As the Ole Miss Rebels gear up for their final road game of the season, they are headed to Neville Arena to take on the Auburn Tigers. With a current record of 11-17 and just 3-2 in SEC play, the Rebels are looking to turn around a challenging season that has seen them struggle against conference opponents.
A Look at Ole Miss
The Rebels have had a rollercoaster ride this season, currently sitting at 3-12 against SEC teams. Their struggles on defense have been evident as they rank seventh in the conference, allowing an average of 75.8 points per game while holding opponents to a shooting percentage of 44.0%. Offensively, Ole Miss averages 75.1 points per game—4.6 points fewer than what Auburn allows its opponents.
Despite their recent difficulties, there’s hope that they can close out games more effectively. Coach Chris Beard knows that his team has shown flashes of brilliance despite being on a ten-game skid. The Rebels have fought to the end, but the biggest thorn in their side has been their inability to hold on to that and close out games on top.
AJ Storr and Malik Dia continue to lead the charge for Ole Miss in scoring, averaging 14 points apiece. Ilias Kamardine averages 11.3 points, a team-high 3.9 assists, and 1.2 steals per game.
Pearl on the Rebels’ scoring prowess even in rough times: “They have three of the best 1-on-1 players in the conference in Dia, Storr, and Kamardine. Kamardine’s coming off a 26-point, 10-assist effort in the game against LSU.”
“Dia is playing a lot more aggressively offensively as of late, and Storr is just a guy that can make really tough shots. So, they’re going to present their challenges offensively. And defensively, Coach Beard’s always found ways to get his guys to perform in big games.”
The Challenge Ahead: Auburn Tigers
Auburn enters this matchup with a record of 15-13 overall and 6-9 in SEC play. They are coming off a tough loss against Oklahoma, where Keyshawn Hall scored an impressive 26 points but couldn’t lead his team to victory in a high-scoring affair that ended 91-79.
Auburn has proven formidable at home with a strong record of 10-3 on their court this season and an average scoring output of 83.5 points per game—outscoring opponents by an average margin of 3.8 points each contest.
Coach Steven Pearl acknowledges the potential threat posed by Ole Miss despite their struggles: “They’re on a 10-game skid right now. And you look at those ten games, and they’re in every single game. They’re up seven with four minutes left against LSU, and it’s kind of similar to what we did against Mississippi State. Just wasn’t able to finish it. They’ve been in one- or two-possession games on the road. They’ve won in two environments that we weren’t able to this year. They’re very capable,” Pearl acknowledged.
Previous Matchup Insights
This will be the second meeting between these two teams this season; they last faced off back in January when Auburn secured a solid victory with a scoreline of 78-66. In that match, Hall led the charge for Auburn with notable contributions from his teammates as well.
The previous encounter serves as motivation for both sides—Ole Miss seeks redemption, while Auburn aims to maintain its momentum toward securing an NCAA tournament berth.
ESPN’s weekly predictor leans heavily toward Auburn, giving them an overwhelming chance (81.7%) for victory compared to Ole Miss’s slim odds (18.3%). However, statistics don’t always tell the full story; if Ole Miss can harness their potential and capitalize on any lapses from Auburn, they could pull off what would be considered an upset and a much-needed win.
With tip-off scheduled for 7:30 PM, fans can catch all the action live on SEC Network as both teams look to make one last push of the regular season
The stage is set for what will be an interesting showdown between two SEC rivals battling not only for pride but also for the Tigers’ positioning ahead of March Madness aspirations. Can Chris Beard’s Rebels finally break through and secure that elusive win? Or will the Tigers continue their march towards tournament contention? One thing is certain—the intensity will be high as these teams clash tonight!