Ole Miss used a dominant performance on the defensive end to put away North Carolina A&T, 84-50. The Aggies scored just 17 points in the second half, as they shot 17 percent in the final 20 minutes.
For the game, North Carolina A&T scored just .72 points per possession and shot 26 percent from the field and 24 percent on threes. Ole Miss forced the Aggies into 21 turnovers, as they had more turnovers than field goals made, 12.
The Aggies top two scorers entering the game, Lamont Middleton and Richuad Pack, each went for 13 points, but combined to shoot 4 of 18. Where they got their points was at the free throw line, as they combined to shoot 17 of 19 .
That was the only defensive blemish for Ole Miss, as North Carolina A&T went 22 of 29 from free throw line.
The pressure defense of Ole Miss kept the Aggies out of the paint. North Carolina A&T had 12 points in the paint, and just two at half time. In the first half, they attempted just three shots in the paint. Ole Miss managed to force two shot clock violations in the first half with their pressure defense.
Offensively, Ole Miss was led by sophomore point guard Derrick Millinghaus. He turned in an efficient performance, as he led the team with 16 points on 5 of 11 shooting. He made 3 of his 6 three pointers, and added four assists. He was extremely effective at penetrating the Aggie defense and dishing off to the big men for dunks.
Millinghaus was a key defensively for Ole Miss and their feverish ball pressure.
“I’m trying to get him more assertive on both ends,” Kennedy said. “I thought defensively tonight may have been his best game. He was putting pressure on the ball. We turned them over 21 times. And he gave us great push.”
Junior forward Aaron Jones got the first double-double of his career, as he scored 11 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Jones knocked down 4 of 7 field goals and added two blocks to his stat line.
“It is a bit rewarding,” Jones said. “I’m just doing the thing I like to do. Just hooping. That’s all I want to do.”
Senior guard Marshall Henderson played just 13 minutes, 12 in the first half, in the game and scored eight points on 2 of 6 shooting. Kennedy said it was a coaching decision to play him just one minute in the second half.
Eight points is the fewest amount Henderson has scored while at Ole Miss, and 13 minutes is the fewest playing time he has received. His eight-point game snapped a 32-game streak of scoring in double figures.
Junior guard Jarvis Summers reached double figures again with 13 points and six assists. Summers has now scored in double figures in every game this year.
Freshman forward Dwight Coleby returned to the floor after missing the last game with shin splints. The freshman scored five points and turned away two shots.
Ole Miss scored 1.2 points per possession, their second most efficient game of the season.
Ole Miss will now travel to Brooklyn to compete in the Barclay’s Classic. They will play Georgia Tech on Friday at 3:30 p.m. Georgia Tech trailed North Carolina A&T by four at half time, but came away with a seven point win over the Aggies.
“It’s the next step for us,” Kennedy said. “I’m excited to see how we respond to another BCS opponent Friday night. A team, much like ourselves, trying to find themselves. But we know Georgia Tech has got quality players. It’ll be a big challenge for us.”
For continuing coverage of Ole Miss men’s basketball, follow @Tyler_RSR and @thedm_sports on Twitter.
— Tyler Bischoff
tfbischo@go.olemiss.edu
