Ole Miss Men’s Basketball Hosts No. 11 Florida in Saturday Matinee

The Ole Miss men’s basketball team will host No. 11 Florida on Saturday at 11 a.m. in the SJB Pavilion, with the game airing on ESPN, according to university athletics.

Ole Miss enters the matchup with an 11-15 record overall and a 3-10 mark in Southeastern Conference play. Florida, the defending national champion, holds a 20-6 record and is 11-2 in the SEC. The Gators lead the all-time series 71-49, but Ole Miss holds a 33-23 advantage when playing in Oxford, including four consecutive home wins, the most recent a 103-85 victory in 2024.

The teams last met on March 8, 2025, in Gainesville, where Florida defeated Ole Miss 90-71. Florida’s season has been highlighted by wins over ranked SEC opponents such as Georgia, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Alabama, and Kentucky. The Gators are ranked No. 12 in the AP Poll and No. 11 in the Coaches Poll, and are among the nation’s top rebounding teams, averaging 46 rebounds per game.

Ole Miss is led by first-year head coach Chris Beard, who is in his third season with the Rebels. The team has been notable for its disciplined play, averaging 9.6 turnovers per game, the second-best mark in the SEC. Senior guard AJ Storr has been a key contributor off the bench, averaging 18.9 points over the past 12 games, including six 20-point performances.

Freshman guard Patton Pinkins has also made an impact, scoring a career-high 25 points in the season opener against Oklahoma. The Rebels are known for their defense, averaging 4.3 blocks per game, led by James Scott with 27 blocks this season.

Ole Miss also recently added two prospects to its 2026 recruiting class, small forward Jaron Saulsberry from Georgia and combo guard Yohance Connor from North Carolina, both considered top prospects in their regions.

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