Jarkel Joiner sparked Ole Miss’ offense by canning three consecutive 3-pointers in a 90-second span as the Rebels throttled Rider 75-51 on Tuesday night in Oxford, Miss.
The leading scorer for the Rebels (5-2), Joiner notched 18 points in his seventh straight game this season scoring in double digits. He has 11 consecutive dating back to last season and was successful on 4 of 9 3-pointers Tuesday.
Matthew Murrell recorded 14 points while Robert Allen had 11. Austin Crowley scored 10, dished out five assists and had four rebounds. Nysier Brooks collected 15 rebounds, three blocks and two assists. Tye Fagan had nine points, 10 rebounds and four assists.
Rider (3-6) shot just 30 percent, including 15 percent from distance.
Mervin James scored 11 points and secured nine rebounds, and Ajiri Ogemuno-Johnson scored 10.
In building an early 8-4 rebound advantage, the Broncs took their first lead at 15:54 when Ogemuno-Johnson grabbed an offensive board and threw down a dunk to make it 6-5.
The teams combined to go 6-for-24 from the field in the first seven minutes, but Ogemuno-Johnson’s slam broke the cold spell.
Dunks were in order in the first half as Crowley and Brooks tossed a pair down for a 13-8 lead for the Southeastern Conference school.
Ole Miss crafted its biggest lead – 31-19 – on Tye Fagan’s free throw at 1:29, but the Broncs’ late run left them down 31-25 at the break.
Each side shot below 35 percent in the first 20 minutes, but the Rebels – averaging 38 rebounds per game – held a 28-21 margin on the boards.
Joiner paced Ole Miss’ balanced offense with seven points. James had seven and Ogemuno-Johnson and Murray each had six for Rider.
After James’ layup almost two minutes into the second, Ole Miss’ defense stiffened.
The Broncs went more than five minutes without a point until Murray’s free throw cut it to 38-28 with 13 minutes left.
Joiner buried three consecutive shots from long distance for a 56-42 lead at 7:38 to key the Rebels’ late run. The win was their second straight victory and third in the last four games.
–Field Level Media
