Chris Warren scored 27 points and Terrico White had 25 to help Mississippi beat Kansas State 86-74 Friday night in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off semifinals.
Eniel Polynice added 13 points and Murphy Holloway 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Rebels (4-0), who advanced to play No. 5 Villanova for the title on Sunday.
Ole Miss shot 63 percent from the field in the second half, quickly building on a 32-30 halftime lead. White’s jumper with 8:58 remaining made it 63-53, and the Wildcats (3-1) never managed to get the lead back under 10 points.
Curtis Kelly had 18 points and 10 rebounds for Kansas State. Jacob Pullen and Denis Clemente added 17 points each, and freshman Wally Judge finished with 11 points.
Villanova beat No. 18 Dayton 71-65 in the tournament’s other semifinal.
KANSAS ST. (3-1) — Henriquez-Roberts 1-2 0-0 2, Sutton 2-4 1-2 5, Kelly 7-10 4-9 18, Pullen 5-15 5-7 17, Clemente 6-18 3-4 17, Ojeleye 0-0 0-0 0, Russell 0-1 0-0 0, McGruder 1-6 0-0 2, Merriewether 0-0 0-0 0, Samuels 1-2 0-2 2, Judge 5-7 1-3 11. Totals 28-65 14-27 74.
MISSISSIPPI (4-0) — Holloway 4-6 2-3 10, Cranston 1-3 2-2 4, Warren 9-15 6-6 27, Polynice 4-8 3-4 13, White 8-15 6-8 25, Henry 0-0 0-0 0, Buckner 1-1 0-0 2, Gaskins 0-1 0-0 0, Graham 0-0 3-4 3, Riley 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 28-50 22-27 86.
Halftime—Mississippi 32-30. 3-Point Goals—Kansas St. 4-17 (Clemente 2-5, Pullen 2-8, Sutton 0-1, McGruder 0-3), Mississippi 8-19 (White 3-5, Warren 3-7, Polynice 2-5, Cranston 0-1, Gaskins 0-1). Fouled Out—Cranston. Rebounds—Kansas St. 35 (Kelly 10), Mississippi 37 (Holloway 10). Assists—Kansas St. 13 (Kelly, Sutton 4), Mississippi 10 (Graham, Warren 3). Total Fouls—Kansas St. 23, Mississippi 25. A—5,762.
