RECAP: Memphis falters down the stretch and loses at Ole Miss.

OXFORD, Miss. — Memphis basketball has lost its second straight game.

The Tigers (5-2) lost to Ole Miss (7-0) in a 80-77 affair that turned into a nail-biter in the second half. The loss more or less ensures Memphis will not be in the AP Top 25 poll come Monday. Penny Hardaway’s team has received more votes than any other unranked team in the AP Poll for three consecutive weeks, but its loss today completely drops it from consideration for a ranking.

The Tigers shot 43% from the field, but just 11% from 3-point range. Ole Miss, meanwhile, shot 50% from the perimeter for the game and 45% in the second half. Memphis had multiple chances to win this game, but ultimately hurt itself repeatedly with missed shots, 13 turnovers and overall inefficient play offensively.

Memphis still leads the all-time series with Ole Miss 24-10, but now has its seventh loss to the Rebels since 1999. They now gear up for another road test at VCU on Dec. 6.

Here are some takeaways from the latest edition of this mid-south rivalry.

Memphis controls the first half after a slow start.

Things didn’t look good for the Tigers in the game’s opening minutes.

SJB Pavilion was fired up. The Rebels came out with energy. And it only got worse once the game tipped off.

Starting center Jordan Brown already had two fouls and was done for the first half at the 18:37 mark. Chris Beard’s team started the game with a 7-0 run. But Memphis then responded with a 19-2 run and settled in afterwards. The Tigers shot 41% in the first half while also forcing 9 Ole Miss turnovers and out-rebounding the Rebels 23-17. David Jones once again shined with 16 points in the game’s first 20 minutes, and helped the Tigers take a 37-30 halftime lead.

What did Moussa Cisse ever do to Malcolm Dandridge?

Cisse was perhaps the game’s biggest story before the ball tipped off.

The Oklahoma State transfer—and former Memphis Tiger—was deemed eligible to play this season by the NCAA Tuesday. The 7-footer look to make an impact against his first school, where he won AAC Freshman of the Year in 2020-21. And he did leave a mark, just not in the way he thought or hoped.

Fifth-year senior, and Cisse’s former teammate, Malcolm Dandridge apparently had a score to settle with the former 5-star recruit. He did so in emphatic fashion.

Dandridge challenged the vaunted shot blocker at the rim in front of Ole Miss’ bench, and slammed the ball through the basket. The 6-foot-9 center caught every bit of Cisse on the way up and down. The play went viral amongst Memphis fans on social media.

Dunk of the Year!?!?😤🔥💪🏼

Let @Bigdawgmalco23 eat! @Memphis_MBB pic.twitter.com/jBVAcIR4C3

— Bluff City Media (@BluffCity_Media) December 2, 2023

Dandridge finished the game with 13 points, 4 rebounds and 3 blocks.

Memphis allows an Ole Miss comeback and victory in the second half.

Things got dicey for the Tigers in the game’s final 20 minutes.

Ole Miss retook the lead with a 6-0 run. Ashton Hardaway then made the score 54-53 with a corner-3.

The two teams went back-and-forth from there, with Memphis holding onto slim lead after slim lead. Though Ole Miss got away with some contact throughout the afternoon, it also answered whatever Memphis did to try to pull away in the second half.

The Rebels eventually broke the Tigers’ barrier and took a 75-73 lead with 2:11 left to play. Memphis tried its best to take back control, but it ultimately failed since the Rebels hit 6 of their last 8 field goal attempts. Guards Jaylen Murray (22 points), Matthew Murrell (20 points), Allen Flanigan (18 points) and others were not to be denied. Murray in particular couldn’t miss with a 7-of-14 overall clip and made 4 of his 6 attempts from 3-point range. He drained a layup with 18 seconds left that took a 79-77 lead and proved to be the game-winner for Ole Miss.

The Rebels won the second half 50-40.