Hugh Kellenberger

USA TODAY Sports

OXFORD, Miss. — Ole Miss did what it needed to do.

The Rebels beat Alabama 79-67 at Tad Smith Coliseum, avenging the loss that began a four-game losing streak it ended on Wednesday. Ole Miss also kept itself in the top half of the Southeastern Conference standings

The Rebels (17-11, 8-7 SEC) are in a three-way tie with Tennessee and LSU for the fourth seed. That's important because it carries with it a double-bye in the SEC Tournament. The week began with seven teams tied at 7-7, and all likely need to win the SEC Tournament in order to make the NCAAs.

"A lot of those things will drive you crazy, trying to figure out all the different scenarios," coach Andy Kennedy said. "We just got to do what we go to do, which is prepare for Texas A&M (on Saturday)."

What happened on the court Wednesday was indicative of how this season has gone for Ole Miss: There was plenty of energy for just about all 40 minutes, though the execution was uneven.

The Rebels scored 43 points in the first half to build a 15-point lead against the Crimson Tide (11-17, 5-10). But things rarely have gone easy for Ole Miss this season, and SEC game No. 15 was no different. Alabama, behind Shannon Hale (27 points) and Trevor Releford (16 points), pulled to within six points with six minutes to play.

Ole Miss sophomore guard Martavious Newby put the Rebels in a position to win. He set new career-highs in points (15) and rebounds (10) and doubled his career total with two made 3-pointers. He also took a beating: A blow to the nose in the first half drew blood, and he and Henderson also collided during the game in a way that sent both to the floor for a long minute.

"(The win) made us remember that this is the same thing we did last year," Newby said. "Got to win these games out."

Ole Miss was plus-18 in the rebounding battle, which has rarely been the case this season, and managed 17 offensive rebounds that turned into 21 second-chance points.

For the second game in a row, the opponent denied Marshall Henderson the ball in the second half. He was only able to get off four shots, all of which he missed. His made 3 two minutes into the game did set an SEC record for consecutive games with a 3-pointer, 61, and Henderson finished with 13 points. Arkansas' Pat Bradley previously held the record.

Ole Miss announced a suspension of backup point guard Derrick Millinghaus earlier in the day for a violation of team rules. With no other point guard available, Jarvis Summers played 38 minutes total and scored 20 points with five assists and one turnover.

"He's going to have to play heavy minutes," said Kennedy, who added Millinghaus' return will be determined by whether he meets standards set in place for him.

Hugh Kellenberger writes for The Clarion-Ledger in Jackson, Miss.