From UM Media Relations:
OXFORD, Miss. – Ole Miss men’s basketball is ready to welcome in heated in-state rival Mississippi State for the 265th time in the 108-year history of the SEC’s oldest rivalry on Saturday night. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. CT inside The Sandy and John Black Pavilion at Ole Miss and live on SEC Network.
EVENT INFO
• Doors Open: 6 PM
• Powder Blue Out – WEAR POWDER BLUE
• Club Red T-Shirt giveaway to first 1,000 members
TEAM FACTS
Ole Miss Rebels (8-5, 0-1 SEC)
Head Coach: Kermit Davis • 4th Season at Ole Miss (59-47) • 528-310 career record (27th Season)
Mississippi State Bulldogs (10-3, 1-0 SEC)
Head Coach: Ben Howland • 7th Season at MSU (126-85) • 525-293 career record (26th Season)
ON THE AIR
Television/Online: SEC Network
Play-by-Play: Dave Neal
Color: Joe Kleine
OLE MISS RADIO
Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
Play-by-Play: David Kellum
Color: Marc Dukes
SiriusXM
XM: 387
SiriusXM App: 977
RIVALRY RENEWED
The oldest rivalry in the SEC heats back up when Mississippi State comes to SJB Pavilion on Saturday night. The Bulldogs are Ole Miss’ most-played opponent, having met 264 times on the hardwood dating back to the beginning of the series in 1914. MSU holds a 146-118 series lead, but the Rebels have won 11 of the past 16 matchups, the best streak against the Bulldogs since winning 11 of 14 from 1929-33. Ole Miss holds an 85-45 advantage in Oxford, winning eight of the past 10 at home that includes a 4-2 mark in SJB Pavilion (opened 2016). The away team was the victor in both meetings in 2021, with the Rebels emerging 64-46 in Starkville on Jan. 19, and the Bulldogs winning 66-56 in Oxford on Feb. 20. The Rebels hold a 6-4 advantage in the previous 10 meetings, and the average margin of victory for the winner in that span has been by 14.1 points per game.
RIVALRY CONNECTION
His alma mater is now his rival. Now in the Red and Blue, Kermit Davis is 3-3 against Mississippi State. Davis earned a varsity letter playing basketball for the Bulldogs in 1982, completing his bachelor’s degree in the same year. Two years later, he finished up school with a master’s degree at MSU. Davis’ father, Kermit Davis Sr., was MSU’s head coach from 1971-77.
LAST MEETING: Feb. 20, 2021 (L, 66-56, in Oxford)
• Ole Miss: 28 bench points
• MSU: 51 percent shooting overall, 36 points in the paint, 14-of-18 FT (.778)
• MSU’s Iverson Molinar (17) and DJ Stewart Jr. (16): 33 combined points
• Both teams shot a combined 7-of-28 from three (.250), combined for 60 points in the paint
• Jarkel Joiner (8), Luis Rodriguez (7), Austin Crowley (7), Matthew Murrell (7): combined 29 points
LAST WIN: Jan. 19, 2021 (W, 64-46, in Starkville)
• Fewest points allowed in an SEC game since Feb. 6, 2004 (W, 55-45, vs. Arkansas)
• Fewest points allowed in the rivalry vs. MSU since Feb. 25, 1995 (L, 46-42)
• At the time was just the 12th performance in the previous 20 seasons keeping an SEC opponent to fewer than 50 points (only third such time on the road)
• 11th Ole Miss win in previous 15 meetings
• Ole Miss: 46 percent shooting, won boards 37-31
• MSU: 35 percent shooting, 12 turnovers (10 Ole Miss steals)
• Devontae Shuler: 22 points, 8-of-13 FG
• Jarkel Joiner: 12 points (8 in second half)
• Luis Rodriguez: 6 points, 8 rebounds
SCOUTING MISSISSIPPI STATE
Mississippi State comes to Oxford at 10-3 overall and 1-0 in SEC play following an 81-68 opening win vs. Arkansas on Dec. 29 before a postponed game vs. Missouri originally scheduled for Jan. 5. MSU’s lone blemishes on the season come against Louisville in The Bahamas on Nov. 25 (72-58), vs. Minnesota in Starkville on Dec. 5 (81-76) and against unbeaten Colorado State on Dec. 11 at the Basketball Hall of Fame Classic in Fort Worth (66-63). Currently, MSU owns a NET rating of 37 with one Quad 1 loss, two Quad 2 losses and a perfect 10-0 record against Quads 3 and 4.
The Bulldogs use a tenacious effort on the glass, a careful but effective defense and a lights-out shooting offense to excellent effect. MSU ranks second in the SEC and eighth nationally at its rebounding margin of +10.8, helped greatly by not letting its opponents see many missed shots as the Bulldogs also rank second in the SEC and 40th in the NCAA at a 47.6 percent shooting percentage on the season. State’s tough defense doesn’t put opponents on the line much either, as MSU owns the SEC’s second-best and NCAA’s 19th-best fouls per game average at 13.7 per contest. The Bulldogs have held five opponents to 60 points or fewer and four to 50 or fewer, helping give MSU the SEC’s sixth-best scoring defense at 61.9 PPG (No. 47 NCAA) and sixth-best scoring margin at +12.8 PPG (No. 43 NCAA).
Mississippi State is led by Iverson Molinar, who averages 16.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists and owns the SEC’s best free throw percentage on the year at 88.9 percent (56-of-63; No. 23 NCAA). Molinar also ranks third in the SEC and 27th nationally at his assist-turnover ratio of 2.9. Tolu Smith is second on the team at 14.2 points per game and a team-high 7.8 rebounds per game, while Shakeel Moore is third at 11.0 points per game as well as the SEC’s second-most steals per game at 2.3 (No. 14 NCAA). Other Bulldogs averaging double-digit scoring include Garrison Brooks (10.9) and D.J. Jeffries (10.8).
LAST TIME OUT (vs. #18 Tennessee: L, 66-60/OT)
• Ole Miss: only nine scholarship players available (injury/COVID protocols)
• Seven Rebels with 23+ minutes, four with 33+
• First OT game of the season (first since Feb. 6, 2021 at Auburn; W, 86-84)
• Rebels led for 33:45 of game time (Tennessee did not lead until 4:42 in OT)
• Held Tennessee scoreless for first 7:36 of game (led by as many as 12 in 1st Half)
• Ole Miss had beat four consecutive ranked opponents heading into the game (ties program record)
• Both teams combined 21-of-56 from three (.375)
• Ole Miss: 27 turnovers (22 Tennessee points)
• Tye Fagan (23) and Matthew Murrell (17): 40 combined points
• Fagan: career-high 23 points, 5-of-6 3PT
• Murrell: 10 points in first half
• Jaemyn Brakefield: 8 points, 8 rebounds
• Nysier Brooks: 6 points, 10 rebounds
• Daeshun Ruffin: 3 points, 3 assists, 5 steals (first career start)
TYE-ING IT ALL TOGETHER
Senior Tye Fagan answered the call again and again for the shorthanded Rebels at No. 18 Tennessee when his team needed him, nearly leading Ole Miss to a record fifth straight top-25 win on Jan. 5. Fagan scored a career-high 23 points against the nationally-ranked Vols, and was a key catalyst for the Rebel offense at several crucial junctures in the second half. Fagan scored 20 of his 23 points in the second half and overtime, all from beyond the arc, going a perfect 5-of-5 from deep in the second period before missing a last-second try at the final buzzer in OT. Entering the contest, Fagan was 6-of-21 (.286) from three on the season, and entering this year he held a career line of 19-of-68 (.279). This isn’t the first hot streak from three for Fagan this year, though, as he started the season 5-of-7 (.714) from deep across his first three games. Since that three-game opening stretch, Fagan had gone 1-of-14 (.071) prior to the explosion in Knoxville. Fagan transferred to Ole Miss this season after spending the prior three years at Georgia, where he scored 450 career points and shot 56.4 percent overall in 89 games played for the Bulldogs. Included in his UGA career was a big outing against the Rebels in Oxford in 2021, scoring 19 points on a career-best 9-of-9 shooting effort.
On the season, Fagan has been a Swiss Army knife for Ole Miss, contributing in significant ways in multiple facets of the game. Fagan is averaging a balanced stat line of 7.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists, while averaging an assist-turnover ratio of 1.5 in 20.2 minutes played per game.
TOUGH ROAD AHEAD
With SEC season now heating up, Ole Miss holds the nation’s No. 25 toughest future schedule. Of the 13 other SEC schools the Rebels will play, 10 hold NET rankings within the top-100, with seven currently within the top-50 and five within the top-25. Ole Miss also has a top-100 non-conference matchup on the horizon, with NET No. 89 Kansas State coming to Oxford for the SEC/Big 12 Challenge on Jan. 29. The 8-5 Rebels currently rank No. 120 and hold a top-100 win over current No. 52, Memphis (Dec. 4, 67-63).
RUFFIN RETURNS IN BIG SPOT
Ole Miss freshman Daeshun Ruffin returned from a four-week absence in dynamic fashion, averaging 16.0 points, 2.7 assists, 1.7 steals and shooting 41.7 percent overall and 70.8 percent from the free throw line over his next three games against Middle Tennessee (Dec. 15), Dayton (Dec. 18) and Samford (Dec. 21). Ruffin suffered a fractured hand in the second half of the season opener against New Orleans, and missed the subsequent four weeks of action. Ruffin first saw the floor again against Middle Tennessee on Dec. 15, scoring 12 points in just 12 minutes of action -- nine of which came in the first half as he came off the bench. Ruffin followed that up with a splendid showing against Dayton, scoring a career-high 19 points after a powerful 17-point second half to help lift the Rebels to victory. Ruffin hit 9-of-12 from the free throw line against the Flyers, and in his two games back from injury his 13 free throws made accounted for 44.8 percent of all Rebel free throws made (29) in that stretch. Ruffin is the first McDonald’s All-American signee in program history following a storied career at Callaway High School in his native Jackson, Mississippi.
OFF THE LINE
It’s been difficult to damage the Rebels from distance, but especially so over the last handful of games. Ole Miss has held four of its last seven opponents to 22.2 percent or lower from beyond the arc and eight total below 30 percent (including five times in those last seven games). In those four wins against Rider (2-of-13), No. 18 Memphis (2-of-11), Middle Tennessee (3-of-27) and Dayton (4-18), Rebel opponents shot a combined 11-of-69 (.159). On the season, Ole Miss has held four opponents below 18.2 percent, also holding Elon to 3-of-17 (.176) on Nov. 19. The Rebels currently rank 47th nationally and fourth in the SEC with a season opposing three-point clip of 29.2 percent. In the Kermit Davis era, Ole Miss is 29-16 when holding opponents to 30 percent or lower and 47-24 when holding opponents below 40 percent from deep.
CHEF BROOKS IS COOKING
A noted chef in his own right, Ole Miss graduate transfer Nysier Brooks is also starting to cook on the court as the only Rebel to start all 13 games this year. Brooks was recently in the midst of his longest double-digit scoring streak so far as a Rebel at three straight, averaging 12.7 points and 8.3 rebounds in that stretch against WKU, Middle Tennessee and Dayton. Brooks recorded his seventh career double-double and second as a Rebel against Dayton on Dec. 18, playing a crucial role in the victory with 16 points, 11 rebounds, one block and a career-high three steals alongside an 8-of-12 line from the field -- which ties his career-high in field goals made. Brooks was equally as important in the second half for the Rebels against Middle Tennessee, scoring all 12 of his points in the back half and cleaning up the glass with eight boards. Brooks recently had a torrid two-game stretch rebounding the ball, hauling in a combined 25 rebounds (10 offensive) in back-to-back outings vs. Mississippi Valley State (10 rebounds, 5 offensive) and Rider (15 rebounds, 5 offensive). Brooks’ 15-rebound game vs. Rider tied a career high and stands as the best single-game rebounding output since Sebastian Saiz tallied 17 vs. Georgia Tech in the 2017 NIT. On the year, Brooks ranks sixth in the SEC at 7.9 rebounds per game and is also averaging 8.7 points. He has hauled in at least six boards in all but one game this season, and he also tallied three blocks in back-to-back games vs. Rider and Memphis.
KEEP SHOOTING, MATT!
Sophomore Matthew Murrell’s offensive awakening could not have come at a better time for the Rebels, helping lead the Rebels to a three-game winning streak thanks in part to riding Murrell’s hot hand from beyond the arc. Murrell set a career-high in points in two straight outings, first with a 14-point performance vs. Rider on Nov. 30 and then with a crucial 19-point effort in Ole Miss’ 67-63 upset win over No. 18 Memphis. In those two games, Murrell averaged 16.5 points and shot a combined 7-of-15 from three after averaging 5.2 points per game and shooting 2-of-10 from three prior to the Rider game. Murrell was also clutch from the free throw line, shooting 10-of-13 on his free tries vs. Rider and Memphis after only getting to the line 10 times all season prior.
Murrell followed that up as one of a pair of lethal three-point shooting Rebels at No. 18 Tennessee on Jan. 5, nearly leading Ole Miss to a program record fifth straight top-25 victory. Murrell ended with 17 points on a 4-of-6 three-point shooting line, his second game this season with a career-high four threes made, as well as his fourth multiple-three game and his third with at least three made.
Murrell is the program’s highest rated recruit ever nationally, signing with Ole Miss ranked No. 39 overall by both ESPN and the 247Sports Composite in 2019-20.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
After not getting to the line very often to start the season, the Rebels have been getting to the charity stripe and using it to great effect in the process. After starting the season just 17-of-31 (.548) from the free throw line amid three straight single-digit performances, Ole Miss has only been held to single digits three times in the succeeding 10 games at a combined line of 132-of-185 (.714) since playing Elon on Nov. 19 -- averaging 13.2 free throws made per game in that stretch. During its three-game winning streak that started on Nov. 26 vs. MVSU, Ole Miss went 54-of-76 (.711) -- which accounted for 25 percent of all Rebel scoring during the streak -- and over its last two wins over Middle Tennessee (13-20) and Dayton (16-21) the Rebels shot 29-of-41 (.707). Ole Miss averaged 13.0 trips to the free throw line in its first five games of the season, but have since averaged 18.9.
PROTECT THE BALL
Ole Miss has forced double-digit turnovers in all 13 of their contests so far this season, and have only turned the ball over more than its opponent once this season (27 at No. 18 Tennessee). The Rebels hold a season turnover margin of +2.8 (7th SEC), and are seventh in the SEC in fewest turnovers per game (12.7). In the Kermit Davis era, the Rebels are 47-20 when having fewer turnovers than their opponents, and are 36-14 when forcing 15 turnovers or more.
TIGHT SHIP
Team defense has been a calling card of the Rebels in the early going, holding opponents to 70 or fewer 10 times in 13 games, including 60 or fewer in five of their last 10 outings -- capped by a season-low 51 to Rider.
JOINER CAN’T MISS
Senior Jarkel Joiner has been surgical from the free throw line this season, currently ranking seventh in the SEC at his overall percentage of 84.6. Recently, though, he has been even more reliable from the charity stripe, hitting 24 of his last 26 free tries, including a stretch of 17 in a row that spanned from Ole Miss’ upset over No. 18 Memphis on Dec. 4 until the Samford game on Dec. 21. Joiner finished 2020-21 third overall in the SEC in free throw shooting at 84.5 percent.
PUTTING THE TEAM ON HIS BACK
Senior Jarkel Joiner has proven his veteran leadership in the early stages of the season, not only leading in several categories but by also rarely leaving the floor. Joiner ranks third in the SEC in minutes played per game at 33:29, and he has put the team on his back with the SEC’s second-best assist-turnover ratio (3.0; 19th NCAA), seventh-best free throw percentage (.846) and 10th-most points per game (14.8). In his career, Joiner averages 30.7 minutes played per game in 104 career games played and 96 career starts. Joiner has scored in double digits in 11 of 12 games this season, as well as 17 of his last 19 dating back to last season.
REBELS TAME NATIONALLY-RANKED TIGERS
No. 18 Memphis nearly erased what had been an 11-point Ole Miss second half lead, but the Rebels never faltered and closed out strong at the free throw line to cap off an impressive 67-63 upset over the Tigers in front of an electric crowd of 8,629 at SJB Pavilion on Dec. 4. Ole Miss frustrated a Memphis squad that entered as one of the elite defending units in the nation, ranking No. 1 in the NCAA in blocks and No. 19 in opposing field goal percentage prior to tipoff. Defense was the name of the game as both teams shot a combined 37 percent, but the Rebels were also beneficiaries of timely shooting, two bombastic showings from Jarkel Joiner and Matthew Murrell, and – most importantly – a 23-of-29 clip from the charity stripe that helped hold their lead over the Tigers down the stretch.
The Rebels were paced offensively from two stellar performances from Oxford native Joiner and Memphis native Murrell, who combined for 39 points, 40 percent shooting, five threes made and a 14-of-17 mark from the free throw line. Joiner was clutch every time his number was called, ending the day with 20 points and a season-high in both rebounds (8) and steals (5) – as well as a near-perfect 7-of-8 clip from the free throw line. Murrell’s offensive awakening continued to great effect for the Rebels, as he blew by his career-high with a new best of 19 points on a dynamite 4-of-9 three-point shooting effort that fired up the crowd at SJB Pavilion. Murrell was also clutch from the free throw line, going 7-of-9 overall, all coming in the second half. The Rebel defense fought fire-with-fire against the nationally ranked Tigers, forcing an Ole Miss opponent season-high 20 turnovers that turned into 20 points, while stifling standouts Emoni Bates (seven points, four rebounds) and Jalen Duren (two points, four rebounds) to a combined nine points. Ole Miss was also smart with the basketball on the offensive end, not allowing the ferocious Memphis shot blocking defense to affect the game by keeping them to a season-low three blocks.
BEWARE THE REBELS
Following its 67-63 upset over No. 18 Memphis on Dec. 4, Ole Miss had notched its fourth consecutive Top-25 win for just the second time in school history. The other such occurrence came across the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons, when Ole Miss ripped off four in a row against No. 6 Florida on Feb. 16, 2002 (68-51), No. 6 Alabama on March 3, 2002 (84-56), at No. 23 LSU the following season on Jan. 18, 2003 (67-57), and three days later vs. No. 15 Alabama on Jan. 21, 2003 (76-57). The latest streak came against No. 10 Tennessee on Feb. 2, 2021 (52-50), No. 10 Missouri on Feb. 10, 2021 (80-59) and at No. 24 Missouri on Feb. 23, 2021 before the win vs. Memphis. This was also the first time since 2001 that Ole Miss won against four ranked teams within the same calendar year. That season the Rebels did so five times against No. 10 Tennessee on Feb. 10 (87-71), No. 20 Alabama on March 3 (105-71), No. 5 Florida in the SEC Tournament (74-69), No. 19 Notre Dame in the NCAA Tournament (59-56) and the following season against No. 22 Memphis on Dec. 7 (71-67).
2020-21 / 2021-22
Feb. 2, 2021 - vs. #10 Tennessee (52-50)
Feb. 10, 2021 - vs. #10 Missouri (80-59)
Feb. 23, 2021 - at #24 Missouri (60-53)
Dec. 4, 2021 - vs. #18 Memphis (67-63)
2001-02 / 2002-03
Feb. 16, 2002 - vs. #6 Florida (68-51)
March 3, 2002 - vs. #6 Alabama (84-56)
Jan. 18, 2003 - at #23 LSU (67-57)
Jan. 21, 2003 - vs. #15 Alabama (76-57)
REBS DURING THE LATEST RANKED WINS STREAK
• 64.8 PPG offense, 56.3 PPG defense (+8.5)
• FG%: 88-of-208 (.423)
• 3PT%: 22-of-69 (.319)
• 3PM/Game: 5.5
• FT%: 61-of-79 (.772)
• FTM/Game: 15.3
• FTA/Game: 19.8
• Rebounds/Game: 36.3
• Rebounding Margin: +6.3
• Assists/Game: 11.5
• Turnovers/Game: 14.5
• Turnovers Forced/Game: 15.3
• Turnover Margin: +0.8
• Steals/Game: 8.3
• Blocks/Game: 2.5
• Points off Turnovers: 64-38 (Avg: 16.0/9.5)
• Points in the Paint: 98-80 (Avg: 24.5/20.0)
• 2nd Chance Points: 33-36 (Avg: 8.3/9.0)
• Fastbreak Points: 34-10 (Avg: 8.5/2.5)
• Bench Points: 61-72 (Avg: 15.3/18.0)
• Average Time Led: 24:36
HOMETOWN HERO
Senior Jarkel Joiner was named one of 60 men’s and women’s basketball student-athletes nationally named as candidates for the 2021-22 Senior CLASS Award on Dec. 7. Ole Miss women’s basketball senior Shakira Austin was also named a candidate, making Ole Miss the only SEC school to be represented on both lists and one of just four schools nationally alongside BYU, Michigan and Virginia Tech.
To be eligible, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School ®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
In the classroom, Joiner holds a 3.13 GPA in multi-disciplinary studies, and is a staple in his hometown community. Joiner was named to the 2020-21 SEC Community Service Team, working closely with the Reading with the Rebels program in addition to the Stronger Together Mississippi initiative and Adopt-A-Basket, which helps feed local families during the holiday season.
The men’s and women’s candidates will be narrowed to two fields of ten finalists later in the season, and those names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans, who will then select one male candidate and one female candidate who best exemplifies excellence in the four C’s of community, classroom, character and competition. The Senior CLASS Award winners will be announced during the 2022 NCAA Men’s Final Four® and NCAA Women’s Final Four® this spring.
CRASHING THE BOARDS
Ole Miss recorded a historic rebounding effort against Rider on Nov. 30, hauling in 57 total boards and winning the battle on the glass by a margin of 21. The 57 rebounds stood as the most by a Rebel team since recording 64 vs. Troy on Nov. 27, 2007. Since 2007, Ole Miss has tallied 50 rebounds in 14 total games. Those 57 team rebounds also stand as the second-most by an SEC team this season.
Games With 50+ Rebounds Since 2007 (14)
11-30-21 - vs. Rider (57)
01-17-17 - Tennessee (50)
12-22-16 - South Alabama (50)
12-12-15 - Southeast Missouri (53)
11-16-15 - Georgia Southern (50)
11-14-14 - Charleston Southern (50)
11-08-13 - Troy (53)
01-29-13 - Kentucky (52)
11-09-12 - MVSU (54)
11-14-11 - Grambling (51)
02-24-10 - Auburn (50)
12-28-07 - Southern Miss (51)
11-27-07 - Troy (64)
11-16-07 - Lamar (53)
YEAR FOUR OF THE DAVIS ERA
Kermit Davis enters his fourth season at the helm of Ole Miss Basketball. Over his first three seasons, Davis led the Rebels to a pair of postseason appearances (2020 postseason was cancelled due to COVID-19). With 59 victories as head coach of the Rebels, Davis is one of only four coaches in Ole Miss history to rack up at least 50 wins over their first three seasons. A nine-time conference coach of the year, Davis is 38th among active Division I head coaches with 462 career wins over 24 seasons, including stints at Middle Tennessee, Idaho and Texas A&M. In 27 seasons as a college basketball head coach, he has amassed 528 wins.
DAVIS ERA TRENDS TO WATCH
• 50-16 when leading at half
• 5-0 when scoring 90+, 26-3 when scoring 80+, 45-19 when scoring 70+
• 41-16 when winning the rebounding battle
• 25-3 when at 50 percent shooting or better
• 16-6 when shooting 40 percent or better from three
• 56-29 when keeping opponents below 50 percent shooting (33-6 when below 40 percent)
RECORD WIN STREAK AT SJB PAVILION
With its 76-68 win over Dayton on Dec. 18, Ole Miss extended its home win streak at SJB Pavilion to nine games -- the longest Rebel home win streak since The Pavilion opened in January 2016 -- before getting snapped Dec. 21 vs. Samford. Ole Miss is 7-1 at home this season, with the other two victories coming at the tail end of the 2020-21 season against Kentucky (March 2, 2021; 70-62) and Vanderbilt (March 6, 2021; 56-46). The Dayton game marked Ole Miss men’s basketball’s 100th game at SJB Pavilion, where the Rebels enjoy a 70-31 (.691) all-time record.
PROTECTING CRADDOCK COURT
Winning at home has been a trademark at Ole Miss. Over the past 15 seasons, the Rebels are 183-57 (.763 win pct.) in home games. In five-plus seasons (opened January 2016) playing in the $96.5 million SJB Pavilion, the Rebels hold a 70-31 (.691) advantage against the opposition. Ole Miss has won 308 of its last 397 games (.776 win pct.) in Oxford dating back to the 1996-97 campaign. Under head coach Kermit Davis, the Rebels are 40-15 (.727 win pct.) at home.
| OLE MISS (8-5, 0-1 SEC) vs. MISSISSIPPI STATE (10-3, 1-0 SEC) Saturday, January 8 • 7:30 p.m. CT • Oxford, Miss. The Sandy and John Black Pavilion at Ole Miss (9,500) 
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| Watch • Live Stats • Listen • Gameday Info • Tickets Ole Miss Game Notes • MSU Game Notes • SEC Game Notes |
EVENT INFO
• Doors Open: 6 PM
• Powder Blue Out – WEAR POWDER BLUE
• Club Red T-Shirt giveaway to first 1,000 members
TEAM FACTS
Ole Miss Rebels (8-5, 0-1 SEC)
Head Coach: Kermit Davis • 4th Season at Ole Miss (59-47) • 528-310 career record (27th Season)
Mississippi State Bulldogs (10-3, 1-0 SEC)
Head Coach: Ben Howland • 7th Season at MSU (126-85) • 525-293 career record (26th Season)
ON THE AIR
Television/Online: SEC Network
Play-by-Play: Dave Neal
Color: Joe Kleine
OLE MISS RADIO
Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
Play-by-Play: David Kellum
Color: Marc Dukes
SiriusXM
XM: 387
SiriusXM App: 977
RIVALRY RENEWED
The oldest rivalry in the SEC heats back up when Mississippi State comes to SJB Pavilion on Saturday night. The Bulldogs are Ole Miss’ most-played opponent, having met 264 times on the hardwood dating back to the beginning of the series in 1914. MSU holds a 146-118 series lead, but the Rebels have won 11 of the past 16 matchups, the best streak against the Bulldogs since winning 11 of 14 from 1929-33. Ole Miss holds an 85-45 advantage in Oxford, winning eight of the past 10 at home that includes a 4-2 mark in SJB Pavilion (opened 2016). The away team was the victor in both meetings in 2021, with the Rebels emerging 64-46 in Starkville on Jan. 19, and the Bulldogs winning 66-56 in Oxford on Feb. 20. The Rebels hold a 6-4 advantage in the previous 10 meetings, and the average margin of victory for the winner in that span has been by 14.1 points per game.
RIVALRY CONNECTION
His alma mater is now his rival. Now in the Red and Blue, Kermit Davis is 3-3 against Mississippi State. Davis earned a varsity letter playing basketball for the Bulldogs in 1982, completing his bachelor’s degree in the same year. Two years later, he finished up school with a master’s degree at MSU. Davis’ father, Kermit Davis Sr., was MSU’s head coach from 1971-77.
LAST MEETING: Feb. 20, 2021 (L, 66-56, in Oxford)
• Ole Miss: 28 bench points
• MSU: 51 percent shooting overall, 36 points in the paint, 14-of-18 FT (.778)
• MSU’s Iverson Molinar (17) and DJ Stewart Jr. (16): 33 combined points
• Both teams shot a combined 7-of-28 from three (.250), combined for 60 points in the paint
• Jarkel Joiner (8), Luis Rodriguez (7), Austin Crowley (7), Matthew Murrell (7): combined 29 points
LAST WIN: Jan. 19, 2021 (W, 64-46, in Starkville)
• Fewest points allowed in an SEC game since Feb. 6, 2004 (W, 55-45, vs. Arkansas)
• Fewest points allowed in the rivalry vs. MSU since Feb. 25, 1995 (L, 46-42)
• At the time was just the 12th performance in the previous 20 seasons keeping an SEC opponent to fewer than 50 points (only third such time on the road)
• 11th Ole Miss win in previous 15 meetings
• Ole Miss: 46 percent shooting, won boards 37-31
• MSU: 35 percent shooting, 12 turnovers (10 Ole Miss steals)
• Devontae Shuler: 22 points, 8-of-13 FG
• Jarkel Joiner: 12 points (8 in second half)
• Luis Rodriguez: 6 points, 8 rebounds
SCOUTING MISSISSIPPI STATE
Mississippi State comes to Oxford at 10-3 overall and 1-0 in SEC play following an 81-68 opening win vs. Arkansas on Dec. 29 before a postponed game vs. Missouri originally scheduled for Jan. 5. MSU’s lone blemishes on the season come against Louisville in The Bahamas on Nov. 25 (72-58), vs. Minnesota in Starkville on Dec. 5 (81-76) and against unbeaten Colorado State on Dec. 11 at the Basketball Hall of Fame Classic in Fort Worth (66-63). Currently, MSU owns a NET rating of 37 with one Quad 1 loss, two Quad 2 losses and a perfect 10-0 record against Quads 3 and 4.
The Bulldogs use a tenacious effort on the glass, a careful but effective defense and a lights-out shooting offense to excellent effect. MSU ranks second in the SEC and eighth nationally at its rebounding margin of +10.8, helped greatly by not letting its opponents see many missed shots as the Bulldogs also rank second in the SEC and 40th in the NCAA at a 47.6 percent shooting percentage on the season. State’s tough defense doesn’t put opponents on the line much either, as MSU owns the SEC’s second-best and NCAA’s 19th-best fouls per game average at 13.7 per contest. The Bulldogs have held five opponents to 60 points or fewer and four to 50 or fewer, helping give MSU the SEC’s sixth-best scoring defense at 61.9 PPG (No. 47 NCAA) and sixth-best scoring margin at +12.8 PPG (No. 43 NCAA).
Mississippi State is led by Iverson Molinar, who averages 16.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists and owns the SEC’s best free throw percentage on the year at 88.9 percent (56-of-63; No. 23 NCAA). Molinar also ranks third in the SEC and 27th nationally at his assist-turnover ratio of 2.9. Tolu Smith is second on the team at 14.2 points per game and a team-high 7.8 rebounds per game, while Shakeel Moore is third at 11.0 points per game as well as the SEC’s second-most steals per game at 2.3 (No. 14 NCAA). Other Bulldogs averaging double-digit scoring include Garrison Brooks (10.9) and D.J. Jeffries (10.8).
LAST TIME OUT (vs. #18 Tennessee: L, 66-60/OT)
• Ole Miss: only nine scholarship players available (injury/COVID protocols)
• Seven Rebels with 23+ minutes, four with 33+
• First OT game of the season (first since Feb. 6, 2021 at Auburn; W, 86-84)
• Rebels led for 33:45 of game time (Tennessee did not lead until 4:42 in OT)
• Held Tennessee scoreless for first 7:36 of game (led by as many as 12 in 1st Half)
• Ole Miss had beat four consecutive ranked opponents heading into the game (ties program record)
• Both teams combined 21-of-56 from three (.375)
• Ole Miss: 27 turnovers (22 Tennessee points)
• Tye Fagan (23) and Matthew Murrell (17): 40 combined points
• Fagan: career-high 23 points, 5-of-6 3PT
• Murrell: 10 points in first half
• Jaemyn Brakefield: 8 points, 8 rebounds
• Nysier Brooks: 6 points, 10 rebounds
• Daeshun Ruffin: 3 points, 3 assists, 5 steals (first career start)
TYE-ING IT ALL TOGETHER
Senior Tye Fagan answered the call again and again for the shorthanded Rebels at No. 18 Tennessee when his team needed him, nearly leading Ole Miss to a record fifth straight top-25 win on Jan. 5. Fagan scored a career-high 23 points against the nationally-ranked Vols, and was a key catalyst for the Rebel offense at several crucial junctures in the second half. Fagan scored 20 of his 23 points in the second half and overtime, all from beyond the arc, going a perfect 5-of-5 from deep in the second period before missing a last-second try at the final buzzer in OT. Entering the contest, Fagan was 6-of-21 (.286) from three on the season, and entering this year he held a career line of 19-of-68 (.279). This isn’t the first hot streak from three for Fagan this year, though, as he started the season 5-of-7 (.714) from deep across his first three games. Since that three-game opening stretch, Fagan had gone 1-of-14 (.071) prior to the explosion in Knoxville. Fagan transferred to Ole Miss this season after spending the prior three years at Georgia, where he scored 450 career points and shot 56.4 percent overall in 89 games played for the Bulldogs. Included in his UGA career was a big outing against the Rebels in Oxford in 2021, scoring 19 points on a career-best 9-of-9 shooting effort.
On the season, Fagan has been a Swiss Army knife for Ole Miss, contributing in significant ways in multiple facets of the game. Fagan is averaging a balanced stat line of 7.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists, while averaging an assist-turnover ratio of 1.5 in 20.2 minutes played per game.
TOUGH ROAD AHEAD
With SEC season now heating up, Ole Miss holds the nation’s No. 25 toughest future schedule. Of the 13 other SEC schools the Rebels will play, 10 hold NET rankings within the top-100, with seven currently within the top-50 and five within the top-25. Ole Miss also has a top-100 non-conference matchup on the horizon, with NET No. 89 Kansas State coming to Oxford for the SEC/Big 12 Challenge on Jan. 29. The 8-5 Rebels currently rank No. 120 and hold a top-100 win over current No. 52, Memphis (Dec. 4, 67-63).
RUFFIN RETURNS IN BIG SPOT
Ole Miss freshman Daeshun Ruffin returned from a four-week absence in dynamic fashion, averaging 16.0 points, 2.7 assists, 1.7 steals and shooting 41.7 percent overall and 70.8 percent from the free throw line over his next three games against Middle Tennessee (Dec. 15), Dayton (Dec. 18) and Samford (Dec. 21). Ruffin suffered a fractured hand in the second half of the season opener against New Orleans, and missed the subsequent four weeks of action. Ruffin first saw the floor again against Middle Tennessee on Dec. 15, scoring 12 points in just 12 minutes of action -- nine of which came in the first half as he came off the bench. Ruffin followed that up with a splendid showing against Dayton, scoring a career-high 19 points after a powerful 17-point second half to help lift the Rebels to victory. Ruffin hit 9-of-12 from the free throw line against the Flyers, and in his two games back from injury his 13 free throws made accounted for 44.8 percent of all Rebel free throws made (29) in that stretch. Ruffin is the first McDonald’s All-American signee in program history following a storied career at Callaway High School in his native Jackson, Mississippi.
OFF THE LINE
It’s been difficult to damage the Rebels from distance, but especially so over the last handful of games. Ole Miss has held four of its last seven opponents to 22.2 percent or lower from beyond the arc and eight total below 30 percent (including five times in those last seven games). In those four wins against Rider (2-of-13), No. 18 Memphis (2-of-11), Middle Tennessee (3-of-27) and Dayton (4-18), Rebel opponents shot a combined 11-of-69 (.159). On the season, Ole Miss has held four opponents below 18.2 percent, also holding Elon to 3-of-17 (.176) on Nov. 19. The Rebels currently rank 47th nationally and fourth in the SEC with a season opposing three-point clip of 29.2 percent. In the Kermit Davis era, Ole Miss is 29-16 when holding opponents to 30 percent or lower and 47-24 when holding opponents below 40 percent from deep.
CHEF BROOKS IS COOKING
A noted chef in his own right, Ole Miss graduate transfer Nysier Brooks is also starting to cook on the court as the only Rebel to start all 13 games this year. Brooks was recently in the midst of his longest double-digit scoring streak so far as a Rebel at three straight, averaging 12.7 points and 8.3 rebounds in that stretch against WKU, Middle Tennessee and Dayton. Brooks recorded his seventh career double-double and second as a Rebel against Dayton on Dec. 18, playing a crucial role in the victory with 16 points, 11 rebounds, one block and a career-high three steals alongside an 8-of-12 line from the field -- which ties his career-high in field goals made. Brooks was equally as important in the second half for the Rebels against Middle Tennessee, scoring all 12 of his points in the back half and cleaning up the glass with eight boards. Brooks recently had a torrid two-game stretch rebounding the ball, hauling in a combined 25 rebounds (10 offensive) in back-to-back outings vs. Mississippi Valley State (10 rebounds, 5 offensive) and Rider (15 rebounds, 5 offensive). Brooks’ 15-rebound game vs. Rider tied a career high and stands as the best single-game rebounding output since Sebastian Saiz tallied 17 vs. Georgia Tech in the 2017 NIT. On the year, Brooks ranks sixth in the SEC at 7.9 rebounds per game and is also averaging 8.7 points. He has hauled in at least six boards in all but one game this season, and he also tallied three blocks in back-to-back games vs. Rider and Memphis.
KEEP SHOOTING, MATT!
Sophomore Matthew Murrell’s offensive awakening could not have come at a better time for the Rebels, helping lead the Rebels to a three-game winning streak thanks in part to riding Murrell’s hot hand from beyond the arc. Murrell set a career-high in points in two straight outings, first with a 14-point performance vs. Rider on Nov. 30 and then with a crucial 19-point effort in Ole Miss’ 67-63 upset win over No. 18 Memphis. In those two games, Murrell averaged 16.5 points and shot a combined 7-of-15 from three after averaging 5.2 points per game and shooting 2-of-10 from three prior to the Rider game. Murrell was also clutch from the free throw line, shooting 10-of-13 on his free tries vs. Rider and Memphis after only getting to the line 10 times all season prior.
Murrell followed that up as one of a pair of lethal three-point shooting Rebels at No. 18 Tennessee on Jan. 5, nearly leading Ole Miss to a program record fifth straight top-25 victory. Murrell ended with 17 points on a 4-of-6 three-point shooting line, his second game this season with a career-high four threes made, as well as his fourth multiple-three game and his third with at least three made.
Murrell is the program’s highest rated recruit ever nationally, signing with Ole Miss ranked No. 39 overall by both ESPN and the 247Sports Composite in 2019-20.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
After not getting to the line very often to start the season, the Rebels have been getting to the charity stripe and using it to great effect in the process. After starting the season just 17-of-31 (.548) from the free throw line amid three straight single-digit performances, Ole Miss has only been held to single digits three times in the succeeding 10 games at a combined line of 132-of-185 (.714) since playing Elon on Nov. 19 -- averaging 13.2 free throws made per game in that stretch. During its three-game winning streak that started on Nov. 26 vs. MVSU, Ole Miss went 54-of-76 (.711) -- which accounted for 25 percent of all Rebel scoring during the streak -- and over its last two wins over Middle Tennessee (13-20) and Dayton (16-21) the Rebels shot 29-of-41 (.707). Ole Miss averaged 13.0 trips to the free throw line in its first five games of the season, but have since averaged 18.9.
PROTECT THE BALL
Ole Miss has forced double-digit turnovers in all 13 of their contests so far this season, and have only turned the ball over more than its opponent once this season (27 at No. 18 Tennessee). The Rebels hold a season turnover margin of +2.8 (7th SEC), and are seventh in the SEC in fewest turnovers per game (12.7). In the Kermit Davis era, the Rebels are 47-20 when having fewer turnovers than their opponents, and are 36-14 when forcing 15 turnovers or more.
TIGHT SHIP
Team defense has been a calling card of the Rebels in the early going, holding opponents to 70 or fewer 10 times in 13 games, including 60 or fewer in five of their last 10 outings -- capped by a season-low 51 to Rider.
JOINER CAN’T MISS
Senior Jarkel Joiner has been surgical from the free throw line this season, currently ranking seventh in the SEC at his overall percentage of 84.6. Recently, though, he has been even more reliable from the charity stripe, hitting 24 of his last 26 free tries, including a stretch of 17 in a row that spanned from Ole Miss’ upset over No. 18 Memphis on Dec. 4 until the Samford game on Dec. 21. Joiner finished 2020-21 third overall in the SEC in free throw shooting at 84.5 percent.
PUTTING THE TEAM ON HIS BACK
Senior Jarkel Joiner has proven his veteran leadership in the early stages of the season, not only leading in several categories but by also rarely leaving the floor. Joiner ranks third in the SEC in minutes played per game at 33:29, and he has put the team on his back with the SEC’s second-best assist-turnover ratio (3.0; 19th NCAA), seventh-best free throw percentage (.846) and 10th-most points per game (14.8). In his career, Joiner averages 30.7 minutes played per game in 104 career games played and 96 career starts. Joiner has scored in double digits in 11 of 12 games this season, as well as 17 of his last 19 dating back to last season.
REBELS TAME NATIONALLY-RANKED TIGERS
No. 18 Memphis nearly erased what had been an 11-point Ole Miss second half lead, but the Rebels never faltered and closed out strong at the free throw line to cap off an impressive 67-63 upset over the Tigers in front of an electric crowd of 8,629 at SJB Pavilion on Dec. 4. Ole Miss frustrated a Memphis squad that entered as one of the elite defending units in the nation, ranking No. 1 in the NCAA in blocks and No. 19 in opposing field goal percentage prior to tipoff. Defense was the name of the game as both teams shot a combined 37 percent, but the Rebels were also beneficiaries of timely shooting, two bombastic showings from Jarkel Joiner and Matthew Murrell, and – most importantly – a 23-of-29 clip from the charity stripe that helped hold their lead over the Tigers down the stretch.
The Rebels were paced offensively from two stellar performances from Oxford native Joiner and Memphis native Murrell, who combined for 39 points, 40 percent shooting, five threes made and a 14-of-17 mark from the free throw line. Joiner was clutch every time his number was called, ending the day with 20 points and a season-high in both rebounds (8) and steals (5) – as well as a near-perfect 7-of-8 clip from the free throw line. Murrell’s offensive awakening continued to great effect for the Rebels, as he blew by his career-high with a new best of 19 points on a dynamite 4-of-9 three-point shooting effort that fired up the crowd at SJB Pavilion. Murrell was also clutch from the free throw line, going 7-of-9 overall, all coming in the second half. The Rebel defense fought fire-with-fire against the nationally ranked Tigers, forcing an Ole Miss opponent season-high 20 turnovers that turned into 20 points, while stifling standouts Emoni Bates (seven points, four rebounds) and Jalen Duren (two points, four rebounds) to a combined nine points. Ole Miss was also smart with the basketball on the offensive end, not allowing the ferocious Memphis shot blocking defense to affect the game by keeping them to a season-low three blocks.
BEWARE THE REBELS
Following its 67-63 upset over No. 18 Memphis on Dec. 4, Ole Miss had notched its fourth consecutive Top-25 win for just the second time in school history. The other such occurrence came across the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons, when Ole Miss ripped off four in a row against No. 6 Florida on Feb. 16, 2002 (68-51), No. 6 Alabama on March 3, 2002 (84-56), at No. 23 LSU the following season on Jan. 18, 2003 (67-57), and three days later vs. No. 15 Alabama on Jan. 21, 2003 (76-57). The latest streak came against No. 10 Tennessee on Feb. 2, 2021 (52-50), No. 10 Missouri on Feb. 10, 2021 (80-59) and at No. 24 Missouri on Feb. 23, 2021 before the win vs. Memphis. This was also the first time since 2001 that Ole Miss won against four ranked teams within the same calendar year. That season the Rebels did so five times against No. 10 Tennessee on Feb. 10 (87-71), No. 20 Alabama on March 3 (105-71), No. 5 Florida in the SEC Tournament (74-69), No. 19 Notre Dame in the NCAA Tournament (59-56) and the following season against No. 22 Memphis on Dec. 7 (71-67).
2020-21 / 2021-22
Feb. 2, 2021 - vs. #10 Tennessee (52-50)
Feb. 10, 2021 - vs. #10 Missouri (80-59)
Feb. 23, 2021 - at #24 Missouri (60-53)
Dec. 4, 2021 - vs. #18 Memphis (67-63)
2001-02 / 2002-03
Feb. 16, 2002 - vs. #6 Florida (68-51)
March 3, 2002 - vs. #6 Alabama (84-56)
Jan. 18, 2003 - at #23 LSU (67-57)
Jan. 21, 2003 - vs. #15 Alabama (76-57)
REBS DURING THE LATEST RANKED WINS STREAK
• 64.8 PPG offense, 56.3 PPG defense (+8.5)
• FG%: 88-of-208 (.423)
• 3PT%: 22-of-69 (.319)
• 3PM/Game: 5.5
• FT%: 61-of-79 (.772)
• FTM/Game: 15.3
• FTA/Game: 19.8
• Rebounds/Game: 36.3
• Rebounding Margin: +6.3
• Assists/Game: 11.5
• Turnovers/Game: 14.5
• Turnovers Forced/Game: 15.3
• Turnover Margin: +0.8
• Steals/Game: 8.3
• Blocks/Game: 2.5
• Points off Turnovers: 64-38 (Avg: 16.0/9.5)
• Points in the Paint: 98-80 (Avg: 24.5/20.0)
• 2nd Chance Points: 33-36 (Avg: 8.3/9.0)
• Fastbreak Points: 34-10 (Avg: 8.5/2.5)
• Bench Points: 61-72 (Avg: 15.3/18.0)
• Average Time Led: 24:36
HOMETOWN HERO
Senior Jarkel Joiner was named one of 60 men’s and women’s basketball student-athletes nationally named as candidates for the 2021-22 Senior CLASS Award on Dec. 7. Ole Miss women’s basketball senior Shakira Austin was also named a candidate, making Ole Miss the only SEC school to be represented on both lists and one of just four schools nationally alongside BYU, Michigan and Virginia Tech.
To be eligible, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School ®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
In the classroom, Joiner holds a 3.13 GPA in multi-disciplinary studies, and is a staple in his hometown community. Joiner was named to the 2020-21 SEC Community Service Team, working closely with the Reading with the Rebels program in addition to the Stronger Together Mississippi initiative and Adopt-A-Basket, which helps feed local families during the holiday season.
The men’s and women’s candidates will be narrowed to two fields of ten finalists later in the season, and those names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans, who will then select one male candidate and one female candidate who best exemplifies excellence in the four C’s of community, classroom, character and competition. The Senior CLASS Award winners will be announced during the 2022 NCAA Men’s Final Four® and NCAA Women’s Final Four® this spring.
CRASHING THE BOARDS
Ole Miss recorded a historic rebounding effort against Rider on Nov. 30, hauling in 57 total boards and winning the battle on the glass by a margin of 21. The 57 rebounds stood as the most by a Rebel team since recording 64 vs. Troy on Nov. 27, 2007. Since 2007, Ole Miss has tallied 50 rebounds in 14 total games. Those 57 team rebounds also stand as the second-most by an SEC team this season.
Games With 50+ Rebounds Since 2007 (14)
11-30-21 - vs. Rider (57)
01-17-17 - Tennessee (50)
12-22-16 - South Alabama (50)
12-12-15 - Southeast Missouri (53)
11-16-15 - Georgia Southern (50)
11-14-14 - Charleston Southern (50)
11-08-13 - Troy (53)
01-29-13 - Kentucky (52)
11-09-12 - MVSU (54)
11-14-11 - Grambling (51)
02-24-10 - Auburn (50)
12-28-07 - Southern Miss (51)
11-27-07 - Troy (64)
11-16-07 - Lamar (53)
YEAR FOUR OF THE DAVIS ERA
Kermit Davis enters his fourth season at the helm of Ole Miss Basketball. Over his first three seasons, Davis led the Rebels to a pair of postseason appearances (2020 postseason was cancelled due to COVID-19). With 59 victories as head coach of the Rebels, Davis is one of only four coaches in Ole Miss history to rack up at least 50 wins over their first three seasons. A nine-time conference coach of the year, Davis is 38th among active Division I head coaches with 462 career wins over 24 seasons, including stints at Middle Tennessee, Idaho and Texas A&M. In 27 seasons as a college basketball head coach, he has amassed 528 wins.
DAVIS ERA TRENDS TO WATCH
• 50-16 when leading at half
• 5-0 when scoring 90+, 26-3 when scoring 80+, 45-19 when scoring 70+
• 41-16 when winning the rebounding battle
• 25-3 when at 50 percent shooting or better
• 16-6 when shooting 40 percent or better from three
• 56-29 when keeping opponents below 50 percent shooting (33-6 when below 40 percent)
RECORD WIN STREAK AT SJB PAVILION
With its 76-68 win over Dayton on Dec. 18, Ole Miss extended its home win streak at SJB Pavilion to nine games -- the longest Rebel home win streak since The Pavilion opened in January 2016 -- before getting snapped Dec. 21 vs. Samford. Ole Miss is 7-1 at home this season, with the other two victories coming at the tail end of the 2020-21 season against Kentucky (March 2, 2021; 70-62) and Vanderbilt (March 6, 2021; 56-46). The Dayton game marked Ole Miss men’s basketball’s 100th game at SJB Pavilion, where the Rebels enjoy a 70-31 (.691) all-time record.
PROTECTING CRADDOCK COURT
Winning at home has been a trademark at Ole Miss. Over the past 15 seasons, the Rebels are 183-57 (.763 win pct.) in home games. In five-plus seasons (opened January 2016) playing in the $96.5 million SJB Pavilion, the Rebels hold a 70-31 (.691) advantage against the opposition. Ole Miss has won 308 of its last 397 games (.776 win pct.) in Oxford dating back to the 1996-97 campaign. Under head coach Kermit Davis, the Rebels are 40-15 (.727 win pct.) at home.
