Ole Miss Men’s Basketball Heads to Rupp Arena Seeking Statement Win Against Kentucky

OXFORD, Miss. — Ole Miss travels to Lexington on Saturday morning with a chance to grab a resume-shaping SEC road win as the Rebels face the Kentucky Wildcats inside Rupp Arena. Tipoff is set for 10 a.m. CT on ESPN, moved up an hour due to anticipated winter weather in the region.

Due to incoming weather in the Lexington, Kentucky area, the Ole Miss men’s basketball team’s game at Kentucky on Saturday, January 24 will now tipoff at 10 a.m. CT/11 a.m. ET, one hour earlier than previously scheduled. pic.twitter.com/DoU6GqYrHO

— Ole Miss Men’s Basketball (@OleMissMBB) January 22, 2026

ON THE AIR
Television/Online: ESPN
Play-by-Play: Wes Durham
Analyst: Dennis Scott

OLE MISS RADIO
Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
Play-by-Play: Gary Darby
Analyst: Murphy Holloway

The Rebels enter the weekend at 11–8 overall and 3–3 in SEC play, looking to rebound after Tuesday night’s home loss to Auburn. Ole Miss has shown it can compete — and win — against quality league opponents. The Rebels have gone 3–3 in conference play, including road success against ranked Georgia and arch rival Mississippi State. While the standings remain tight, games like this one against the Wildcats loom large as Ole Miss tries to solidify its place in the NCAA Tournament conversation.

Kentucky has won four straight games and sits at 13–6 overall, 4–2 in the SEC. They picked up non-conference wins over Indiana and St. John’s, and have recently won four games in a row over Mississippi State, LSU, Tennessee, and Texas. The Wildcats currently sit in fifth in the SEC standings, and are earning votes in both the AP and Coaches Poll. They rank 31st in the most recent NET Rankings and 25th in KenPom.

Scouting the Wildcats

Returning guard Otega Oweh paces Kentucky offensively with a clip of 15.7 points per game, while Malachi Moreno leads them in rebounding with an average of 6.3 per game. On the defensive end, Moreno leads the charge down low with 1.6 blocks per game, as Oweh averages a team-high 2.0 steals per contest.

Notable NCAA Team Statistical Rankings for Kentucky:
– Fastbreak points: 18.3, 9th
– Assist-to-turnover ratio: 1.68, 20th
– Bench points per game: 31.8, 33rd
– Turnovers per game: 10.2, 39th
– Scoring margin: +12.4, 42nd
– Three-point defensive percentage: 30.1, 42nd

Keys to the game

Control tempo and value possessions: Ole Miss is at its best when the game slows down. The Rebels rank among the nation’s better teams at taking care of the basketball and will want to limit empty trips in a building where momentum can flip quickly. Playing with poise — especially early — is critical.

Stay disciplined defensively: Kentucky shoots the ball efficiently, but Ole Miss has held opponents to just over 42 percent from the field this season. Avoiding foul trouble and forcing contested looks will be key, particularly against a Wildcats team that likes to attack downhill and earn trips to the free-throw line.

Lean on veteran scoring: Ole Miss will rely heavily on AJ Storr and Malik Dia, both averaging 13.6 points per game, to generate offense. Dia’s physical presence inside gives the Rebels a chance to counter Kentucky’s athleticism, while Storr’s ability to score in bunches can quiet the crowd quickly.

A familiar face returns to Lexington

One of the game’s most compelling storylines is Travis Perry’s return to Rupp Arena, this time wearing Rebel red and blue. The Lyon County legend and Kentucky high school scoring king has found his rhythm in SEC play, shooting 50 percent from three against league opponents and coming off a five-three performance against Auburn.

Perry knows the rims, the sightlines, and the moment — and Ole Miss won’t shy away from putting the ball in his hands if the game tightens late.

Why this game matters

For Ole Miss, this is the kind of opportunity that can change how the rest of the season is viewed. The Rebels have already proven they can win in hostile environments. Doing it again — against a surging Kentucky team — would add significant weight to their postseason resume.

Ole Miss doesn’t need perfection in Rupp Arena — it needs toughness, discipline, and belief. Saturday morning offers a chance to show all three.

Game Info

• Matchup: Ole Miss at Kentucky
• Time:  10 a.m. CT
• Location: Rupp Arena, Lexington, Ky.
• TV: ESPN