(Photos by: Ariel Cobbert)
On a memorable senior night at the Pavilion, Stefan Moody scored a career-high 43 points as Ole Miss blew past Mississippi State 86-78.
“It means a lot and it’s special. It’s something that I’ll remember for the rest of my life,” Ole Miss senior guard Stefan Moody said. “The game just flowed that way and that’s how it happened.”
Moody finished the night going 11 of 24 from the floor, including six 3-pointers, and knocking down 15-of-18 free throws. The senior guard also finished the game with six assists.
“Moody knew the importance of this game,” Ole Miss head coach Andy Kennedy said. “ He was in great rhythm early and led us with his energy.”
Moody’s 43 points are the most scored by an Ole Miss player since Marshall Henderson scored 39 against Oregon in 2013. Moody’s previous career high was 33 points, achieved earlier this season in a road game against LSU.
“What a story book ending for Moody,” Mississippi State head coach Ben Howland said. “We tried hard defensively tonight, but had no answer for him. 43 points really speaks to what a great player he is.”
Ole Miss (19-11, 9-8 SEC) enforced their will during this game at the 8:21 mark in the first half as the Rebels went on a 19-5 run to go up 42-27. Mississippi State (13-16, 6-11 SEC) cut the lead to six early in the second half, but Ole Miss would never look back as they cruised to the victory.
MSU freshman Malik Newman, battling a back injury, didn’t provide much for the Bulldogs as he scored just three points in 12 minutes of action. Newman, a former McDonald’s All-American from Jackson, received boos from the fans and Club Red chanted “overrated” when he checked in the game.
MSU senior forward Gavin Ware was the only cause of concern for the Rebels as he dominated down low, scoring 28 points and grabbing nine rebounds.
Moody was honored before the game, receiving a loud standing ovation from the crowd at the Pavilion. The 5-foot-10-inch guard has, arguably, been one of the best players in program history during his two-year career. Moody, known for his scoring ability from all areas of the court, helped lead the Rebels to an NCAA Tournament victory over BYU last year. Moody became the fifth-fastest player in Ole Miss History to reach 1,000 career points this season.
“He’s electrifying and jumps off the page at you,” Kennedy said. “He’s the ultimate playmaker that I’ve coached here in ten years.”
Senior forward Anthony Perez and junior forward Sebastian Saiz both added 10 points each for the Rebels in the victory.
Next Up:
Ole Miss will travel to Knoxville to take on Tennessee at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday. The Rebels have won just two conference road games all season.
NCAA Tournament Outlook:
Ole Miss has to win the SEC Tournament to make the NCAA Tournament.
Fun Facts:
Per sports editor Colin Brister, if Ole Miss beats Tennessee, Georgia loses a game or Vanderbilt finishes ahead of South Carolina, and Mississippi State beats Auburn, Ole Miss will take on Mississippi State again in their first game of the SEC Tournament.
Moody’s 43 points were the 16th-most points scored in school history.
Ole Miss has won 5 out of their last 6 games against Mississippi State.
Quote Of The Game
“I don’t want to sound like a broken record here, but I feel like this team still has a run,” Kennedy said. “Based on my math, if we control our fate and find a way to win a road game, we’re going to finish sixth in the league. It could put us in a position to do something special.”
– Browning Stubbs
