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Murphy Holloway came up with a steal and went coast-to-coast for a go-ahead layup with 3.7 seconds left, punctuating a big night and helping Ole Miss hold on for a 70-68 victory over DePaul.

The Rebels won despite blowing a 17-point lead in the Big East/SEC Challenge on Thursday at Allstate Arena.

Ole Miss (6-1) led 42-28 at halftime after holding the Blue Demons without a field goal over the final 7:05 of the first half. The Rebels led by as many as 17 at 50-33, but a dismal free-throw shooting performance by Ole Miss (11 for 28) helped DePaul hang around.

DePaul (4-2) had six possessions with a chance to tie or take the lead before Brandon Young's drive and layup with 39 seconds gave the Blue Demons a 67-66 lead -- their first since it was 19-17 midway through the first half.

The Blue Demons couldn't seal it at the line, though, missing four of five free throws in the final 30 seconds, and Holloway's steal and layup helped the Rebels avert disaster.

Holloway, the reigning SEC Player of the Week, had 16 points and 12 rebounds for his third double-double of the season, and Nick Williams scored 17 to lead the Rebels.

Brandon Young had a game-high 18 for DePaul, and Cleveland Melvin added 14 points and 10 rebounds for his second career double-double and his first of the season. Melvin has scored in double digits in 25 of 33 career games, and Young has hit double figures in 26 of 37 career games.