The Ole Miss men’s basketball team opened today’s game against the East Tennessee State Buccaneers on a 13-0 run and cruised to a 71-50 victory at the C.M. “Tad” Smith Coliseum.A catalyst for the Rebels’ was the good all-around play of Reggie Buckner, who set several career highs with 16 points, seven blocks and 33 minutes played.
He also had six rebounds.
“When we get him touches at point-blank range we want him to score and he has done a much better job of it. His field-goal percentage is off the chart,” Ole Miss coach Andy Kennedy said.
After opening the game with the lopsided lead, the Rebels (7-2 overall) never allowed the Buccaneers (4-5) to get within five points of the lead (31-26 with 4:05 remaining in the first half).
The Rebels led 40-26 at the half.
Senior guard Chris Warren had a game-high 22 points, while senior forward Zach Graham also contributed 14 points. Mike Smith and Isiah Brown led ETSU with 18 and 12 points respectively.
Ole Miss returns to action on Dec. 22, facing Texas State in the first game of the Cancun Governor’s Cup at 6 p.m. ET.
TIP-INS: Junior forward Steadman Short was held out of the game due to a “stomach illness”… Ole Miss allowed the fewest points since it defeated Nicholls State 53-41 on Jan. 3, 2009. (December 18, 2010)
