Ole Miss Rally Stalls Late in 79–68 Road Loss to Texas

AUSTIN, Texas — Ole Miss showed plenty of fight on Saturday afternoon, erasing a double-digit deficit and trading punches down the stretch, but the late push wasn’t enough as the Rebels fell 79–68 to Texas inside the Moody Center.

The Rebels (11–12, 3–7 SEC) struck first, opening the game with an early three, but Texas quickly seized control and dictated much of the first half. After taking the lead just two minutes in, the Longhorns steadily widened the gap, using defensive pressure and transition scoring to build a cushion that reached as many as 16 points.

Ole Miss struggled to find offensive rhythm during that stretch, though Corey Chest sparked a brief response with a finish at the rim midway through the half. Still, Texas carried a 37–25 advantage into the locker room, firmly in control after 20 minutes.

The complexion of the game shifted coming out of halftime.

Ole Miss opened the second half on a blistering run, pouring in 12 points on its first five possessions to cut the deficit to four. The surge continued as Ilias Kamardine knocked down a deep jumper to make it a one-point game, forcing Texas to regroup with a timeout.

Moments later, Eduardo Klafke drilled a three that put Ole Miss back in front for the first time since the opening minutes, signaling a full-fledged comeback. The teams traded baskets throughout the final stretch, with neither side able to create separation as the game tightened into the final three minutes tied at 68.

That’s when Texas delivered the final blow.

The Longhorns closed the game with a decisive late run, capitalizing on missed opportunities and limiting Ole Miss to just one field goal over the final minutes to secure the win.

Despite the loss, the Rebels left Austin encouraged by the response after halftime and the balanced effort that fueled the rally.

Notables

• Eduardo Klafke posted a career-high 16 points, adding six rebounds and three assists while committing zero turnovers.

• Augusto Cassia matched a career milestone by knocking down multiple threes, finishing a perfect 3-for-3 from the field.

• AJ Storr was disruptive defensively, tying his season high with three steals.

Ole Miss now turns its attention back to Oxford, returning home to face Alabama on Wednesday, February 11, at 6 p.m. CT inside the SJB Pavilion. The matchup will air on SEC Network.