Ole Miss battled hard early and held a lead for much of the first half, but Alabama flipped the switch after the break, outscoring the Rebels 61-44 in the second half to pull away for a 93-74 victory on Wednesday night at the SJB Pavilion.
The Rebels came out with energy in front of the home crowd, jumping to an early 5-0 lead and staying competitive throughout the first half. They limited Alabama to just 32 points, the Tide’s season low first half output, while forcing tough shots and matching physicality inside. Ole Miss trailed by only two at halftime, 32-30, after a gritty effort that kept things within reach against one of the SEC’s top offenses.
Alabama had different plans for after the break. The Tide erupted in the second half, heating up from deep and overwhelming the Rebels with a barrage of threes and transition buckets. Latrell Wrightsell Jr. was lights out, tying his career high with seven 3-pointers on his way to 21 points. Labaron Philon added 18 points, while Aiden Sherrell and Amari Allen helped fuel the Tide’s decisive run that turned a close game into a comfortable margin.
For Ole Miss, the effort was there to start, but the inability to contain Alabama’s perimeter shooting and sustain defensive intensity proved costly. AJ Storr led the way with 27 points in a tough night for the team, as the Rebels couldn’t match the visitors’ second-half efficiency.
The loss extends Ole Miss’ skid to six straight, the longest under head coach Chris Beard, and drops them deeper in the SEC standings during a challenging stretch.
The defeat marks another tough home loss in what has been a rugged portion of the schedule, with Alabama improving its road form and positioning itself well in the league race.
Ole Miss now turns around quickly for an in-state rivalry clash against Mississippi State on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. CT in the Pavilion, televised on ESPN2. The Rebels will look to snap the streak, regroup at home, and build momentum as conference play marches on.
