By Adam Brown
Sports Editor
adam.brown@hottytoddy.com
Ole Miss dropped the competition to the No. 24 Butler Bulldogs 67-58 on Tuesday at home inside the Pavilion.
“This was a good Butler team,” head coach Kermit Davis said.
Ole Miss (5-3) was led on the court by senior Breein Tyree with 22 points (17 in second half) and eight rebounds. The Somerset, NJ native went 50 percent (4-of-8) from downtown.
“(Tyree) moved the ball, but he did not get some assists because of missed shots,” Davis said. “The ball came out of his hand a lot better tonight.”
Junior Khadim Sy joined Tyree in double-figure scoring with 12 points on the night.
“We made progress in this game by making 22 baskets on 16 assists,” Davis said. “We are still struggling to score.”
In the second half, at the 8:43 mark in the game, Ole Miss was able to get within four points of Butler at 52-48 on a 14-2 run. The Bulldogs never let the Rebels get closer as they went on a quick run to get back up by 10.
“Got the game to four (points) and did not guard a possession, missed a dunk, missed free throws down the stretch. Butler is too good in those situations,” Davis said.
Butler’s (8-0) leading scorer senior Kamar Baldwin continued to shine on the hardwood with 31 points, six rebounds and three assists.
“Baldwin made some really tough shots and we gave him a couple of good ones,” Davis said. “He worked for a lot of his baskets and give him credit. It’s my third time to play against him.”
Butler held the Rebels to 40 percent from the floor and 31.8 percent from behind the arc. Ole Miss got the Bulldogs to turn the ball over 13 times and scored 15 points off of them.
Ole Miss returns to action on Saturday as they host former Rebel coach Rod Barnes and his CSU Bakersfield team. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. on SEC Network+.
