Colby Rogers scored 28 points to lead Memphis past the 16th ranked Ole Miss Rebels 87-70 at the FedEx Forum Saturday, Dec. 28.
The win is a rebound from a flat effort against the previously unranked Mississippi State Bulldogs a week prior.
“If I came out with the right energy, it would affect the game. I wanted to come out and give 100 percent effort. My attitude is positive. The way I talked to the team,” said Rogers.
The Tigers built a 24-12 lead on a Rogers three-point shot with 10:36 left in the first half. However, the Rebels slowly worked their way back into the game. By the end of the first half, the margin dwindled to 38-36 on a pair of Mikeal Brown-Jones free-throws.
Whatever pep talk Memphis coach Penny Hardaway delivered at the half worked.
By the start of the second period, Memphis had regained the momentum it found early in the game. Rogers connected on three shots beyond the arc to match his first half output from deep. The guard shot 10-16 from the field, including six of nine from three-point range.
“I was hard on them than I have been all year. It was a no-nonsense locker room. I wasn’t going to have it again. They understood our mistakes. We answered the bell,” said Hardaway.
The win also ends Memphis’ non-conference play on a high note, after the 79-66 loss to Mississippi State.
“It is an unbelievable run to be 10-3. Every game was fatiguing, hard and tough. Kudos to the players for fighting hard every game. What an unbelievable crowd that came out to support us, after laying an egg last week,” said Hardaway.
PJ Haggerty scored 17 points, grabbed seven rebounds and found teammates for six assists. One came in the early moments of the game, when Haggerty found center Moussa Cisse inside for a dunk. The energetic big man finished the game with 13 points, a game-high 11 rebounds and three blocks.
The Guinea-born former five-star recruit entered the transfer portal after playing for the Bulldogs in 2022-23. Moussa spent his freshman year in Memphis, before withdrawing from the 2021 NBA draft and entering the transfer portal. He then played for Oklahoma State for two seasons before transferring to Oxford, Miss.
“He had a huge impact. I was in his ear all week. He was already motivated to play against his old team. If Moussa plays like that every single night, getting those rebounds, rim protecting and scoring around the rim, it is going to be a great end of the year this year,” said Hardaway.
The Tigers outrebounded Ole Miss 46-32.
“From where I was sitting Memphis was more emotionally attached to this game. Moussa is a talented player. I had the opportunity to coach him last season. We matched that for segments of the game, but not as much as Memphis did,” said Ole Miss Coach Chris Beard.
Memphis Senior Forward Dian Dainja pitched in 16 points off the bench.
Mississippi was led by Guard Sean Pedulla, who tallied 13 points on 5-10 shooting from the field. The senior also had four assists. Fellow Senior Guard Jaylen Murray scored 12 points, while Junior Forward Malik Dia notched 11 points and six rebounds.
The Rebels record falls to 11-2.
Memphis will travel to Boca Raton, Fla. on Thursday, Jan. 2, to square off against Florida Atlantic to tip-off American Athletic Conference play. The game starts at 6 p.m. It will be televised on ESPN2.
