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Matthew Murrell isn’t healthy but looked more himself against Kentucky

Ben Garrettby:Ben Garrett•about 11 hours•

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Ole Miss super-senior guard Matthew Murrell (Photo credit: Ole Miss basketball/X)

Ole Miss fifth-year guard Matthew Murrell hasn’t been healthy for months. 

Lately he’s been working through a lower-body/knee issue, which limited him to 20 combined points in back-to-back games against Texas and Auburn.

However, he was more himself Tuesday in a 98-84 win over Kentucky. He scored 20 or more points (24) for the first time all year. Murrell had been averaging just over 11 to go along with 3.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.1 steals.

He led the Rebels in scoring each of the last three years.

“A lot of respect for him and admiration for what he does on a daily basis (and) with his 24 hours each day,” second-year Ole Miss head coach Chris Beard said in his postgame press conference. “I recognize John Raybon, our trainer, and our team doctors. 

“But give Matt the credit. There’s a lot of mornings and late nights. He’s really staying engaged, too, with limited practice time. He understands the scouting reports. Just a lot of respect for him. I’ve seen it before, but Matt is doing what you have to do at this level when you’re banged up to give yourself a chance to try to help your team each night.”

Murrell was listed as questionable for Kentucky — a tag he’ll likely carry the rest of the regular season. 

Because lately Murrell hasn’t practiced so much as rehabbed and worked diligently in the training room to get into playing shape. He was 8 for 13 from the floor in the win, just the 15th over the Wildcats in school history. 

“I’m in the training room every day just trying to get as healthy as I can so I’m able to go out there and then affect winning the best way,” Murrell said. “Lower-body injury, just trying our best to keep it under control.”

Ole Miss improved to 17-6 (6-4 SEC) on the season. Murrell was one of five Rebels to score double-digit points.

Another was Jaylen ‘Juju’ Murray. Murray notched a double-double with 15 points and 10 assists. Ole Miss had just one turnover, the fewest for an SEC team against a conference opponent in 25 years.

Ole Miss nexts travels to LSU Saturday at 7:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network.

“I want to acknowledge my man Matt,” Murray said. “He’s been going through a lot these past couple of weeks, just trying to just get his body right. In all reality, man, it was Matt tonight. I was finding him. He was hitting big-time shots and that’s what we was going with.”

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