Recap: Ole Miss vs. Auburn

New Orleans, LA (Sports Network) - Nick Williams posted a game-high 22 points to lead the Ole Miss Rebels to a 68-54 victory over the Auburn Tigers in the first round of the SEC Tournament at New Orleans Arena.

Murphy Holloway finished with a double-double of 13 points and 13 rebounds to help pace seventh-seeded Ole Miss (19-12), while Jarvis Summers added 12 points, but also turned the ball over seven times. With the victory Ole Miss advances to the quarterfinals on Friday night where it will tangle with second-seeded Tennessee.

Frankie Sullivan scored 15 points to lead the way for the 10th-seeded Tigers (15-16), while the duo of Chris Denson and Kenny Gabriel netted 11 points apiece.

Neither team was especially impressive during the opening stanza, as each squad shot at under-whelming 36.0 percent clips. The Rebels, however, managed a lackluster but effective 8-of-15 at the foul line to earn a 28-23 halftime advantage.

In the second half the Rebels held the Tigers to just 30.0 percent from the floor while making good on 52.2 percent of their own attempts, en route to the 14-point triumph.

Off the floor, the Tigers were dealing with an opponent much bigger than Ole Miss, that being the NCAA and the FBI, as allegations continued to swirl about a possible point-shaving issue involving suspended point guard Varez Ward.