After losing four out of five games previously, Ole Miss had to rally from a 17-point deficit against BYU. They must have had a little of that St. Patty’s Day luck hangover left in that come from behind win. Unfortunately, that means nothing to the NCAA Tournament as Xavier rolled them over, 76-57.
Turning Point
Ole Miss looked to come out strong and opened the game with a few points but all it took was for Xavier to show up. They took the lead early and never looked back. At every point that Ole Miss tried to make a comeback and pull the lead their way, Xavier put a stop to it and eventually put their foot on the pedal.
Impact Player
Center and star player Matt Stainbrook took his big game and big body to the Rebels for 20 points, 5 assists, and 9 rebounds. He was always waiting to be fed and once given the ball, could score on almost any shot. (8-10 field goals, 4-4 free throws)
Strange, Yet True
Ole Miss put up a lot of shots … but out of 73, only five were free throws with three made. Xavier made 10 3-pointers. That’s what happens when desperation sets in.
What’s Next?
The Xavier Musketeers will meet Georgia State in the 3rd round while Ole Miss caps their season off at 21-13. They at least put on a spectacle in the tournament before being shown the door.
