ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands (AP) Deandre Burnett scored a career-high 41 points, and Mississippi pulled away in overtime to hold off Oral Roberts 95-88 Friday on the opening day of the Paradise Jam tournament.
Terence Davis added 13 points, and Sebastian Saiz and Rasheed Brooks had 11 each for the Rebels (3-0), who had to rally from a five-point deficit in regulation.
Mississippi trailed 79-74 with 1:20 remaining when Burnett scored five unanswered points, capped by a 3-pointer with 33.4 seconds remaining to tie the score.
”It just shows how resilient this team is,” said Burnett, whose previous career best (23 points) was set a week ago against Tennessee-Martin. ”It shows we can battle, and be resilient down the stretch. We fix a couple things, and we’ll be pretty good.”
Brooks opened overtime by hitting a 3-pointer and a pair of free throws to put the Rebels ahead to stay.
Emanuel Nzekwesi had 20 points and 14 rebounds for Oral Roberts (1-2), with Albert Owens adding 22, Kris Martin 15 and Jalen Bradley 12.
”Give them credit – they made the plays down the stretch,” Golden Eagles coach Scott Sutton said. ”It’s a tough, tough loss. We still had the game where we wanted it – up five with under two minutes left. We had to close it out, and didn’t do it.”
BIG PICTURE
Oral Roberts: Is now 0-5 all-time against Mississippi. … Had its highest-scoring game this season, and its third of 80 or more points. … Lost guard Aaron Anderson to a leg injury in the first half.
Mississippi: Coach Andy Kennedy picked up his 216th career win, moving him past Auburn’s Joel Eaves for 20th on the SEC career victories list.
UP NEXT
Oral Roberts: Plays Loyola-Chicago Saturday in a consolation-round game.
Mississippi: Gets a day off, then faces Saint Joseph’s on Sunday in the Paradise Jam semifinals.
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