Auburn ekes out 2OT win over Ole Miss
AUBURN, Ala. (AP) -- Frankie Sullivan scored 19 points and grabbed a key rebound, helping Auburn survive for a 69-68, double-overtime victory over Mississippi on Saturday.
The Tigers (11-6, 1-2 Southeastern Conference) lost a 12-point lead in the second half and didn't make a basket in the second extra period but managed to snap a three-game losing streak.
The 6-foot-1 Sullivan, who didn't score in the first half, won the battle for a rebound after Kenny Gabriel blocked Jarvis Summers' off-balance shot in the final seconds. He missed both free throws but with 1-tenth of a second to play, the Rebels (10-7, 1-2) had no time to get a shot off.
Neither team made a field goal in the second overtime until Reginald Buckner's dunk off a pass from Summers brought the Rebels within a point with 34 seconds left.
That was it for the scoring.
Chris Denson dribbled across midcourt against the full-court press but had the ball knocked away into Jarvis Summers' hands. Ole Miss coach Andy Kennedy then called timeout with 12 seconds left to set up the final shot.
The teams combined for seven points in overtime No. 2.
Sullivan, who came off the bench, also had four assists and four steals.
Denson scored 16 points while Gabriel had 11 points and 13 rebounds and played all but 2 minutes. Both were 4-of-12 shooting. Varez Ward made just 2 of 13 attempts -- and missed a potential game-winner to close regulation -- but had eight points and five assists.
Summers went 4-of-8 from 3-point range and scored 22 points for the Rebels. Nick Williams struggled to 5-of-18 shooting but had 13 points and a key 3-pointer.
Holloway had 11 points and 11 rebounds while Buckner collected 11 points and 10 boards.
They helped Ole Miss control the boards 49-39.
The Rebels, who beat Arkansas without making a 3-pointer, launched 28 in this game and made only seven.
Summers scored the Rebels' first six points in the initial overtime to take a 63-62 lead. Then, Gabriel hit a 3-pointer with 1:35 left for his first points since halftime.
Terrance Henry, who was held to five points, tied it 65-65 with a drive. Ward then missed a pullup jumper but Henry traveled after grabbing the rebound, giving the Tigers the ball with 29 seconds left. Sullivan lost control of the ball to send it into overtime No. 2
Williams and Auburn's Rob Chubb both fouled out in the second overtime.
Sullivan scored seven points to fuel a 12-2 run that put ahead Auburn 39-27 with 12:12 left.
The Rebels worked their way back into it, and Williams tied the game on a 3-pointer from the right corner with 13 seconds left in regulation. Ward missed a bank shot as time expired.
Ole Miss scored six straight points over the final 28 seconds.