Ole Miss Takes Out Texas Tech - Heads To NIT Semis

Persistent UM earns trip to NYC for NIT semifinals

Rebel Resolve

David Brandt • david.brandt@clarionledger.com • March 24, 2010

OXFORD — Murphy Holloway, much like this Ole Miss basketball team, has his flaws.

Among them are an iffy free-throw shooting touch, a limited offensive repertoire in the post and the occasional defensive lapse.

The thing that can overcome all of that? Resolve. And neither Holloway or any of the Rebels were lacking that as they beat Texas Tech 90-87 in double overtime at Tad Smith Coliseum on Tuesday to earn a trip to New York City next week for the semifinals of the National Invitation Tournament.

"The one thing you can't question through 34 games is this team's resolve," UM coach Andy Kennedy said. "They go in and compete. They give maximum effort. And as a coach, I'm not sure I can ask for much more."

And now, Ole Miss (24-10) is heading to famed Madison Square Garden for the second time in three seasons. The Rebels' next game will be Tuesday against the winner of tonight's Dayton-Illinois game.

Chris Warren led the Rebels with 22 points, while Terrico White and Holloway both scored 17. Holloway also added 11 rebounds, three assists and five steals.

And it was Holloway's three-point play from under the goal with 3 seconds left in the second OT that gave the Rebels their winning advantage and ended a game that had more than its share of drama.

"This game's fun if we win," Warren said. "But if we don't, it's not."

The drama started in regulation, when Ole Miss rallied from a 67-57 deficit with 2:29 remaining. UM used a full-court press to force several turnovers, and then White hit a short jumper with 27 seconds remaining to tie the game at 68.

Texas Tech's D'walyn Roberts, who had 12 points and 17 rebounds, missed a point-blank shot in the final seconds that would have won it.

Then in the first overtime, Ole Miss overcame Kennedy's first technical foul of the season. Referee Pat Adams said that he had gone too far onto the court for arguing a no-call when Warren was driving to the basket.

"He said, 'You came out on the court yelling at me,' " Kennedy deadpanned. "And I said, 'Well, this game's kind of important.' "

Texas Tech (19-16) hit the two technical free throws with 1:13 remaining, but Ole Miss rallied once again. With 9 seconds left, it was Holloway with the tip-in to tie the game at 79 that sent it to the second overtime


That's when the Rebels' depth appeared to take over. While UM remained fairly fresh, Texas Tech was gassed and in foul trouble.

Mike Singletary, who led all scorers with 28 points, John Roberson and Roberts all played at least 41 minutes. Two starters - Roberson and Darko Cohadarevic - fouled out.

As the minutes and fouls piled up, the Red Raiders grew more sloppy. They had 18 turnovers, including several because of the Ole Miss pressure.

"We just get going too fast," Texas Tech coach Pat Knight said. "And that's why they pressured us. In our league (the Big 12), we don't go against a lot of pressure teams."

Ole Miss was just 19 of 31 from the free-throw line (61.3 percent), but was clutch when it mattered most, hitting 11 of its last 12.

It was the second straight inspired performance at the Tad Pad, which wasn't always the friendliest of confines during January and February.

The main reason why the Rebels are in the NIT instead of the NCAA Tournament was because of four home losses during the SEC schedule.

But at the end of this one, Holloway, Warren and the rest of the Rebels enthusiastically exchanged high fives with many in the announced crowd of 6,014 as they ringed the Coliseum.

Now Ole Miss has a few days off before heading to New York.

The Rebels' trip two years ago was a short one, as they were trounced 81-69 by Ohio State.

Warren was one of four current Ole Miss players who was a part of that team, and he said they learned their lesson.

"We know what to expect," Warren said. "... We're going to try to make it a little more of a business trip instead of just having fun."