The last time Ole Miss and Mississippi State faced off, both teams were ranked in the Top 25. This season, however, they’ve had a slower start in SEC play. Ironically, as they head into this rivalry weekend, both the Rebels and the Bulldogs share identical records of 10-7 overall and 2-2 in SEC competition.
This matchup not only offers the usual bragging rights for “We Run The Sip,” but it’s also crucial for both teams to find their rhythm if they hope to climb the SEC standings and secure a spot in the NCAA tournament.
Ole Miss seems to have found its footing recently. However, the key question is whether they can maintain that momentum moving forward. The Rebels are playing some of their best basketball right now, having won two straight games in the SEC. In contrast, Mississippi State has struggled lately, dropping their last two games.
On The Rebels
The Rebels are coming off hard-fought victory against the ranked Georgia Bulldogs, winning 97-95 on the road. Talk about a moment for freshman Patton Pinkins, who sealed the game with a putback tip shot as the buzzer went off. Defensively, they allowed Georgia to shoot 37.5% from the field, with the Bulldogs hitting 27 of 72 attempts. The Rebels showcased their teamwork by distributing 15 assists and forcing Georgia into nine turnovers, while also recording eight steals. On the boards, they grabbed a total of 35 rebounds, including ten offensive ones. From the free-throw line, they converted 14 of 19 shots for an impressive shooting percentage of 73.7%. Overall, they finished strong with a field goal percentage of 51.4%, making 36 out of 70 attempts and sinking 11 of their 24 three-point shots.
A standout performance came from Rebel guard AJ Storr, who set the tone for the game with an impressive 27 points on 11 for 22 shooting. He played for 33 minutes and also contributed five rebounds along with one assist. Storr’s ability to maintain a shooting percentage of 51% from the floor was crucial in this road win. This marks the first road win for the Rebels and the most points they have scored in the game this season.
The Rebels Right Now
The Rebels have been averaging 76.5 points per game, placing them 194th in the nation. They’re shooting at a solid 45.5% from the field and hitting 35.4% of their three-point attempts (134 out of 378). At the free-throw line, they’re converting 74.1% of their shots. On the boards, Ole Miss is securing about 35.5 rebounds per game and has tallied a total of 248 assists this season, ranking them 184th nationally in passing efficiency. They turn the ball over an average of 10.4 times each game and commit roughly 18.9 personal fouls.
On the defensive side, the Rebels are forcing opponents into 12.4 turnovers per game while drawing an average of 18.2 personal fouls themselves. They allow opponents to shoot 35.1% from beyond the arc and rank 112th in points allowed per game with an average of 71.1 points conceded. Their overall field goal defense stands at 42.4%, having allowed opponents to score on 410 out of 966 attempts, and they give up around 34.9 rebounds per game as a team. Currently, they sit at 210th in college basketball for assists allowed, having surrendered a total of 236 assists this season.
On The Bulldogs
Mississippi State is coming off a tough loss to the Crimson Tide, with a final score of 97-82. In terms of rebounding, the Bulldogs struggled, allowing Alabama to grab a total of 45 rebounds, including 9 on the offensive end. From beyond the arc, Mississippi State shot 35.3%, sinking 12 of their 34 attempts. They were more successful at the free throw line, finishing with an impressive 27 out of 33 for an accuracy rate of 81.8%.
Defensively, the Bulldogs allowed Alabama to convert on 29 of their 66 field goal attempts, which translates to a shooting percentage of 43.9%. When it was all said and done, Mississippi State managed to shoot just 36.8% from the field themselves, hitting only 28 out of their 76 shots. Their three-point shooting was also below par at 32.1%, making only 9 out of their 28 attempts.
The game saw Alabama called for a total of 19 fouls, which sent the Bulldogs to the free throw line for an opportunity at 25 attempts. However, they did have some struggles with ball control, committing four turnovers while managing to secure five steals throughout the match. On the boards, Mississippi State collected a total of 39 rebounds—25 defensive and 14 offensive.
It was a standout night for sophomore point guard Josh Hubbard, who led his team with an impressive performance that included scoring 23 points in just over half an hour on the court (33 minutes). He contributed three assists and managed to hit six out of his sixteen shots from the field for a shooting percentage of about 37.5%, rounding off his evening with three rebounds.
The Bulldogs Right Now
The Bulldogs average 16.2 fouls per game and have a free throw shooting percentage of 69.5%. They dish out an average of 12.8 assists per game, which ranks them 283rd in the nation, while turning the ball over 11.2 times each contest. So far this season, they’ve scored a total of 1,362 points, averaging 80.1 points per game, and they grab about 40.7 rebounds per matchup. Offensively, the Bulldogs are shooting at a rate of 45.0% from the field, placing them 209th in Division I.
On the defensive side, Mississippi State ranks 297th in Division I for points allowed per game, giving up an average of 78.0 points to their opponents. They force about 10.2 turnovers each game and allow teams to shoot at a rate of 42.1% from the floor, which is ranked 107th in college basketball. The Bulldogs’ defense permits opponents to hit 30.9% of their three-point attempts (136 out of 440) and allows a concerning free throw percentage of 73.2%. Additionally, they give up an average of 13.2 assists and pull down only 38.6 rebounds per game, ranking them at 178th and a lowly 342nd in Division I, respectively.
Both teams are eager to gain some momentum in the SEC race, which hasn’t quite matched the energy of last season. Despite a slower start for both the Rebels and Bulldogs, there’s still plenty of opportunity ahead if they stay focused. However, tonight, one team will likely find their path more successful than the other. Chris Bears and the Rebels head in this one as the underdogs at +3.5 via BetMGM odds. The game is set to tip off at The Hump in Starkville at 7:30 PM and will be broadcast on the SEC Network.