OXFORD – When Ole Miss and Tennessee played in Knoxville on Jan. 9, the pace was faster, the style more physical, and that was to the Rebels’ liking.

Thursday there were 53 fouls called, and foul trouble was a problem for the Rebels in the first half as both Murphy Holloway and Reggie Buckner – the team’s top two rebounders – went to the bench.

Holloway played 8 minutes in the first half, Buckner 9.

Tennessee was plus-11 in rebounding in the first half. With Buckner and Holloway back for the final 20 minutes, rebounding was even at 15 each.

When the two seniors were out, freshman Terry Brutus got playing time. Ole Miss coach Andy Kennedy played mostly zone, and Brutus finished with two rebounds in nine minutes.

Chart Climbers

With six rebounds, Murphy Holloway continues his climb up the Ole Miss rebounding list. He now trails career leader Walter Actwood by by 15 rebounds.

Actwood amassed 945 rebounds in 103 games from 1974-1977.

Holloway was held to eight points in the rematch due in part to foul trouble.

Kennedy is three wins away from tying B.L. Graham as the school’s winningest coach with 144 victories.

Player of the game Marshall Henderson finished with 28 points, two rebounds, an assist and two turnovers in 32 minutes. Henderson began the night as the SEC’s leading scorer at 18.9 points a game.

Next Game

The Rebels are back on the SEC road with a 7 p.m., tip at Auburn on Saturday.

Quotable

“It’s very difficult to beat someone two times, much less in the span of about a three-week period and most especially the way we did it in Game 1.” – Ole Miss coach Andy Kennedy