Abram scores 26, leads Ole Miss over Stanford 72-68

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) — Freshman Amaree Abram scored a career-high 26 points on 12-of-18 shooting and Ole Miss edged Stanford 72-68 in the ESPN Events Invitational on Thursday.

The Rebels (6-0) never trailed but needed a clutch 3-pointer from Abram — who was 2 for 2 behind the arc — and four free throws by Jaemyn Brakefield in the final 30 seconds. Stanford (2-4) was 10 down with less than three minutes to play but James Keefe converted a three-point play and Harrison Ingram scored the next five points to pull the Cardinal within 65-63 with a minute to go.

That’s when Abram pulled up at the top of the key and hit the back-breaker with a second remaining on the shot clock.

Brakefield scored 17 points on 5-of-6 shooting, including both of his 3s, and 5 of 7 from the foul line, to go with eight rebounds. Jayveous McKinnis added 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting for the Rebels, who face Siena in the semifinals on Friday.

Ingram led finished with a career-high 24 points for the Cardinals, who play Florida State on Friday. Spencer Jones added 13 points.

Brakefield had eight early points for Ole Miss but Ingram and Ingram and Jones combined for 12 points to tie the game at 16 midway through the first half. Abram had back to back baskets to put the Rebels on top for good and his buzzer-beater made it 29-22 at the half.

Ole Miss pushed the lead to 11 on four occasions in the second half but Stanford kept battling back. The Rebels shot 61% after the break when Abram and McKinnis combined for 26 points on 12 of 18 shooting. Ingram had 17 to keep Stanford in it.

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