NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Ole Miss’s defense led the way as the Rebels defeated Texas 76-66 Wednesday night in the first round of the SEC Tournament at Bridgestone Arena.
Ole Miss (13-19, 4-14 SEC) built an early lead with aggressive defense, recording three steals and three blocks in the opening minutes. Malik Dia scored 17 first-half points, helping the Rebels take a 41-30 lead at halftime.
In the second half, Ole Miss maintained a steady five- to 10-point advantage. Texas made a late push, with Jordan Pope hitting a three-pointer to cut the deficit to three points with four minutes remaining. However, a dunk by James Scott and a layup by Ilias Kamardine sealed the victory for the Rebels.
Kamardine’s fastbreak layup with under a minute and a half to play secured Ole Miss’s spot in the second round, where they will face Georgia on Thursday at 6 p.m. The game will be televised on the SEC Network.
Ole Miss’s defense set a program SEC Tournament record with only three turnovers, last matched by Vanderbilt in 2004 and Alabama in 1997. Malik Dia led all scorers with 23 points, while James Scott added 10 points and nine rebounds. The Rebels also set a season high with 12 steals, led by Kamardine and Patton Pinkins with three each.
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