Ole Miss Basketball: Rebels Hot Against Monmouth, Advance To NIT Round 2
The cold weather at Monmouth wasn’t enough to chill the hot Ole Miss basketball team tonight as the Rebels won 91-83. Monmouth has also been hot and playing on their home court would be a challenge.
The Hawks have always been a tough team, and came into tonight’s game with a 26-7 record. However, home court advantage, cold weather, nor bench theatrics would prove to be enough against a very strong Ole Miss basketball team.
The Rebels, who seem to be very resilient, took the floor at Monmouth coming off a heartbreaking loss to Arkansas in the SEC Tourney. Of course, Coach And Kennedy had his Ole Miss basketball team ready, and it would show on court.
Saiz Dominates Again
Ole Miss Rebels Basketball
Once again, Sebastian Saiz dominated the game for Ole Miss,and led all Rebel scorers with 23 points and 11 rebounds. Saiz, who was recently selected to the All-SEC first team, would record his 21st double-double of the season. According to OleMissSports.com, this double performance would also be an Ole Miss basketball season record. Saiz was also very impressive from the free throw line, going 10 for 10. He would also have 2 blocked shots in the victory. Saiz will have to continue to be dominant going forward. Of course, with his strong physical play thus far, Rebel fans can expect another double performance when Sebastian takes the floor in Round 2.
It Takes A Team
It took Saiz and his performance, plus offensive output by the rest of the Rebels, to hit the 90 point mark for the 9th time this season. Deandre Burnett added 17 points, while Terrance Davis, Cullen Neal, and Breein Tyree each had 11 points. Combined, those four players would also account for 14 boards. Also scoring in the game, Furmanavicious would account for 9 points and 5 rebounds, while Rasheed Brooks hit for 7 points and Marcanvis Hymon would add 2. Defensively, Saiz and his teammates would account for 46 boards and dominate the glass.
Big time defensive stops late in the second half help @OleMissMBB move on in the #NIT pic.twitter.com/uhY87ivc5g
— OleMissPix (@OleMissPix) March 15, 2017
ICYMI Listen to @IMGAudio's "Best of the Best" @OleMissMBB calls from their opening #NITTournament win!https://t.co/B32OKZswwL
— David Kellum (@RebVoice) March 15, 2017
Who’s Next?
The severe weather didn’t stop Ole Miss basketball tonight in Monmouth. However, it did cause the postponement of another NIT first round game. The #1 seed Syracuse and #8 UNC-Greensboro game will be played in Syracuse Wednesday. Accordingly, Ole Miss will get the winner in Round 2.