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Ole Miss Rebels guard Allen Flanigan (7) is fouled by Vanderbilt Commodores forward Ven-Allen Lubin (2) at the Sandy and John Black Pavilion at Ole Miss in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, January 13, 2023. (©Bruce Newman)

Ole Miss Rebels forward Moussa Cisse (33) shoots against Vanderbilt Commodores at the Sandy and John Black Pavilion at Ole Miss in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, January 13, 2023. (©Bruce Newman)

Ole Miss Rebels head coach Chris Beard reacts during the game against Vanderbilt Commodores at the Sandy and John Black Pavilion at Ole Miss in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, January 13, 2023. (©Bruce Newman)

Vanderbilt Commodores guard Tyrin Lawrence (0), Ole Miss Rebels guard Matthew Murrell (11), and Ole Miss Rebels guard Brandon Murray (0) battle for the ball at the Sandy and John Black Pavilion at Ole Miss in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, January 13, 2023. (©Bruce Newman)

Ole Miss Rebels forward Moussa Cisse (33) scores against Vanderbilt Commodores at the Sandy and John Black Pavilion at Ole Miss in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, January 13, 2023. (©Bruce Newman)

Ole Miss Rebels guard Jaylen Murray (5) drives the lane against Vanderbilt Commodores guard Ezra Manjon (5) at the Sandy and John Black Pavilion at Ole Miss in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, January 13, 2023. (©Bruce Newman)

Ole Miss Rebels forward Moussa Cisse (33) is fouled by Vanderbilt Commodores guard Jordan Williams (10) at the Sandy and John Black Pavilion at Ole Miss in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, January 13, 2023. (©Bruce Newman)

By Ole Miss Athletics

Collecting their 10th consecutive win in the SJB Pavilion, the No. 23 Ole Miss men’s basketball team defeated Vanderbilt 69-56 on Saturday.

The Rebels (15-1, 2-1 SEC) came out hot in the first half, shooting over 50 percent from both the floor and three-point line over the first 20 minutes of action. Their 41 points marked the fifth time Ole Miss hit at least 40 in a first half this year, all of which have come in the last seven contests.

The veteran returners got Ole Miss started, as Matthew Murrell and Jaemyn Brakefield put the home team in front quickly. The Commodores (5-11, 0-3 SEC) made it a one point-game at the 14-minute mark, 11-10, before a 7-0 run by the Rebels put them back in control. With six minutes before the midway break, Vanderbilt took their first lead of the game on a three to go up 23-22. However, Ole Miss outpaced the visitors 16-5 over the next five minutes, abruptly going up 10 behind a pair of makes from beyond the arc by Murrell.

Leading by nine at the beginning of the second half, the Rebels pushed that number to 14 on a jumper from Allen Flanigan, up 53-39 with just over 13 minutes on the clock. A handful of free throws and three by the Commodores made it a three-point game with just over eight to play, as the Ole Miss lead was cut to 55-52.

Another offensive run for the Rebels put them back in the driver’s seat, as a 14-3 streak was punctuated by a pair of Cisse free throws with just under four minutes left. The Rebels would go on to win by 13, holding their opponent to under 60 points for the fourth time this season.

For the second time this year and fourth time in his career, Murrell connected on six makes from deep, finishing with a team-best 24 points for his fifth 20-point game of the season. The senior climbed the school leaderboard for career makes from three today, surpassing Terence Davis and Devontae Shuler to tie Stefan Moody for seventh with 181. He is also now tied with Terence Davis for the eighth-most attempts from three.

Murrell also moved into 30th for career points at Ole Miss, surpassing Rebel-great Rod Barnes.

As he’s done all season for the Rebels, Allen Flanigan stuffed the box score with 16 points, eight assists, five rebounds, two blocks, and a steal.

Coming off a record-breaking performance in his last game, Jamarion Sharp recorded three blocked shots today, giving him 327 in his career to pass Ole Miss’ Reginlad Buckner on the NCAA career list.

With 18 assists and just eight turnovers, the Rebels recorded an assist-to-turnover ratio over 2.00 for the fifth time this year. Ole Miss entered today’s game ranked 26th in college basketball with a ratio of 1.54.

Vanderbilt was led by Tyrin Lawrence with 14 points, with Jason Rivera-Torres adding 12 off the bench.

Ole Miss will hit the road for a pair of SEC games next week, beginning with a trip to Baton Rouge to face LSU on Wednesday, January 17 at 6 p.m. on the SEC Network.

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