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| (AP Photo/Bruce Newman) |
OXFORD, Miss. (AP) — Chris Warren scored 20 points and Eniel Polynice added 18 as No. 24 Mississippi’s freshman had one of their best games of the season to help the Rebels beat No. 19 Vanderbilt 74-58 Wednesday night.
Freshmen scored 18 of Ole Miss’ first 26 points in the pivotal opening minutes of the second half as the Rebels (16-3, 3-3 Southeastern Conference) snapped a two-game losing streak and sent the Commodores (17-4, 2-4) to their fourth loss in five games.
The game was vital for two teams slumping after setting school records for consecutive wins to start the season.
The win snapped a six-game losing streak to Vanderbilt and helps the Rebels remain in the SEC West race behind Mississippi State after a brutal January run that included three ranked opponents.
Another slow start doomed Vanderbilt. The Commodores trailed the Rebels 29-26 at halftime. It was third time in the four losses they failed to reach 30 points in the first half and followed a 22-point loss at Florida where they scored just six points in the first 12 1/2 minutes.
The Rebels, in one of their best defensive efforts of the season, held the Commodores to 32.3 percent shooting in the first half and 34.9 percent overall. Vanderbilt missed 41 shots and 20 3-pointers.
Shan Foster finished with 14 for Vanderbilt and A.J. Ogilvy had 10, but both were held below their season averages for the second straight week. Kenny Williams added 10 points and 10 rebounds for Ole Miss and had a crucial steal and transition dunk with 6 minutes left that helped the Rebels pull away.
