Ole Miss men’s basketball falls in overtime to Vanderbilt, 89-86

Oxford, Miss. — Ole Miss men’s basketball lost to Vanderbilt 89-86 in an overtime thriller Tuesday at the SJB Pavilion. The Rebels, who are 12-18 overall and 4-13 in Southeastern Conference play, fought hard but could not secure the win in the extra period.

Ole Miss opened strong, with James Scott alley-oop dunk sparking a 15-3 run in the opening minutes. Vanderbilt responded to take a 32-29 lead with just over three minutes remaining in the first half. The Rebels closed out the half with an 8-1 run to lead 37-33 at halftime.

In the second half, Ole Miss maintained its lead, which fluctuated between two and six points during the first 14 minutes. Vanderbilt took its first lead of the half on a layup by Tyler Tanner, making the score 65-64. The game remained close, with four ties in the final five minutes.

Malik Dia scored an and-one layup with just over a minute left, giving Ole Miss a 74-70 lead. Vanderbilt responded with a jumper and a layup to tie the game at 74-74 with 41 seconds remaining. After trading baskets, the game was tied 76-all, forcing overtime.

Vanderbilt struck first in overtime with an and-one layup, going ahead 79-76. Ole Miss could not regain the lead as time expired. Vanderbilt’s victory was secured despite strong performances from Patton Pinkins, who scored 16 points, and Ilias Kamardine, who tied his season high with three three-pointers.

The Rebels will close the regular season against South Carolina on Saturday at noon in Oxford. The game will be televised on the SEC Network. Ole Miss players highlighted include Corey Chest, who grabbed a season-high 11 rebounds, and Pinkins, who contributed 16 points.

Ole Miss’s next game is scheduled for Saturday at 12 p.m. against South Carolina. Follow the team on X at @OleMissMBB, Facebook, and Instagram for updates.

Source: Original Article