Alabama got big games from a trio of backcourt sharpshooters and the Crimson Tide ended six years of losing in Oxford with a 103-78 victory over Ole Miss Saturday night.
Senior guard Carl Petty Jr. was 4-of-6 from 3-point range and scored 21 points to lead the Tide (15-12, 7-7 SEC) while freshman Jaden Shackelford added 18 points and senior Kira Lewis Jr. 17 as each went 3-of-5 from behind the arc.
Lewis also had 11 assists for a double-double to go with a triple-double he had in a loss to Auburn on Feb. 12.
Breein Tyree led all scorers with 28 points for the Rebels (13-14, 4-10) before fouling out with 8:50 remaining in the game.
The Tide hadn't beaten the Rebels in Oxford since a 90-69 win in 2009 but led by double digits throughout the second half after building a 14-point half lead.
Ole Miss had cut an early 18-point second-half deficit down to 56-45 when things got crazy. Tyree was assessed a technical after being whistled for a personal foul with 14:31 left and, before Alabama could even get to the free throw line, Ole Miss coach Kermit Davis was whistled for his second T of the game to earn an automatic ejection.
Alabama's James Bolden cashed in on all four free throws for the Ts to put Bama up 60-45 and the Tide led by at least 14 points the rest of the way. Their biggest lead was the final score.
Alabama's Nate Oats also picked up a technical in the first half.
The Tide took advantage of 13 Ole Miss turnovers and a 6-1 advantage in 3-point field goals for a 45-31 lead at the halftime break. Lewis had 11 points and Shackelford got eight points in less than a minute to ignite Alabama's closing run.
The Tide took command with a 12-0 run for an early 14-9 lead and then expanded on that by outscoring the Rebels 21-8 for a 45-29 lead before Devontae Shuler closed out the scoring with a jumper with 14 seconds left in the period.
--Field Level Media
