LOOK: Ole Miss’ Jaemyn Brakefield returned to form offensively at Texas A&M
Jaemyn Brakefield was an offensive menace for nearly a month.
He made over 67 percent of his shots, including some 57 percent of his threes, from December 16 to January 10. Brakefield, who’s in his third Ole Miss season after a transfer from Duke, averaged 20.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.8 steals. He twice set new career-highs for single-game points.
But he cooled off for four games, even if he was still able to score double-digit points twice. Saturday at Texas A&M represented a true return to form.
Brakefield helped lead the Rebels to their first SEC road win, 71-68.
He scored 15 points and added three assists, two rebounds and a steal. Brakefield made five of his seven shots, as well as two of his three threes. Ole Miss improved to 17-3 (4-3 SEC) on the year, while Texas A&M fell to 12-8 (3-4).
Jaylen Murray led the Rebels in scoring (16). He and Brakefield combined for six of the Rebels’ 10 threes. Ole Miss got its first-ever win in College Station.
“That means something to me because I have so much respect for the coaches that came before us,” first-year Rebel head coach Chris Beard said afterwards. “We’re trying to do things at Ole Miss that haven’t been done before. Anytime we can check one off the list, it means we’re moving in the right direction.”
Allen Flanigan, a transfer guard from Auburn, had 11 points.
LSU/Georgetown transfer Brandon Murray finished with eight points and eight rebounds. He scored five straight points, and Jaylen Murray hit a deep three, during a 14-3 run that gave Ole Miss a 67-63 lead with 14 seconds remaining. Texas A&M guard Wade Taylor, IV, answered with a three of his own to pull the Aggies within one, 67-66, with 9.5 seconds left. But Ole Miss’ Matthew Murrell iced the game with two successful free throws.
The Rebels host rival Mississippi State on Tuesday.
“The one stat that doesn’t show up on the stat sheet is heart and poise and togetherness and just fight,” Beard said. “I told the guys at halftime, ‘This isn’t a stat-sheet game, man. This is just, every possession, just go out there and fight and scrap.’
“I was just proud of our players. Brandon Murray, eight rebounds and great minutes coming off the bench. Juju (Jaylen Murray) made some good individual plays. So, just proud of our players. There’s a good win for us.”
The included photos were provided by Ole Miss Athletics.
