LOOK: Memphis ‘couldn’t guard’ Jaylen Murray, so Ole Miss stayed perfect
Ole Miss head coach Chris Beard, this week, had a simple directive for Jaylen Murray as the team prepared for a critical early-season non-conference showdown with Memphis.
“Coach Beard had told me if I’m the better guard, my team is going to win,” Murray said.
Win the Rebels did.
Murray had a team-high 22 points to go along with a career-best nine assists to just one turnover in an 80-77 thriller on Saturday. The Rebels improved to 7-0 on the season for the first time since 2007-08, while the rival Tigers dropped to 5-2.
“Jaylen played awesome,” Memphis head coach and basketball legend Penny Hardaway said. “He took over the game when he had to and he got assists when he had to. We couldn’t guard him. We put everybody on him. All you can do is tip your hat to someone like that.”
Ole Miss next hosts Mount St. Mary’s Tuesday at 7 p.m. CT on SEC Network+.
“I was just going in with the mindset I had to be the better guard on the floor and help my team win,” Murray said. “Whatever it is, whether it’s points, defense, assists. This (win) could do a lot for us.”
The included photos were provided by Ole Miss Athletics.
