Ole Miss Men’s Basketball Hosts Mississippi State in Key SEC Rivalry Saturday
The Ole Miss men’s basketball team will host Mississippi State on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at the SJB Pavilion in Oxford. The game will be televised on ESPN2, with Richard Cross calling play-by-play and Richard Hendrix providing analysis.
Ole Miss enters the game with an 11-13 overall record and a 3-8 mark in SEC play. Mississippi State also stands at 11-13 overall and 3-8 in conference. The Rebels aim to improve on a recent victory in Starkville and seek a second win over their in-state rivals this season.
This rivalry is the 274th meeting between the two programs, making it the 12th-most played rivalry in college basketball history. Mississippi State leads the series 152-121, but Ole Miss has a strong home record against the Bulldogs, holding an 89-48 advantage in Oxford. The teams last met on Jan. 14, when Ole Miss won 68-67 in Starkville.
In that game, Ole Miss’s defense held State’s guards to just 20.5% shooting, contributing to the narrow victory. Ilias Kamardine scored 17 points for Ole Miss, while Jayden Epps led Mississippi State with 14 points.
Mississippi State has been led by guard Josh Hubbard, who averages 21 points per game and ranks second in the SEC. Jayden Epps adds 14.4 points per contest. The Bulldogs are also a strong rebounding team, with Achor Achor and Quincy Ballard leading on the boards.
Ole Miss coach Chris Beard, in his third season, has emphasized disciplined play, with the team averaging just 9.7 turnovers per game, ranking 25th nationally. Senior guard AJ Storr has been a key contributor off the bench, averaging 18.5 points over the past 10 games and earning SEC Sixth Man of the Year consideration.
The game marks the second meeting of the season between the rivals. The teams also met in Starkville earlier this year, with Ole Miss securing a one-point victory. Saturday’s matchup is crucial as both teams look to improve their SEC standings and continue their postseason pursuits.
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