Arkansas Erases 11-point Deficit to Beat Ole Miss

January 11, 2020

Final Stats Coach Muss Postgame (SEC Network)

OXFORD, Miss. – Isaiah Joe tied a career high with 34 points and had two steals inside the final 2:20 to lead Arkansas to a 76-72 come-from-behind win at Ole Miss Saturday evening at The Pavilion.

The Razorbacks were down 11 (49-38 with 14:20 left with play in the game), the same margin it was down in the second half in a come-from-behind win at Indiana on Dec. 29.

Undaunted by the deficit, Arkansas used a 7-0 run – layup from Adrio Bailey, a 3-pointer from Joe and a jumper from Joe – to get within four points. However, Ole Miss worked its advantage back up to nine on two occasions over the next five minutes. The Rebels’ last significant lead was eight points after two free throws with seven minutes to play.

From that point, Joe sank a 3-pointer with 6:03 left and, after a defensive stop, Joe drilled another triple. On the play, Bailey was fouled and sank both free throws for a 5-point possession to tie the game, 64-64, at the 5:33 mark.

Ole Miss regained a four-point lead with 4:50 left. Joe and Desi Sills each hit jumpers to knot the game for a seventh time with 3:55 remaining. Neither team scored over the next minute until Joe was fouled and sank two free throws.

Joe then came through with his first big steal down the stretch (at 2:20). He converted the steal into a fastbreak layup for a four-point lead. The Rebels cut their deficit in half with an offensive put-back.

Both teams went on another scoring drought until Joe came through with his second steal with 18 seconds left. The Rebels fouled Joe and he sank both free throws to go up four. Breein Tyree quickly made a layup to make the score 74-72 with 18 ticks left on the clock.

Jimmy Whitt Jr., was fouled on the ensuing inbounds play. The graduate senior drained both free throws with eight seconds left to secure the four-point win.

Joe was 11-of-18 from the field, including 7-of-13 from 3-point range, and the sophomore made all five free throws. In addition to his two steals, Joe tied a career-high two blocked shots – tying the total he had versus Ole Miss last season.

Mason Jones finished with 13 points, thanks to going 6-of-6 at the line, and career-high nine assists with three steals. Whitt had 11 points. going 7-of-8 from the free throw line.

Tyree led all scorers with 27 points while KJ Buffen (12 points and 11 rebounds) and Devontae Shular (10 points and 11 rebounds) each had double-doubles for the Rebels.

Arkansas returns home for two games, hosting Vanderbilt on Wednesday (Jan. 15) and Kentucky on Saturday (Jan. 18). The Vanderbilt game is set for a 7:30 pm start on the SEC Network. The sold-out Kentucky game is set to begin at 3:00 pm and will be televised on ESPN.

FIRST HALF: Arkansas 27 – Ole Miss 33

Ole Miss’ Khadim Sy scored the first points of the game, two free throws at 19:24. Arkansas answered with a 10-0 run, thanks to a pair of 3-pointers by Isaiah Joe.
Ole Miss did not score its first field goal until 14:09 (Its first four pints were at the free throw line.).
The Rebels made back-to-back 3-pointers to get to within two, 20-18, at 7:31. The Rebels went up 22-21 after two free throws by Devontae Shuler at 6:01.
Ole Miss ended the first half on a 7-0 run and Arkansas was scoreless over the final 3:19 as the Rebels took a six-point lead at the break.
Jeantal Cylla played 11 minutes in the first half. He had only played 11 total minutes over the previous seven games. He led the team with five rebounds.

SECOND HALF: Arkansas out-scored Ole Miss 49-39.

Arkansas shot 57.7 percent from the field while holding Ole Miss to 42.9% shooting.
Arkansas was 5-of-8 from 3-point range in the second half. Ole Miss was 0-of-5.
Both teams made all their free throw attempts in the second half. Arkansas made 14. Ole Miss made 15.
Isaiah Joe scored 26 of his 34 in the second half. He was 8-of-10 from the field – 5-of-7 from 3-point range.

GAME NOTES

Arkansas’ starting lineup was Jimmy Whitt (G) – Isaiah Joe (G) – Desi Sills (G) – Mason Jones (G) – Adrio Bailey (F) for the 14th time this season.
Arkansas won the tip. It was the eighth time in 15 games. Arkansas is 6-2 in such games.
Arkansas is now just 9-20 in games played in Oxford. The Razorbacks are 28-26 versus the Rebels since joining the SEC.
Ole Miss’ Khadim Sy scored the first points of the game, two free throws at 19:24.
Arkansas is 6-0 when the opponent scores first.
Desi Sills scored the Razorbacks’ first points, a layup at 17:35. It was the second time Sills has scored Arkansas’ first points.
This was Isaiah Joe’s second 30-point game. He also scored 34 in a win over FIU last season.
With seven 3-pointers, Isaiah Joe now has 172 for his career to move to seventh on the school’s all-time list. He was stay at the #7 spot for a while as #6 is Lee Mayberry with 218.
Mason Jones just missed his second career double-double, getting 13 points and handing out a career-high nine assists.
Mason Jones led the team in rebounds (6), assists (9) and steals (3). It is the sixth time Jones has led the team in three of the four key stats (points being the fourth). He had led the team in rebounding a team-best five times. He has led the team is assists a team-best seven times. He has led the team in steals a team-best six times.
Arkansas was out-rebounded 40-28. Arkansas has been out-rebounded 12 times this season and is 10-2 in such games.
Arkansas trailed by six at the half. Arkansas is 3-1 this season when trailing at the half (won when trailing at half versus Valpo, at Indiana and at Ole Miss).
Arkansas forced 16 turnover and have forced at least 15 in 10 of its 15 games.

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