scoring 18 of his 24 points in the first half as the Rebels took a double-digit lead into halftime. Freshman forward Jamarion Sharp provided a strong inside presence, contributing 12 points and seven rebounds.
Michigan, however, refused to go down without a fight. The Wolverines stormed back in the second half, cutting a 15-point deficit to just three with under four minutes to play. Star guard Dug McDaniel ignited the rally, scoring 14 of his 22 points after the break. Forward Tarris Reed Jr. also stepped up, finishing with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
Despite the momentum shift, Ole Miss responded when it mattered most. Senior guard Allen Flanigan drained a clutch three-pointer with 1:12 left, pushing the Rebels’ lead back to six. Strong free-throw shooting in the final minute helped seal the victory, as Ole Miss converted 7-of-8 from the line down the stretch.
With the win, Ole Miss improves to 19-9 on the season and bolsters its NCAA Tournament hopes. Michigan, meanwhile, falls to 15-13 and faces an uphill battle to stay in the postseason picture. The Rebels will look to build on their momentum when they face Auburn in their next matchup.
