University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
Ole Miss
Memphis Falls to Ole Miss, 65-53
Dec 11, 2004 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 11, 2004
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Tommie Eddie scored 18 points and grabbed 9 rebounds Saturday as Mississippi outshot and outhustled Memphis, defeating the Tigers 65-53.
Ole Miss (3-4) had five players in double figures and shot 53 percent for the game, snapping a two-game losing streak.
It was a difference in intensity - the Rebels scrapped throughout, pushing on defense, passing the ball around the perimeter, running a patient offense. Memphis, meanwhile, appeared to be going through the motions, and it cost the Tigers their second straight loss and four of their last six. The loss snapped a 24-game home winning streak for Memphis (5-4).
Londrick Nolen added 12 for the Rebels, while Kendrick Fox, Cavadas Nunnery and Brandon Patterson scored 10 each for Ole Miss.
Darius Washington led Memphis with 20 points, but committed half of the Tigers' 16 turnovers, a testament to the Ole Miss defense and Memphis' inability to control the ball. Duane Erwin and Anthony Rice added 10 each. The Tigers leading scorer, Sean Banks, was limited to 5 points in 25 minutes, including 1-of-8 from the field, while Rodney Carney was 3-of-13 in the game.
The Tigers were in danger early in the second half as Ole Miss built its lead to 40-27. Ole Miss continued to maintain the advantage, holding a 60-46 lead with 3:44 left when Eddie scored inside.
That led to a chorus of boos from the Memphis fans, many of them heading for the exits.
The Rebels would eventually lead by 16.
The tone was set in the first half as the Rebels worked inside early, then relied on 3-point shooting late in the half to take a 36-27 lead at intermission. Eddie scored the first 10 Ole Miss points, working the baseline and hitting reverse layups.
Then Fox and Patterson loosened up the Memphis defense with 3-pointers in the final nine minutes of the half. Fox had 3-of-4 from long range, while Patterson hit 2 of his 3 from outside the arc as Mississippi built the lead to as many as 11.
In the second half, Memphis shot only 30 percent as the Rebels maintained double-digits lead through most of the latter stages.
