Ole Miss Men’s Basketball Season Ends in Overtime at SEC Tournament

NAHVILLE, Tenn. — Ole Miss men’s basketball saw its historic SEC Tournament run end in overtime Saturday with a 93-90 loss to No. 17 Arkansas in the semifinals at Bridgestone Arena, according to tournament reports.

The Rebels (15-20) forced overtime on a last-second shot by AJ Storr, which tied the game at 86-86 at the end of regulation. Arkansas’s Darius Acuff Jr. missed two free throws with 19 seconds remaining in overtime, and Ole Miss’s Storr then drove for a potential game-winner but narrowly missed a three-pointer, giving Arkansas possession with seconds left.

Arkansas’s Trevon Brazile missed both free throws after being fouled, but Acuff Jr. made the second shot after his first missed. With eight seconds remaining, Storr attempted a three to win the game but missed. The game marked Ole Miss’s first appearance in the SEC semifinals since the tournament expanded to 14 teams.

The Rebels, seeded 15th, became the first team seeded ninth or higher to reach the SEC semifinals in Division I history, according to the university. James Scott led Ole Miss with 16 rebounds, tying for the fifth-most in SEC Tournament history. AJ Storr scored 24 points, including nine in the final five minutes of regulation, and finished with 78 points in the tournament, the 10th most ever in a single SEC event.

Ole Miss opened the game with a dunk from James Scott but quickly trailed Arkansas, which led 4-2 early. The Razorbacks built a 19-9 lead by the 13-minute mark but Ole Miss fought back, closing the first half on a 9-0 run to trail 37-36 at halftime. The second half saw eight ties and multiple lead changes. Arkansas took a 64-58 lead with 7:30 remaining but Ole Miss responded, eventually forcing overtime with Storr’s clutch shot.

Following the game, Ole Miss coach Kermit Davis praised his team’s effort, noting the team’s resilience and historic achievement in reaching the semifinals, the program’s deepest run in decades. The Rebels ended their season with a 15-20 record, finishing with four SEC wins.

For updates on Ole Miss men’s basketball, follow the Rebels on X at @OleMissMBB, on Facebook, and on Instagram.

Source: Original Article