LAS VEGAS — After graduating from Long Beach State in the spring, guard Justin Bibbins contacted Utah men’s basketball coach Larry Krystkowiak about playing for the Utes as a graduate-transfer.
After three years with the 49ers, and two-time second-team All-Big West Conference selection, it appears Bibbins made the right call.
Bibbins scored 23 points, and Donnie Tillman had 13 points and eight rebounds in a balanced attack to lead Utah to an 83-74 victory against Ole Miss on Monday night in the MGM Resorts Main Event.
After scoring two points in the first half, Bibbins was 6-for-9 from the field, including 5-for-7 from 3-point range, in a 21-point second half.
Utah (4-0) defeated its second Southeastern Conference foe this season, improving to 16-19 all-time against opponents from the SEC. Utah defeated Missouri, 77-59, on Nov. 16.
Ole Miss (3-1) had three starters with four fouls by the eight-minute mark of the second half. The Rebels got within two points with four minutes left, but the Utes’ perimeter game was too much.
Bibbins’ 3-pointer pushed the lead back to five, and an Ole Miss turnover led to a bucket by Rawson to give Utah a 76-69 edge a minute later.
“We were sloppy, and it’s one of the things that has been an issue for us, and it’s something that’s concerning, is our attention to detail, finishing plays and making the right decisions with the ball,” Ole Miss coach Andy Kennedy said. “It’s something that’s been problematic, and I think Utah did a great job of taking advantage of that. Justin Bibbins, I thought we did a good job of containing him (in the first half), the second half he makes five big threes and every one of them were timely.”
Deandre Burnett had 21 points, while Terence Davis and Breein Tyree had 10 for the Rebels.
n Southern Mississippi 90, Blue Mountain 46: At Hattiesburg, Nine players scored in the first 15 minutes Monday to push Southern Mississippi to its victory against Blue Mountain in the Sanford Pentagon Showcase.
The tournament will continue Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where Southern Miss will play South Dakota, Youngstown State, and Northern Colorado.
The win was Southern Miss’ largest margin of victory since Dec. 27, 2011, versus Belhaven (93-48).
Southern Miss (2-1) started the game 15-for-21 from the field to build a 37-11 lead with 6 minutes, 30 seconds to go in the first half.
Tyree Griffin had 17 points, nine assists, and two steals to lead the Golden Eagles. Anfernee Hampton had 16 points off the bench on 6-for-9 shooting.
n Alabama will play host to UT Arlington: At Tuscaloosa, Alabama, the No. 25 Alabama men’s basketball team will play host to UT Arlington at 8 tonight (SEC Network) at Coleman Coliseum.
The Crimson Tide (3-0) and Mavericks earned national recognition this week. Alabama is ranked 25th in The Associated Press’ latest Top 25 poll released Monday. It marks the first time since the week of Dec. 17, 2011, Alabama is ranked in The AP Poll.
UTA (2-0) is also receiving votes.
Alabama is off to its first 3-0 start since the 2014-15 season. The last time the Crimson Tide began a year 4-0 was back in 2012-13 when it started the year with six-straight wins.
UT Arlington has defeated Loyola Marymount (85-80) and BYU (89-75). The Mavericks are led by preseason player of the year Kevin Hervey, who tops the team with 25.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game.
n In related news, freshman guard John Petty was named Monday the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week.
The 6-foot-5 guard averaged 22 points, five rebounds, and two assists in wins against Lipscomb and Alabama A&M. It is the first freshman weekly honor for any Crimson Tide player since Braxton Key earned the accolade on Jan. 30, 2017.
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