LAS VEGAS – The Utah Runnin' Utes (4-0) opened the MGM Resorts Main Event with a 73-84 win over Ole Miss (3-1) Monday evening at T-Mobile Arena in Las Veags.
 
Justin Bibbins led the way with a season-high 23 points, connecting on 7-of-11 from the field, 5-of-8 from the three-point arc and a 4-of-4 effort from the free throw line. He was one of four different Utes to score in double-figures as Donnie Tillman and David Collette both scored 13 points each, and Sedrick Barefield chipped in with 12 points.
 
Tyler Rawson came within a point of double-digits, scoring nine points on the evening, but he did lead all players with 10 rebounds.
 
Utah took a 40-37 lead into halftime behind 12 points from Barefield. After trailing for the first time since Ole Miss opened the game with a 2-0 lead, Barefield scored eight straight points, which included hitting a pair of three-pointers, to give Utah a 26-22 lead. Ole Miss would retake the lead.28-26, following a 6-0 run, but the Utes closed out the final five minutes outscoring the Rebels 14-9. Parker Van Dyke scored eight of those final 14 points and was a perfect 2-of-2 from downtown.
 
Tillman opened the second half with a pair of free throws and later wrapped up a 9-0 run with a lay-up to push Utah's lead to 51-41. Ole Miss countered with a 7-3 run, but Utah would get its lead back up to nine points, up 60-51, following a basket from Collette. The Rebels scored eight of the next 10 points to get back within three, down 62-59.
 
Bibbins would keep his hot hand in the second half and opened a 9-4 run with a jumper. Tillman later closed the run with a bucket to push the Ute lead to 69-61. The Rebels would get back within a point, down 71-69, but another couple of three-pointers from Bibbins put the game on ice and Utah managed to pick up the neutral floor win.
 
Utah will now face the UNLV Runnin' Rebels (4-0) in the championship game of the event, this Wednesday, Nov. 22. Tip-off is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. PT and the contest will be televised live on ESPN2.