Late Game Rally Hands Memphis Their Second Loss of the Season at Ole Miss
In a thrilling match that kept the sold-out crowd at the edge of their seats, the Memphis men’s basketball team succumbed to a late rally by their hosts, Ole Miss, losing by a narrow margin of 80-77 in Oxford, Mississippi, on Saturday afternoon.
Despite dominating for a significant 33:27 of the game, the Tigers couldn’t press home the advantage, allowing the Rebels to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat and inflict upon Memphis their second loss of the season.
David Jones emerged as the star for Memphis, racking up 22 points, seven rebounds, and a couple of assists. Nicholas Jourdain, with 10 points and seven rebounds, and Malcolm Dandridge, with 13 points and four rebounds, put in commendable efforts for the Tigers.
The game started on a shaky note for Memphis, who found themselves trailing 7-0 in the opening minutes. However, spearheaded by Jones, who scored seven consecutive points, the Tigers sparked a 19-2 run to gain a 10-point lead. Ole Miss, undefeated this season (7-0), showed resilience, shooting six triples in the first half to stay within striking distance. Memphis went into halftime with a 37-30 lead, which they expanded to 11 points early in the second half.
Ole Miss, buoyed by an impressive 55.9 percent shooting in the second half, reclaimed the lead at 53-51 with less than 14 minutes left to play. The game remained fiercely competitive, as neither team managed to lead by more than two possessions. As the clock ticked down to three minutes, Jourdain picked up a miss from Jahvon Quinerly to put Memphis ahead 73-72. A tough bucket by Jaylen Murray for Ole Miss, with 18 seconds left, proved decisive, as it gave the Rebels a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
Memphis, who shot 42.5 percent for the game, were hindered by their poor three-point shooting, making just 16.7 percent (3-18). Ole Miss, on the other hand, shot an impressive 50 percent (11-22) from distance.
Murray, with 22 points and nine assists, was the standout performer for Ole Miss. Memphis native Matthew Murrell also made significant contributions with 20 points, six rebounds, and five assists.
Noteworthy postgame insights include Jones leading Memphis in scoring for the fourth time this season, all of which have come in the last five outings. Dandridge’s 13 points marked a season high, while Jourdain’s seven rebounds were also a season high. Despite the loss, Memphis still holds a historical advantage over Ole Miss with an all-time series lead of 29-16.
Looking ahead, Memphis will continue their challenging road trip with games against VCU and No. 14 Texas A&M next week. These matchups will be the first visits to VCU since 1990 and College Station since 1965. As they regroup and prepare, the Tigers will undoubtedly be looking to bounce back from the heartbreak in Oxford and return to their winning ways.
