OXFORD, Miss. — The Ole Miss men’s basketball team is set to play its final home game of the regular season Saturday, hosting South Carolina at noon in the SJB Pavilion, with coverage on the SEC Network.
The Rebels, led by third-year head coach Chris Beard, hold a 12-18 overall record and are 4-13 in Southeastern Conference play. The Gamecocks, coached by Lamont Paris in his fourth season, also stand at 12-18 overall with a 3-14 SEC record.
This marks the 50th meeting between the two programs, dating back to 1960. Ole Miss leads the series 26-24, and has a strong home record against South Carolina, with a 15-5 advantage in Oxford. The teams last met on Feb. 12, 2025, when Ole Miss won 72-68 in Columbia, led by Malik Dia’s 18 points.
South Carolina has recently dropped three straight SEC games after wins over LSU, Oklahoma, and Mississippi State. The team is led by Meechie Johnson, who averages 17.3 points per game and is notable for his free-throw shooting, ranking third in the SEC with 163 made free throws. The Gamecocks are ranked 110th in NET and 98th in KenPom.
Ole Miss, which has emphasized limiting turnovers this season, averages 9.8 per game — the third-best mark in the SEC and 32nd nationally. The team also boasts a strong bench, averaging 30.6 points per game, led by senior guard AJ Storr, who has scored seven 20-point games this season and is a candidate for SEC Sixth Man of the Year.
Freshman guard Patton Pinkins has made an immediate impact, scoring a career-high 25 points in the SEC opener and hitting game-winning shots in key victories. The team also features a solid shot-blocking presence, with 4.2 blocks per game, led by James Scott’s 33 blocks.
Ole Miss recently added two recruits for the 2026 class: Marietta, Georgia’s Jaron Saulsberry and Charlotte’s Yohance Connor, both highly ranked prospects. For updates and coverage, fans can follow the Rebels on social media.
