FINAL: @Ole Miss 90 Auburn 84

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/AntonioCMorales/status/830447980926861316

Rebels have suffered back-to-back losses three times since Dec. 29. That's something Ole Miss can't afford to repeat when it hosts Auburn. Rebels (14-10, 5-6 SEC) and Tigers (16-8, 5-6), who are two of five teams tied for seventh place in the SEC, meet for the second time.

Ole Miss has played better recently, but it's only 2-3 in its past five games. In each of those three losses, the Rebels have led or been tied with their opponent in the final 2 ½ minutes.

No. 8 Baylor used a quick 8-0 run down the stretch and earned a 78-75 win against Ole Miss and nothing went right in the final minutes against Tennessee. The Rebels made one field goal and committed four turnovers, which sparked an 18-4 run by the Volunteers to end the game.

"We've just got to make better decisions with the ball; that's the thing we're continually stressing," coach Andy Kennedy said. "We never really had much of an offensive rhythm (against Tennessee). We battled, stayed in the game and gave ourselves a chance. Then we just imploded — very similar to what we did against Baylor by just making poor decisions with the basketball and that's something we've got to correct."

Auburn erased a 12-point deficit late against Ole Miss the first time these two teams met. But guard Rasheed Brooks hit a late 3, which pushed the Rebels to an 88-85 win.

The first game was so close because of the performance of the Tigers' freshman guards — Mustapha Heron and Jared Harper.

Harper and Heron scored 24 and 20 points, respectively. Heron is Auburn's leading scorer at 15.3 points while Harper is second at 12.7.

"They're certainly very talented. With freshmen, there's a learning curve and there's going to be highs and lows. We experience it with Breein (Tyree)," Kennedy said. "I think Heron, especially from a consistency standpoint, he's been really outstanding since Day 1. He's big, he's strong and can really attack you with that left-hand dribble. And Jared Harper is an explosive scorer; we saw that firsthand."

[jbcarol]

Antonio Morales ‏@AntonioCMorales 54s54 seconds ago

Make that 24 for Davis [in this half]

[jbcarol]

 Antonio Morales ‏@AntonioCMorales 1m1 minute ago

Final: Ole Miss overcomes a 23-point deficit to defeat Auburn, 90-84.

[jbcarol]

Antonio Morales ‏@AntonioCMorales 26s27 seconds ago

Ole Miss scored 63 points in the second half and shot 62.5 percent