Ole Miss Rebels Take Down N.C. State Wolfpack in SEC/ACC Challenge, Remain Undefeated

The Ole Miss Rebels men's basketball team remains undefeated early in the 2023-24 season after taking down the N.C. State Wolfpack on Tuesday night in The Sandy and John Black Pavilion.

OXFORD, Miss. -- The Ole Miss Rebels men's basketball team picked up their sixth win of the season in a dominant 72-52 home-court victory over the N.C. State Wolfpack on Tuesday night. This was a big win early for Chris Beard's team, as the Rebels took down a veteran team that made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season.

The Rebels started the game hot, as Ole Miss led the Wolfpack 10-3 at the first media timeout thanks to a productive first five minutes from guard Allen Flanigan. It was also a big first half for senior guard Matthew Murrell, as he scored his 1,000th career point, all in an Ole Miss uniform.

The Rebels entered the locker room at halftime with a 35-27 lead over N.C. State despite not shooting phenomenally as a group. Ole Miss shot 44 percent from the field and 30 percent from the three-point line. 

Ole Miss Rebels men's basketball coach Chris Beard during the Throwback Game in the "Tad Pad" vs. Sam Houston (2023) / Carleigh Harbin-The Grove Report

Ole Miss built on its lead in the second half with another offensive surge led by senior forward Jaemyn Brakefield. Brakefield led the Rebels in scoring versus the Wolfpack with a season-high 25 points. Guard TJ Caldwell did not lead the team in a particular category, but the sophomore was spectacular off the bench, recording eight points while shooting a perfect 2-for-2 from beyond the arc.

As a team, Ole Miss shot 41 percent from the field and 35 from beyond the arc, while N.C. State shot percentages of 32 and 12, respectively. 

The free-throw line was also much kinder to the Rebels on Tuesday night, as they shot 85 percent from the line as a team. 

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Ole Miss is undefeated entering its Saturday matchup versus the 5-1 Memphis Tigers. Tip-off is set for 1:00 p.m. CT in The Sandy and John Black Pavilion, and the game will be televised on ESPN 2.