AJ Storr has a huge night against Mizzou to stop the Rebels losing skid
AJ Storr had a season high 26 points to lead the way for Ole Miss in a 76-69 win over Missouri on Saturday at the SJB Pavilion to get Ole Miss off its two-game losing streak.
The Rebels (9-7, 1-2 SEC) were looking to avoid its first 0-3 start to SEC play since 2022, and early on things were not looking great as the Tigers (12-4, 2-1 SEC) built an 8-2 lead to start the game. While Ole Miss responded initially, Missouri eventually built its lead to 22-12 with a combination of perimeter shooting and a lack of cohesion on offense for the Rebels.
Travis Perry scored a quick five straight points for Ole Miss to cut the lead then Storr turned it on from there. The Kansas transfer scored the next 15 points for Ole Miss to give the Rebels a 32-29 lead, which turned into a 37-36 lead at the break.
These two teams traded baskets from there for the next 13 minutes of gametime with neither leading by more than four points until a Malik Dia dunk gave the Rebels a 62-57 lead with 7:07 left. Ole Miss made clutch free throws down the stretch in some pressure situations with only a one possession lead for its first SEC win of the season and a fairly quality win after so many close calls in the non-conference.
Ole Miss had to win this game to get some kind of momentum and hope injected into the second half of the season. Three of the next four games are on the road against top 25 Georgia, Mississippi State, and a trip to Rupp Arena against Kentucky. The Rebels next home game comes against a Jekyll/Hyde Auburn team sandwiched between the road trips.
If Storr and Dia can have the kind of dominant nights like tonight, the Rebels will at least have some chances at wins going forward if a couple role players emerge. If not, it will be some tough sledding in a very competitive SEC this year.
Category: General Sports
