WATCH: Ole Miss’ Davon Barnes got another chance at game-winning FTs. He didn’t miss.
Davon Barnes last week missed the front end of a one-and-one in the final seconds against Texas A&M.
The Aggies moments later sank the Rebels with a last-second 3-pointer. Ole Miss suffered it second defeat in an eventual three-game losing streak.
But Barnes didn’t flinch when given the opportunity to ice another potential SEC win on Wednesday.
He made all six of his free throws against Texas, including two in the final seconds, to hand Chris Beard a win over his former team, 72-69.
“I certainly can’t predict things,” Beard, in his second season as Ole Miss head coach, said in his postgame press conference. “But if you would have asked me is Barnes going to make these two free throws I would have bet about everything I have on that, because to me he earned the right in the past four or five days with the preparation he put in to mentally get back in that position.
“So proud of Barnes. Big difference in the free throw differential tonight.”
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Barnes was signed in the off-season as part of the Rebels’ Top 20 transfer class.
He came over from Sam Houston State, where he started 33 games and scored 444 points. He had 101 rebounds.
Barnes started just one of the Rebels’ first eight games. However, he’s been in the first five in 10 of the last 13. He’s averaging 5.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists on the year.
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Barnes finished with six points and five rebounds against Texas. He was one of three Rebels to grab five or more rebounds.
“A lot of confidence in Barnes,” Beard said. “He puts in the time. There’s never been a player that ever played this game that doesn’t want to get up there in those moments. You want to make the free throw; everybody does. It’s have you paid the price to make the free throw? And then do you have the calmness and the discipline to go through your routine — get your breaths right and all that.
“Barnes definitely pays the price. I think it was two games ago I leave here and go over to the Tuohy basketball facility like we do every night and the ball’s bouncing. Barnes is on that free throw line.
“When you see that as a coach you’re just really proud of that because that’s how life works, too. When things don’t go your way you can either take your ball and go home and start making excuses or you can get back in the gym and start practicing.”
Ole Miss (16-5, 5-3 SEC) next hosts top-ranked Auburn (19-1, 7-0) in the Rebels’ second straight home game on Saturday. Tipoff is 1 p.m. CT on ESPN.
The included highlights were provided by Ole Miss Athletics. Photo credit: USA Today Images.
Matthew Murrell
Matthew Murrell
Dre Davis
Jaemyn Brakefield
Davon Barnes
Dre Davis
Dre Davis
Jaemyn Brakefield
Ole Miss head coach Chris Beard
Jaemyn Brakefield
Dre Davis
Mikeal Brown-Jones
Malik Dia
