From UM Media Relations:
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Ole Miss men's basketball team is set to face South Carolina in the opening round of the 2023 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament on Wednesday, March 8 at 6 p.m. in Bridgestone Arena and on the SEC Network. The winner of the first-round matchup will advance to take on the tournament's five seed, Tennessee, on Thursday, March 9.
TEAM FACTS
Ole Miss Rebels (11-20, 3-15 SEC)
Acting Head Coach: Win Case • 1st Season at Ole Miss (1-2) • 393-171 career record as head coach across all NCAA divisions, NAIA, and NJCAA (17th Season)
South Carolina Gamecocks (11-20, 4-14 SEC)
Head Coach: Lamont Paris • 1st Season at South Carolina (11-20) • 98-92 career record (6th Season)
ON THE AIR
Television/Online: SEC Network
Play-by-Play: Tom Hart
Color: Daymeon Fishback
Sideline: Alyssa Lang
OLE MISS RADIO
Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
Play-by-Play: David Kellum
Color: Marc Dukes
SERIES HISTORY VS. SOUTH CAROLINA
The Rebels and Gamecocks will face off for the third time this season, with Ole Miss taking the first game in Columbia, S.C. 70-58 before South Carolina won 64-61 in Oxford. This will be the 47th overall meeting between the two programs, as Ole Miss holds a slight edge 24-22, including a 6-4 advantage over the last 10 meetings.
The two teams have matched up 10 times in the SEC Tournament, with South Carolina taking the first two games in 1994 and 1998, before the Rebels won by four during the 1999 SEC Tournament. After the Gamecocks knocked the Rebels out in the 2002 tournament, Ole Miss won the next three postseason matchups in 2003, 2005, and 2011. USC took down Ole Miss during the SEC Tournament in 2015 and 2018, with their last matchup coming in 2021, when the Rebels won 76-59.
LAST MEETING: FEBRUARY 11, 2023 (L, 61-64, OXFORD, MISS.)
• Ole Miss held a three-point lead at halftime before falling by three.
• The Rebels recorded 11 steals in the game, one of their six games on the season with 10 or more swipes in a game.
• Coming off the bench, Tye Fagan led Ole Miss in scoring with 17 points, while Robert Allen added 10.
• South Carolina was led by Hayden Brown with 18 points and Jacobi Wright with 17.
SCOUTING THE GAMECOCKS
South Carolina finished the 2022-23 regular season with an identical overall record to Ole Miss at 11-20, but went 4-14 to finish one place above the Rebels in 12th. The Gamecocks closed out their regular season after the February 11th matchup with the Rebels going 2-4, falling to Vanderbilt before defeating LSU on February 18th. They then hosted No. 2 Alabama and took them to overtime before falling by two, dropping games to No. 11 Tennessee and Mississippi State, before closing out their schedule with a win against Georgia.
The team's leading scorer has been freshman GG Jackson, who averages 15.1 points per game and ranks ninth in the conference. The offense has ran through Jackson all season, as he finished the year leading the SEC in field goals attempted, putting up 441 shots.
As a team, South Carolina ranks in the top-100 nationally in offensive rebounds per game (No. 39, 11.9 per game), and three-point attempts per game (No. 86, 23.7 per game).
OLE MISS ALL-TIME AT THE SEC TOURNAMENT
• 32-57 (59 total tournaments since 1933)
• vs. South Carolina: 5-5 (last: W, 76-59, March 11, 2021, 2nd Round)
• Two SEC Tournament titles (1981, 2013)
• First Round: 11-23 (last win: March 8, 2012, vs. Auburn, 68-54)
• Second Round: 13-22 (last win: March 11, 2021, vs. South Carolina, 76-59)
• Quarterfinals: 1-3 (last win: March 15, 2013, vs. Missouri, 64-62)
• Semifinals: 5-6 (last win: March 16, 2013, vs. Vanderbilt, 61-51)
• Championship Game: 2-3 (last win: March 17, 2013, vs. Florida, 66-63)
IT'S MISTER STEAL-YOUR-PASS
Fifth-year transfer Myles Burns has been a defensive powerhouse this season for the Rebels, collecting 71 steals. He stepped into the top-10 for most in a single season at Ole Miss in style on February 18, recording seven steals to tie for the third-most in a single game in school history. Combined with six steals at Auburn, his 13 steals in back-to-back games are the most ever in school history in a two-game stretch.
Entering the SEC Tournament, Burns currently ranks third in program history for the most steals in a single season at Ole Miss.
Ole Miss Basketball - Most Steals in a Single Season
1. 89 Gerald Glass (30 games, 1989)
2. 73 Jason Smith (33 games, 1999)
3. 71 Myles Burns (31 games, 2023)
4. 70 Gerald Glass (30 games, 1990)
5. 58 Murphy Holloway (36 games, 2013)
Rod Barnes (29 games, 1988)
7. 57 Stefan Moody (34 games, 2015)
8. 56 Devontae Shuler (33 games, 2019)
9. 55 Rahim Lockhart (33 games, 2000)
Ervin Garnes (27 games, 1994)
Eric Laird (28 games, 1984)
BLOCK PARTY
The Ole Miss defense has only let their opponents top 70 points 11 times this year. A major part of their defensive identity has been enforcing the paint, as the Rebels average 3.9 blocks per game. They are led down low by senior transfers Theo Akwuba (31 total blocks, 1.1 per game) and Jayveous McKinnis (30 total blocks, 1.0 per game).
On January 3 at No. 7 Alabama, Akwuba and McKinnis combined for seven blocks, with Akwuba's four bringing his collegiate career total to 200 (now at 213). He and McKinnis (262 career blocks) are the only two teammates in college basketball with over 200 swats in their careers, and each rank among the top-25 in active career leaders.
A DEFENSIVE GOAT
Recording a steal in the closing moments of the first half against Missouri on Jan. 24, senior transfer Myles Burns collected the 400th steal of his collegiate career. Joining the Ole Miss program from Loyola New Orleans of the NAIA, Burns brought 358 steals from his four-time NAIA All-American career and has collected 71 since coming to Oxford. Counting his stats from the NAIA, Burns would become just the sixth person in NCAA men's basketball history across all divisions to collect 400 career steals, and would rank fourth all time.
400 Career NCAA Steals List
1. Calvin Cheek, New England Col. (DIII), 2017-22: 580 steals
2. Jacob Gilyard, Richmond (DI), 2017-22: 466 steals
3. Tennyson Whitted, Ramapo (DIII), 1999-2003: 448 steals
4. Jonte Flowers, Winona St. (DII), 2004-08: 414 steals
5. John Gallogly, Salve Regina (DIII), 1994-98: 413 steals
*Myles Burns - 429 steals (including stats from NAIA)
ANOTHER ONE
With an average of 12.2 offensive rebounds per game, the Rebels have been among the best in the country in earning second chances on the glass, currently ranking 29th in the nation. The team is led by senior Myles Burns with 76 offensive rebounds (2.5 per game). On the season, Ole Miss is outscoring their opponents by 43 in second chance points 379 to 336.
MB2K
Myles Burns scored 1,852 points during his career at Loyola New Orleans, and surpassed the 2,000-career points mark on February 4 at Vanderbilt with a dunk on an alley-oop. If his NAIA stats transferred to the NCAA, he would be one of just five active players across all divisions in college basketball with at least 2,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds. Other active student-athletes with at least 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds are Jayden Gardner (Virginia), KJ Williams (LSU), Kevin Obanor (Texas Tech), and Jordan Janssen (Wayne St. (NE)).
Burns would also be just one of three active players across all divisions with at least 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 100 steals, and 100 blocks in their career. Janssen of Wayne St. (NE) and Williams of LSU would be the only other active members of that club.
Myles Burns Collegiate Career Totals
Games Played: 151
Games Started: 139
Points: 2,095 (13.9/game)
Rebounds: 1,258 (8.3/game)
Steals: 429 (2.8/game)
Assists: 342 (2.3/game)
Blocks: 129 (0.9/game)
BEEN STEPH CURRY WITH THE SHOT
On February 28 against Texas A&M, Matthew Murrell connected on eight makes from three, setting a career high and tying the SJB Pavilion record for most threes in a single game. His eight three pointers tied him for the third-most in a single game in school history, with the most recent occurrence coming in December 2019 by Breein Tyree. Murrell's performance also marks the most shots from deep by a player in the SEC this season.
THROUGH THE FIRE
Ole Miss has faced off with some of the best competition college basketball has to offer, as the Rebels strength of schedule ranks 31st in the nation. With a combined opponent record of 540-385 (0.584), they have played against foes with a current NET ranking in the top-100 19 times, including 14 games against a foe in the top-50 and two in the top-five.
BEST OF THE BEST
Ole Miss' four senior transfers are among some of the best returning big men in all of college basketball. Jayveous McKinnis stands as one of the best in the nation this year, currently fifth in total rebounds (1,127), sixth in total blocks (262), ninth in career double-doubles (39), 16th in blocks per game (2.0), 22nd in rebounds per game (8.4), and 33rd in field goal shooting (.606). McKinnis is one of just 18 active players in all of college basketball with 1,000 career rebounds alongside South Alabama's Kevin Samuel, North Carolina's Armando Bacot, Kentucky's Oscar Tshiebwe, Nicholls' Manny Littles, Lipscomb's Ahsan Asadullah, LSU's KJ Williams, Iowa's Filip Rebraca, San Diego's Eric Williams Jr., Texas Tech's Kevin Obanor, Virginia's Jayden Gardner, Indiana's Trayce Jackson-Davis, Youngstown St.'s Adrian Nelson, Iowa State's Osun Osunniyi, Ohio's Dwight Wilson, Virginia Tech's Justyn Mutts, Texas Tech's Aimaq Fardaws, and Northern Kentucky's Chris Brandon. He is also just one of 16 with 1,000 career points (1,226) and 1,000 career rebounds.
Ole Miss ranks highly on the career blocks list with two top-25 entries. McKinnis ranks sixth at 262 swats, while Theo Akwuba is 11th at 213. Ole Miss stands as the only school with multiple top-25 active blockers. The Rebel trio of McKinnis (39, No. 9), Josh Mballa (29, No. 24) and Akwuba (17) combine for 85 career double-doubles, with McKinnis and Mballa owning the second-most by a pair of teammates at 68 behind Texas Tech's Almaq (41) and Obanor (37) at 78.
* Note: Myles Burns' 1,069 career rebounds while at NAIA Loyola New Orleans do not transfer over to the NCAA records lists, but he would rank third in the nation at 1,258 if they did and give Ole Miss a combined 4,656 boards between Burns (1,258), McKinnis (1,127), Mballa (827), Robert Allen (734), and Akwuba (710). Burns' combined career total of 2,095 points would also rank No. 35 among all NCAA divisions.
THEM REBS MOVE FAST
Ole Miss has been quick to react on defensive rebounds and turnovers, outscoring their opponents on fast-break opportunities by 115 this season (323-208). The Rebels have recorded more fast-break points than the other team in 22 of their 31 games.
THE MAGIC NUMBER IS 20
Junior guard Matthew Murrell has scored 20 or more points eight times this season, and averages 14.9 per game. A large part of his offense has come from deep, as he has made 60 threes on the year. Over a four-game stretch against Mississippi State, Auburn, Georgia, and South Carolina from Jan. 7-17, Murrell averaged 19.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game, while shooting 44.1% from the field and connecting on 10 threes.
EXPERIENCE FROM THE PORTAL
Ole Miss went into the portal looking for experienced big men, and came away with four of the most well-seasoned options available. Those four senior transfers -- F Theo Akwuba, F Myles Burns, F Josh Mballa and F Jayveous McKinnis -- hold an incredible combined career stat lines across their respective careers prior to Ole Miss:
Combined Career Stats (NAIA included for Burns):
• 532 games played
• 393 games started
• 5,217 points
• 3,922 rebounds
• 705 steals (429 from Burns alone)
• 679 blocks
| 2023 SEC TOURNAMENT #13 OLE MISS (11-20, 3-15 SEC) vs. #12 SOUTH CAROLINA (11-20, 4-14 SEC) Wednesday, March 8 • 6:00 p.m. CT • Nashville, Tenn. Bridgestone Arena (20,000) 
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| Watch • Live Stats • Listen Ole Miss Game Notes • South Carolina Game Notes • SEC Game Notes |
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Ole Miss men's basketball team is set to face South Carolina in the opening round of the 2023 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament on Wednesday, March 8 at 6 p.m. in Bridgestone Arena and on the SEC Network. The winner of the first-round matchup will advance to take on the tournament's five seed, Tennessee, on Thursday, March 9.
TEAM FACTS
Ole Miss Rebels (11-20, 3-15 SEC)
Acting Head Coach: Win Case • 1st Season at Ole Miss (1-2) • 393-171 career record as head coach across all NCAA divisions, NAIA, and NJCAA (17th Season)
South Carolina Gamecocks (11-20, 4-14 SEC)
Head Coach: Lamont Paris • 1st Season at South Carolina (11-20) • 98-92 career record (6th Season)
ON THE AIR
Television/Online: SEC Network
Play-by-Play: Tom Hart
Color: Daymeon Fishback
Sideline: Alyssa Lang
OLE MISS RADIO
Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
Play-by-Play: David Kellum
Color: Marc Dukes
SERIES HISTORY VS. SOUTH CAROLINA
The Rebels and Gamecocks will face off for the third time this season, with Ole Miss taking the first game in Columbia, S.C. 70-58 before South Carolina won 64-61 in Oxford. This will be the 47th overall meeting between the two programs, as Ole Miss holds a slight edge 24-22, including a 6-4 advantage over the last 10 meetings.
The two teams have matched up 10 times in the SEC Tournament, with South Carolina taking the first two games in 1994 and 1998, before the Rebels won by four during the 1999 SEC Tournament. After the Gamecocks knocked the Rebels out in the 2002 tournament, Ole Miss won the next three postseason matchups in 2003, 2005, and 2011. USC took down Ole Miss during the SEC Tournament in 2015 and 2018, with their last matchup coming in 2021, when the Rebels won 76-59.
LAST MEETING: FEBRUARY 11, 2023 (L, 61-64, OXFORD, MISS.)
• Ole Miss held a three-point lead at halftime before falling by three.
• The Rebels recorded 11 steals in the game, one of their six games on the season with 10 or more swipes in a game.
• Coming off the bench, Tye Fagan led Ole Miss in scoring with 17 points, while Robert Allen added 10.
• South Carolina was led by Hayden Brown with 18 points and Jacobi Wright with 17.
SCOUTING THE GAMECOCKS
South Carolina finished the 2022-23 regular season with an identical overall record to Ole Miss at 11-20, but went 4-14 to finish one place above the Rebels in 12th. The Gamecocks closed out their regular season after the February 11th matchup with the Rebels going 2-4, falling to Vanderbilt before defeating LSU on February 18th. They then hosted No. 2 Alabama and took them to overtime before falling by two, dropping games to No. 11 Tennessee and Mississippi State, before closing out their schedule with a win against Georgia.
The team's leading scorer has been freshman GG Jackson, who averages 15.1 points per game and ranks ninth in the conference. The offense has ran through Jackson all season, as he finished the year leading the SEC in field goals attempted, putting up 441 shots.
As a team, South Carolina ranks in the top-100 nationally in offensive rebounds per game (No. 39, 11.9 per game), and three-point attempts per game (No. 86, 23.7 per game).
OLE MISS ALL-TIME AT THE SEC TOURNAMENT
• 32-57 (59 total tournaments since 1933)
• vs. South Carolina: 5-5 (last: W, 76-59, March 11, 2021, 2nd Round)
• Two SEC Tournament titles (1981, 2013)
• First Round: 11-23 (last win: March 8, 2012, vs. Auburn, 68-54)
• Second Round: 13-22 (last win: March 11, 2021, vs. South Carolina, 76-59)
• Quarterfinals: 1-3 (last win: March 15, 2013, vs. Missouri, 64-62)
• Semifinals: 5-6 (last win: March 16, 2013, vs. Vanderbilt, 61-51)
• Championship Game: 2-3 (last win: March 17, 2013, vs. Florida, 66-63)
IT'S MISTER STEAL-YOUR-PASS
Fifth-year transfer Myles Burns has been a defensive powerhouse this season for the Rebels, collecting 71 steals. He stepped into the top-10 for most in a single season at Ole Miss in style on February 18, recording seven steals to tie for the third-most in a single game in school history. Combined with six steals at Auburn, his 13 steals in back-to-back games are the most ever in school history in a two-game stretch.
Entering the SEC Tournament, Burns currently ranks third in program history for the most steals in a single season at Ole Miss.
Ole Miss Basketball - Most Steals in a Single Season
1. 89 Gerald Glass (30 games, 1989)
2. 73 Jason Smith (33 games, 1999)
3. 71 Myles Burns (31 games, 2023)
4. 70 Gerald Glass (30 games, 1990)
5. 58 Murphy Holloway (36 games, 2013)
Rod Barnes (29 games, 1988)
7. 57 Stefan Moody (34 games, 2015)
8. 56 Devontae Shuler (33 games, 2019)
9. 55 Rahim Lockhart (33 games, 2000)
Ervin Garnes (27 games, 1994)
Eric Laird (28 games, 1984)
BLOCK PARTY
The Ole Miss defense has only let their opponents top 70 points 11 times this year. A major part of their defensive identity has been enforcing the paint, as the Rebels average 3.9 blocks per game. They are led down low by senior transfers Theo Akwuba (31 total blocks, 1.1 per game) and Jayveous McKinnis (30 total blocks, 1.0 per game).
On January 3 at No. 7 Alabama, Akwuba and McKinnis combined for seven blocks, with Akwuba's four bringing his collegiate career total to 200 (now at 213). He and McKinnis (262 career blocks) are the only two teammates in college basketball with over 200 swats in their careers, and each rank among the top-25 in active career leaders.
A DEFENSIVE GOAT
Recording a steal in the closing moments of the first half against Missouri on Jan. 24, senior transfer Myles Burns collected the 400th steal of his collegiate career. Joining the Ole Miss program from Loyola New Orleans of the NAIA, Burns brought 358 steals from his four-time NAIA All-American career and has collected 71 since coming to Oxford. Counting his stats from the NAIA, Burns would become just the sixth person in NCAA men's basketball history across all divisions to collect 400 career steals, and would rank fourth all time.
400 Career NCAA Steals List
1. Calvin Cheek, New England Col. (DIII), 2017-22: 580 steals
2. Jacob Gilyard, Richmond (DI), 2017-22: 466 steals
3. Tennyson Whitted, Ramapo (DIII), 1999-2003: 448 steals
4. Jonte Flowers, Winona St. (DII), 2004-08: 414 steals
5. John Gallogly, Salve Regina (DIII), 1994-98: 413 steals
*Myles Burns - 429 steals (including stats from NAIA)
ANOTHER ONE
With an average of 12.2 offensive rebounds per game, the Rebels have been among the best in the country in earning second chances on the glass, currently ranking 29th in the nation. The team is led by senior Myles Burns with 76 offensive rebounds (2.5 per game). On the season, Ole Miss is outscoring their opponents by 43 in second chance points 379 to 336.
MB2K
Myles Burns scored 1,852 points during his career at Loyola New Orleans, and surpassed the 2,000-career points mark on February 4 at Vanderbilt with a dunk on an alley-oop. If his NAIA stats transferred to the NCAA, he would be one of just five active players across all divisions in college basketball with at least 2,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds. Other active student-athletes with at least 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds are Jayden Gardner (Virginia), KJ Williams (LSU), Kevin Obanor (Texas Tech), and Jordan Janssen (Wayne St. (NE)).
Burns would also be just one of three active players across all divisions with at least 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 100 steals, and 100 blocks in their career. Janssen of Wayne St. (NE) and Williams of LSU would be the only other active members of that club.
Myles Burns Collegiate Career Totals
Games Played: 151
Games Started: 139
Points: 2,095 (13.9/game)
Rebounds: 1,258 (8.3/game)
Steals: 429 (2.8/game)
Assists: 342 (2.3/game)
Blocks: 129 (0.9/game)
BEEN STEPH CURRY WITH THE SHOT
On February 28 against Texas A&M, Matthew Murrell connected on eight makes from three, setting a career high and tying the SJB Pavilion record for most threes in a single game. His eight three pointers tied him for the third-most in a single game in school history, with the most recent occurrence coming in December 2019 by Breein Tyree. Murrell's performance also marks the most shots from deep by a player in the SEC this season.
THROUGH THE FIRE
Ole Miss has faced off with some of the best competition college basketball has to offer, as the Rebels strength of schedule ranks 31st in the nation. With a combined opponent record of 540-385 (0.584), they have played against foes with a current NET ranking in the top-100 19 times, including 14 games against a foe in the top-50 and two in the top-five.
BEST OF THE BEST
Ole Miss' four senior transfers are among some of the best returning big men in all of college basketball. Jayveous McKinnis stands as one of the best in the nation this year, currently fifth in total rebounds (1,127), sixth in total blocks (262), ninth in career double-doubles (39), 16th in blocks per game (2.0), 22nd in rebounds per game (8.4), and 33rd in field goal shooting (.606). McKinnis is one of just 18 active players in all of college basketball with 1,000 career rebounds alongside South Alabama's Kevin Samuel, North Carolina's Armando Bacot, Kentucky's Oscar Tshiebwe, Nicholls' Manny Littles, Lipscomb's Ahsan Asadullah, LSU's KJ Williams, Iowa's Filip Rebraca, San Diego's Eric Williams Jr., Texas Tech's Kevin Obanor, Virginia's Jayden Gardner, Indiana's Trayce Jackson-Davis, Youngstown St.'s Adrian Nelson, Iowa State's Osun Osunniyi, Ohio's Dwight Wilson, Virginia Tech's Justyn Mutts, Texas Tech's Aimaq Fardaws, and Northern Kentucky's Chris Brandon. He is also just one of 16 with 1,000 career points (1,226) and 1,000 career rebounds.
Ole Miss ranks highly on the career blocks list with two top-25 entries. McKinnis ranks sixth at 262 swats, while Theo Akwuba is 11th at 213. Ole Miss stands as the only school with multiple top-25 active blockers. The Rebel trio of McKinnis (39, No. 9), Josh Mballa (29, No. 24) and Akwuba (17) combine for 85 career double-doubles, with McKinnis and Mballa owning the second-most by a pair of teammates at 68 behind Texas Tech's Almaq (41) and Obanor (37) at 78.
* Note: Myles Burns' 1,069 career rebounds while at NAIA Loyola New Orleans do not transfer over to the NCAA records lists, but he would rank third in the nation at 1,258 if they did and give Ole Miss a combined 4,656 boards between Burns (1,258), McKinnis (1,127), Mballa (827), Robert Allen (734), and Akwuba (710). Burns' combined career total of 2,095 points would also rank No. 35 among all NCAA divisions.
THEM REBS MOVE FAST
Ole Miss has been quick to react on defensive rebounds and turnovers, outscoring their opponents on fast-break opportunities by 115 this season (323-208). The Rebels have recorded more fast-break points than the other team in 22 of their 31 games.
THE MAGIC NUMBER IS 20
Junior guard Matthew Murrell has scored 20 or more points eight times this season, and averages 14.9 per game. A large part of his offense has come from deep, as he has made 60 threes on the year. Over a four-game stretch against Mississippi State, Auburn, Georgia, and South Carolina from Jan. 7-17, Murrell averaged 19.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game, while shooting 44.1% from the field and connecting on 10 threes.
EXPERIENCE FROM THE PORTAL
Ole Miss went into the portal looking for experienced big men, and came away with four of the most well-seasoned options available. Those four senior transfers -- F Theo Akwuba, F Myles Burns, F Josh Mballa and F Jayveous McKinnis -- hold an incredible combined career stat lines across their respective careers prior to Ole Miss:
Combined Career Stats (NAIA included for Burns):
• 532 games played
• 393 games started
• 5,217 points
• 3,922 rebounds
• 705 steals (429 from Burns alone)
• 679 blocks
