Never tell the Rebels they can’t win in dramatic fashion. On a night that felt like college basketball at its wildest, coach Chris Beard and the Ole Miss Rebels downed No. 21 Georgia 97-95 in overtime Wednesday in Athens at Stegeman Coliseum, igniting the Rebel faithful and reminding the SEC, and the nation, that the Rebels are far from done this season.
It wasn’t just a win. It was a statement.
With less than one second left in OT, Patton Pinkins soared above the chaos to tip in the game-winning bucket after a missed shot by AJ Storr, sealing a victory that will be talked about in Oxford for years. Pinkins finished with 18 points, Storr led all scorers with 27, and Ole Miss walked out of Athens with one of the biggest road victories of the Chris Beard era thus far.
From the opening tip, this felt like a heavyweight fight. Georgia came out firing and led 40-35 at halftime thanks to hot shooting and senior Jeremiah Wilkinson’s explosive stroke. Wilkinson didn’t just score; he exploded, pouring in a season-high 32 points, including six 3-pointers.
But Ole Miss wasn’t intimidated.
By the end of regulation, there had been 16 ties and multiple lead changes, with neither team ever letting the other truly pull away. Storr’s bucket with 17 seconds left in regulation sent the game to OT with hope from the Rebels that they could pull off a road victory over a top 25 Georgia team.
“I think we were excited to get to overtime, which is always a good thing,” said head coach Chris Beard after the game.
Regulation gave way to overtime, and both teams traded blows. Georgia’s Kanon Catchings hit a big 3 to put the Bulldogs up 94-91, but Ole Miss kept answering and fighting for every loose ball, every rebound, every inch.
With 10.2 seconds left, Georgia tied it at 95 on free throws to force a decisive finish. Then came that final possession: Storr’s shot rattled out, Pinkins rose with the kind of instincts that blaze the way to success, and the Rebels emerged victorious.
Beard, pacing the sideline moments earlier, let out a grin when Pinkins’ tip dropped through.
“Tonight, he played with a lot of courage and obviously made the play of the game when we needed it most,” said Beard of the effort throughout the game by Pinkins.
Having won back-to-back games in the SEC after opening conference play 0‑2, the Rebels are quickly building a résumé that could carry them into March. The wins over Missouri at home and Georgia on the road both count as Q 1 wins, giving Ole Miss a significant boost in the eyes of the NCAA selection committee.
For the Rebels to secure a realistic shot at an at-large bid, or even enter the SEC tournament in Nashville needing only one or two more wins to feel comfortable, Ole Miss will need to keep this momentum going. The target is clear: finish the regular season with 9‑10 conference victories while continuing to perform in close games, particularly against ranked opponents and on the road.
The challenge is steep, but the Rebels are showing they can handle it. By stringing together wins against SEC opponents, coach Beard’s team isn’t just playing around: this is a team that can compete with anyone, and March is very much in their sights.
The Rebels return to SEC play Saturday in Starkville against the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Tipoff is at 7:30 pm in Humphrey Coliseum on Saturday. Remember, stay here for the latest on all things about your Ole Miss Rebels.
