“I am a lot stronger in my second year, so it is just easier,” Buffen said. “I am more comfortable out there.”

The Rebels held the Spartans to just six points over the final seven minutes. Norfolk State’s backcourt tandem of Joe Bryant and Jermaine Bishop led the Spartans in scoring with 11 points apiece.

Tyree rectified a six-point performance on 2-of-9 shooting in the Rebels’ season-opening win over Arkansas State. Head coach Kermit Davis though Tyree settled for a lot of jump shots in that game and Tyree did a much better job attacking the rim against the Spartans. He was 8-of-18 from the field and 2-of-8 from three-point range.

“He has to be who he is,” Davis said. “He is really good on the move. He has been settling. He needs to get to the rim in transition. I knew he would be better tonight.”

The Spartans suffered their first setback of the season and fell to 2-1.

Ole Miss moved to 2-0 on the season and closes out a season-opening four-game homestand against Western Michigan on Friday and Seattle on Tuesday. The scoring the Rebels are getting from their backcourt between Shuler and Tyree, along with the emergence of Buffen as an offensive threat in the high post, bodes well for the Rebels as they await the return of sophomore forward Blake Hinson, who has been sidelined with a blood abnormality and is expected to be cleared to practice with contact within the next week.