Ole Miss to Face Alabama in SEC Tournament Quarterfinals
The Ole Miss men’s basketball team will play Alabama in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals on Friday, March 13, at 6 p.m. in Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tenn. The game will be broadcast on the SEC Network, with coverage provided by Tom Hart and Dane Bradshaw.
Ole Miss secured their spot in the quarterfinals with wins over Georgia and Texas. They defeated Georgia 76-72 in the second round, holding the Bulldogs to their lowest point total and field goal percentage of the season in the first half. AJ Storr scored 19 points, and Malik Dia added 17. James Scott contributed 13 rebounds and three blocks.
The Rebels also beat Texas 76-66 in the first round, thanks to a strong defensive effort and a season-high 50 points in the paint. They forced 12 steals and committed only three turnovers, tying an SEC Tournament record. Ole Miss improved to 14-19 overall and 4-14 in the SEC under third-year coach Chris Beard.
Ole Miss and Alabama will meet for the 188th time, a series that dates back to 1921. Alabama leads the series 128-59 and has won six of the eight meetings in the SEC Tournament. The Crimson Tide are the No. 2 seed with a 23-8 record, led by coach Nate Oats. They finished the regular season with nine wins in their last 10 games and are ranked No. 15 nationally.
Alabama features the SEC’s top scoring offense, averaging 92.1 points per game. They are led by Labaron Philon, who scores 21.5 points per game, and Aden Holloway, with 16.8. The Tide are also strong on defense, ranking 16th nationally in blocks per game with 5.1. Coach Nate Oats is in his seventh season, guiding Alabama to multiple NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Final Four run in 2024.
Ole Miss will aim to upset Alabama and advance to the SEC Tournament semifinals. The Rebels hope to replicate their success from 2013, their last tournament run when they won the title. The team has shown resilience this season, including a notable overtime win against Georgia and a victory over Texas, the top-seeded team in the first round.
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