Ole Miss Men’s Basketball Looking to Beat Rival Mississippi State for Second Time this Season

OXFORD, Miss. — The Ole Miss Rebels are gearing up for their second game back, following a long road stand, in the SJB Pavilion on Saturday night, a game in which they will face rival Mississippi State, also the last team Ole Miss beat. The teams will tip off at 5:30 p.m. CT.

ON THE AIR

Television: ESPN2
Play-by-Play: Richard Cross
Analyst: Richard Hendrix

OLE MISS RADIO

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

Where they stand

The Rebels dropped their thirteenth game of the season on Wednesday with a 19-point loss to Alabama. With the loss, Ole Miss has now lost six straight games and has not seen a win since Jan. 17, when it beat Mississippi State by one point in Starkville. The Rebels are now 11-13 on the season overall with a 3-8 conference record, placing them at No. 12 in the SEC. With just seven games left in the season, Ole Miss will be looking to attempt to finish over .500 on the season at least. With only two ranked games remaining, the Rebels will look to beat the Bulldogs at home to build some morale before hitting the road again.

The Bulldogs are on a losing streak themselves, having lost the past three games, and holding a 1-8 record in their last nine. Mississippi State most recently lost to Arkansas and Tennessee, with its last win coming against LSU on Jan. 28. The Bulldogs also hold an 11-13 record on the season and sit one spot behind the Rebels in the SEC standings with a 3-8 record as well. The Bulldogs do hold. 31-game advantage in the series all-time, but Ole Miss does have the advantage when playing at home.

Scouting the Bulldogs

Mississippi State started the season off well, earning a 10-5 record while securing wins over Memphis, Texas and Oklahoma before its 1-8 dry spell began. Like the Rebels, the Bulldogs have only won three SEC games, so they’ve struggled in conference play, similarly dropping winnable games during that stretch. The Bulldogs are currently ranked No. 90 in KenPom, 19 spots behind the Rebels. Their offensive efficiency rating is worse, sitting at No. 139. But their defense, on the other hand, is rated much better at No. 60. Overall, the Bulldogs have not been great, but like the Rebels, will be looking for a morale boost with a win.

The Bulldogs have two players averaging double-digit points in guards Josh Hubbard and Jayden Epps. Hubbard averages 21 points per game and has been the star of the show for Mississippi State, both this season and last. He’s explosive, with the ability to score from anywhere on the court. Epps backs Hubbard up in terms of scoring, averaging 14.4 per game. 6-foot-9, 230-pound forward Achor Achor leads the Bulldogs on the boards, averaging 6.7 per game, with center Quincy Ballard closely behind with 6.3. Mississippi State rebounds very well, with five players averaging over four per game. Hubbard also leads the team from behind the arc, though, shooting 32% on 198 three-point attempts, with 64 made on the season.

Mississippi State’s Notable NCAA Team Statistical Rankings:

– Defensive rebounds per game, 27.8, 20th
– Rebounds per game, 39.8, 32nd
– Three-point percentage defense, 30.4, 38th
– Blocks per game, 4.5, 47th

Keys to the game

1. Control the boards, limit second-chance points: Mississippi State rebounds the ball very well, and it’s given Ole Miss and other teams trouble in the past. Ole Miss can’t let the Bulldogs dominate the boards, or another close game may turn into another loss. The Rebels need to secure the paint, force tough shots and acquire defensive rebounds. Even if they aren’t able to attain offensive rebounds too well, they’ll need to ensure they limit Mississippi State’s second-chance points.

2. Stay calm, take care of the ball: Ole Miss has done well all season, even in its losses; however, it can seem to get ahead of itself and make many mistakes during crunch time. Last time these two teams faced off, Ole Miss won by one point because of its ability to execute until the last minute. But recently, the Rebels have struggled to do that, keeping games close until crunch time, where they eventually seem to fall apart. Ole Miss will need to stay calm and take care of the ball all game if it wants to win.

3. Start strong, score in transition, create momentum: The Rebels have shown their ability to thrive when they set the pace of the game, something they can do by starting strong and earning extra possessions by playing tight defense and creating turnovers. If Ole Miss can successfully get the game off to a strong offensive start, taking control of the game before creating momentum-changing plays, such as transition threes and fastbreak points, it will put itself in a good position.

Why this game matters

Although the Rebels may not be fighting for a top seed in the NCAA Tournament, it can still make a statement to everyone around the country if it can close the season out strongly. Everyone around the country has seen that Ole Miss is capable; they’ve just been unable to close games out when it truly matters. This is head coach Chris Beard’s third year, and although this season may seem like a step back, it may be a step forward in the long run. But first, the Rebels must find a spark.

If the Rebels can beat Mississippi State, for the second time this season, then they could take some major momentum with them when they head to College Station to face Texas A&M on Wednesday, which will be a tough game. After the Aggies, the Rebels will still need to face a No. 14-ranked Florida team. This three-game stretch could wind up being very important, as it could determine how Ole Miss closes the season, approaches the SEC Tournament and the offseason. The Rebels will need to find the spark they need, earn some high-value wins and build some momentum before the SEC Tournament arrives.

Game info

• Matchup: Mississippi State at Ole Miss
• Time: 5:30 p.m. CT
• Location: SJB Pavilion, Oxford, MS.
• TV: ESPN2