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Nathan Latil/The Daily Mississippian
Young Rebel – Freshman Justin Reed, left, scored 11 points, hitting three of 10 shots from the floor.
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Sanders leads Rebel charge against Express
Joey Vaughn, DM Sports Editor
David Sanders scored 22 points to lead the young Rebel basketball team to a 99-74 win over Spirit Express in the first exhibition game of the 2000-2001 season.
Sanders, a 6-3 sophomore guard from Jackson who transfered from Tallahassee Community College, came off the bench early in the game and brought an aggressive streak to the Rebels. Half of his points came from the free throw stripe on 10 of 11 shooting. He was also six of nine from the floor.
“We had some guys who played well, and some guys who didn’t,” Ole Miss head coach Rod Barnes said. “We’ve got to teach this team how to win, and that’s the main focus right now.”
Aaron Harper, a 6-7 freshman guard/forward from Jackson who played with Sanders on several Provine High teams, scored 16 points and dished out six assists.
Justin Reed, the third Provine product seeing his first action in a Rebel uniform, didn’t fare quite as well. He scored 11 points and gathered seven rebounds, but hit on only three of 10 shots from the floor.
Considered by recruiting experts to be the most highly sought-after Ole Miss player ever, Reed’s first collegiate shot went off the side of the backboard.
Sanders attributed some of Reed’s mistakes to nerves.
“For a lot of guys, it was our first time playing, so we had a little nervousness,” Sanders said. “We talked about it.”
Ole Miss jumped out to a quick 21-4 lead, using a 19-0 run to gain some separation from Spirit Express.
Senior center Rahim Lockhart threw down a pair of thunderous dunks in the stretch as the Rebels established dominance.
The Rebels led by as many as 34 in the second half at 91-57 and were never threatened in the game.
Junior guard Jason Harrison scored 13 points and senior guard Jason Flanigan posted 10, both in limited duty as Barnes let the young players gain experience.
“We’ve had so many new guys,” Barnes said. “Aaron Harper and David Sanders, neither one of those guys played all last year. Justin Reed, this is his first college game...We threw him out there to the wolves. He played hard, but made a lot of mistakes.”
Harper and Sanders redshirted last season.
Spirit Express, a club team made of former college players who preach at halftime, featured two former Ole Miss players. Jon Cantrell, who played from 1996-99, and Patrick Eddie, who played from 89-91, scored three and 10 points, respectively. Ali McGhee led Spirit Express with 20 points.
The Rebels play again Saturday before the LSU football game, as Christian Brothers visits at 1 p.m. The regular season begins Nov. 18 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
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Injury bug not as bad after win over Hogs
Clay Chandler, Staff Writer
The Ole Miss football team emerged from its win over Arkansas smelling like a rose for two reasons.
One, the Rebels are in again the middle of the fray for the SEC West title. Two, maybe for the first time since early in the season, the Rebels didn’t sustain any significant injuries.
“We came through the last game pretty well from an injury standpoint,” head Coach David Cutcliffe said Monday at his weekly sit-down with the media. “I think, for the most part, we came through the game healthier than we have been in some earlier games.”
Cutcliffe added that running Deuce McAllister will not miss any practice time. McAllister tweaked his hamstring on a 57-yard touchdown run.
“Fortunately, he pulled up to the point he didn’t really pull it. He’s responded real well to treatment, so hopefully we’ll see (Monday) exactly, but I expect him to go back to work.”
Defensive end Shane Elam didn’t play Saturday after having his knee scoped last Monday. He began the game dressed in his jersey and blue jeans, but pulled a fast one on Cutcliffe, appearing later on the sidelines decked out in full uniform.
“I didn’t really say anything to him,” Cutcliffe said, laughing. “I just saw him and told Marion(Hobby, defensive ends coach) ‘I don’t think he’s ready.’ He said ‘I know.’”
“But I think that’s a great indication of Shane’s spirit. That’s what you want to see in a player.”
With the win over the Hogs, the Rebels staked themselves behind Auburn and LSU in the West standings. The two sets of Tigers are tied for first place with 4-2 records in conference play, while Ole Miss and Mississippi State are tied for second at 3-2.
When a reporter asked safety Syniker Taylor if his team had a renewed since of purpose because of the wide open race he said, “Yeah, I’d say that. Knowing that you have a chance to play in the big game (SEC Championship), you’ve got to come out and work harder. That’s what we’re here for.”
Before the Rebels can punch their tickets to Atlanta, they have to face a murderer’s row of LSU, Georgia and Mississippi State. The Tigers, who travel to Oxford Saturday, beat Alabama in Baton Rouge Saturday for the first time in 31 years. That win marked LSU’s third straight SEC victory, the first time that’s happened since 1988.
LSU brings with it one of the most balanced offensive teams in the SEC. Receiver Josh Reed leads the conference in receptions per game and receiving yards per game. Quarterback Josh Booty is second in the league in passing yards per game. Tailback LaBrandon Toefield averages 4.2 yards per carry.
“Everybody’s going to have to read their keys,” Taylor said of defending the Tiger offense. “The D-line h as to read the run keys, we(the secondary) have to read the receivers and tight ends.”
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