The 271st meeting between Ole Miss and Mississippi State in men's basketball happens this Saturday, January 18 at 5 p.m. in Humphrey Coliseum and on ESPN2. The 12th-most played rivalry in all of college basketball, this will be the first game where each team holds a spot in the AP Top 25 Polls, as the Rebels enter No. 21 in the nation and the Bulldogs No. 15.
TEAM FACTS
No. 21/21 Ole Miss Rebels (Record: 15-2, 4-0 SEC)
Head Coach: Chris Beard • 2nd Season at Ole Miss (35-14) • 272-112 career record (13th Season)
No. 15/18 Mississippi State Bulldogs (Record: 14-3, 2-2 SEC)
Head Coach: Chris Jans • 3rd Season at Mississippi State (56-30) • 199-74 career record (9th Season)
ON THE AIR
Television/Online: ESPN2
Play-by-Play: Brian Custer
Color: Joe Crispin
OLE MISS RADIO
Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
Play-by-Play: David Kellum
Color: Marc Dukes
SERIES HISTORY VS. MISSISSIPPI STATE
The 12th most-played matchup in all of college basketball, this will be the 271st meeting between the Rebels and Bulldogs dating back to 1914. Mississippi State holds the all-time series lead at 150-120, and lead when playing in Starkville 98-26. With Ole Miss at No. 21 and Mississippi State at No. 15 in the latest AP Poll, this will be the first-ever matchup between the two programs while both ranked. The two schools split the series last season, with Ole Miss coming out on top in Oxford 86-82 before Mississippi State won 83-71 on their home court a few weeks later.
LAST MEETING: February 21, 2024 (L, 71-83, Starkville, Miss.)
• While Ole Miss held a halftime lead 44-40, Mississippi State scored 43 in the second and held the Rebels to just 27 in the final period.
• Matthew Murrell (Ole Miss): 23 points, eight rebounds, two assists, one steal.
• Tolu Smith III (Miss. St.): 24 points, six rebounds, two assists.
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
Entering with a record of 14-3 overall and 2-2 in conference, Mississippi State has been tough at home this season, going 7-1 in the Hump. They picked up notable wins in non-conference action against Utah, SMU, No. 18 Pittsburgh, and No. 21 Memphis. In SEC action, the Bulldogs began with wins over South Carolina and Vanderbilt, recently falling to No. 6 Kentucky and No. 1 Auburn. State owns spots in both national polls, ranked No. 15 by the AP and No. 18 by the Coaches, and sits in 18th in the NET Rankings.
Sophomore guard Josh Hubbard leads the Bulldogs with an average of 17.0 points per game and ranks second in the SEC sinking 3.06 three-pointers per contest. Averaging 3.9 assists as well, Hubbard's assist-turnover ratio of 3.92 leads the SEC and ranks fourth in the nation. They're led in rebounding by KeShawn Murphy at 7.5 per game. On the defensive end, Cameron Matthews averages a conference-high 2.59 steals per outing.
Similar to Ole Miss, Mississippi State has had plenty of success in the turnover battle. They rank No. 13 in the country in turnovers per game by only surrendering 9.8, and No. 17 in turnover margin at +4.5. Their assist-turnover ratio of 1.67 is the 17th-best rate in the nation. Like the Rebels, they generate turnovers on steals, averaging 9.9 per game which ranks as the 14th-best mark in the NCAA.
Currently in his third year with the program, head coach Chris Jans is one of the winningest coaches in college basketball, with a career percentage of 72.9 which ranks as the 14th best among active coaches. He's won 21 games in each of his first two seasons in Starkville, and joined the program from New Mexico State, where he accumulated 122 wins to just 32 losses over five seasons. He got his first Division I head coaching position at Bowling Green during the 2014-15 season, after years of success at the junior college level.
DIA DE LOS MUERTOS
Junior forward Malik Dia has been dead-on to begin SEC play for Ole Miss, averaging 17.5 points and a conference-leading 10.3 rebounds per game through the first four games. He is the only player in the conference in the top-10 in both points and rebounds per game during SEC action. Dia has led all scorers in points in each of the last three games, committing zero turnovers and collecting five blocks. Against No. 4 Alabama on January 14, he scored 23 points and grabbed 19 rebounds, becoming the first Rebel to score 20+ with 10+ rebounds since Sebastian Saiz in 2017, the first with 20+ points and 15+ rebounds against an AP-ranked team since Keith Carter against Temple in 1997, and was one board shy of being the first Rebel to score 20 with 20 rebounds since Walter Actwood in 1972.
LET'S PLAY DEFENSE
A staple of success for head coach Chris Beard has always been his team's defensive play, and it's been evident on this year's Ole Miss roster to start the season. With a turnover margin of +6.9, the Rebels own the third-best average in all of college basketball, forcing 16.0 per game (No. 18 in the NCAA) while committing just 9.1 to rank sixth in the NCAA.
They have held opponents to 60 points or less in five games this season, allowing an average of just 64.5 per contest, the 29th-fewest in the NCAA. Their field goal percentage defense of 40.2 ranks 41st in the country this season, and Ole Miss holds a record of 15-1 in two years under Beard when holding the opposition to under 40 percent from the field. Their defensive efforts at the three-point line have led to an opponent shooting percentage of just 29.1 on the season, the 25th-lowest mark in the country.
Ole Miss ranks among the top teams in the nation in steals per game at 10.2, the ninth-best clip in college basketball, and blocks per game at 4.9 to rank 34th.
"HURRY UP AND GET YOUR MUSCLE UP, WE OUT THE PLYOMETRIC"
The start of the grueling SEC schedule has arrived and Ole Miss has stepped up to the challenge so far. In game one, the Rebels faced a Georgia team that entered their matchup 12th in the nation in field goal percentage at 50.7 and 12th in the country in rebound margin at +10.4. Ole Miss responded by holding the Bulldogs to just 29.3 percent from the floor, and out-rebounding Georgia, just the second time UGA had lost a battle on the boards this season.
In game two at Arkansas, the Rebels faced another top team in shooting efficiency, as the Razorbacks entered with the ninth-best field goal percentage in the nation at 50.7. The Ole Miss defense held Arkansas to just 37.3 percent shooting, and once again out-rebounded a team entering with a positive rebound margin.
The Rebels then held LSU to just 40.7 percent from the field and 22.6 percent from deep. Their defense forced 17 turnovers with 12 steals, as five players recorded two swipes. On the road again at No. 4 Alabama, Ole Miss faced the No. 1 scoring offense in the country at 91.1 points per game and the eighth-ranked offensive rebounding team. The Rebels' defense held the Tide to just 64 points, snapping a 53-game streak of 70+ for Alabama, contained them to just 4 offensive rebounds, and forced 21 turnovers in the road win.
Across their four SEC games, Ole Miss has held their opponents to just 37.2 percent from the field and 20.7 percent shooting from three-point range, both of which lead the conference. Their clip of 61.5 allowed points per game is also best in the SEC.
AP FLOUR, SUGAR, SALT, BUTTER, AND WATER
Ole Miss has dominated the turnover battle this year, ranking third in the nation with a turnover margin of +6.9 while ranking sixth in turnovers per game at 9.1. The Rebels are forcing an average of 16.0 turnovers per contest which ranks 18th in the NCAA. Ole Miss' assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.73 also ranks among the nation's best at 9th, led by Jaylen Murray with a season ratio of 2.92. They've been a force on the defensive end with an average of 10.2 steals per game (ninth in NCAA), paced by Sean Pedulla, who ranks 20th in steals per game nationally.
"POLL" POSITION
In the latest top-25 polls released this past Monday, Ole Miss ranks No. 21 in both the AP Poll and the USA Today Coaches Poll. Recently at No. 15 in the Coaches Poll on December 9, it was the highest ranking in a national poll since the Rebels were No. 14 in the AP Poll on January 4, 2010, and the highest position in the Coaches Poll since they sat in 15th on January 21 in 2008. Their current run of eight weeks in the top 25 is the longest streak since the 2009-10 season.
I'LL TAKE THAT, PLEASE
Sean Pedulla has had a big impact for the Rebels on defense, forcing 40 steals for an average of 2.35 per game. The senior guard has collected a steal in 16 of 17 games during the 2024-25 season, grabbing multiple swipes in 12 games this year with a season-best of five against Oral Roberts. He currently ranks 20th in the NCAA in steals per game and 19th in total steals.
"HIGH TIDE GUYS, HIGH TIDE"
On January 14, No. 21 Ole Miss traveled to Tuscaloosa to face No. 4 Alabama in Coleman Coliseum, coming out of a battle with a 74-64 victory. Holding the Tide to under 70 points for the first time in 54 games, the Rebels defense forced 21 turnovers with 14 steals. The win marked the first victory in 10 seasons in Tuscaloosa for Ole Miss, their fourth win ever over an AP top-four team, and the first-ever road win over an AP top-five team in school history.
BATTLE TESTED
The future schedule for Ole Miss is one of the most difficult in the nation. As of January 16, they own the nation's third-toughest remaining strength of schedule according to ESPN's Basketball Power Index. Their remaining opponent's win percentage of 81.4 is the fourth highest in all of college basketball, and their cumulative strength-of-schedule win percentage of 72.1 is the fifth-highest in the nation.
Among the SEC programs, Ole Miss is tied for the third-most quad-one victories with five.
I GOT ALL NUMBERS
The 2024-25 Ole Miss basketball roster boasts some serious career statistics. Seven players have scored over 1,000 points in their collegiate career, including Matthew Murrell (1,593), Sean Pedulla (1,467), Dre Davis (1,306), Jaemyn Brakefield (1,267), Jaylen Murray (1,197), Mikeal Brown-Jones (1,101), and Davon Barnes (1,026). The Rebels roster is one of three in the nation to feature seven players with over 1,000 career points (also Minnesota and Kentucky). Entering the season, the team possessed 8,735 career points, 3,062 rebounds, 1,346 assists, 596 steals, and 327 blocks.
HOOP IN THE 'SIP
On November's signing day, Chris Beard and staff added two top recruits to Athletic Financial Aid Agreements in Tylis Jordan and Patton Pinkins. The pair gave Ole Miss a consensus top-25 recruiting class for 2025 on signing day, ranked No. 12 in the nation by Rivals, No. 16 by On3, and No. 25 by 247Sports. They were each recently named McDonald's All-American nominees on January 15, Jordan in the East and Pinkins in the West.
Tylis Jordan, PF, 6-9, 210, Wheeler, Louisville, Ga.
Jordan is a consensus top-100 recruit for the class of 2025, owning a national ranking as high as No. 28 in the country by On3 and Rivals. Listed as a power forward, the 6'9" Louisville, Ga. native is an incredibly skilled big man who can easily play with the ball in his hands.
He has the ability to stretch the floor with his shooting and is able to knock down threes. One of the top-ranked players in his class in the always-talented state of Georgia, Jordan averaged a double-double last season at Shiloh as a junior with 21.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, and is currently playing his senior season at Wheeler.
Patton Pinkins, SG, 6-5, 170, Frenship, Wolfforth, Texas
Another top-100 recruit, Pinkins is ranked as high as No. 78 in his class nationally by Rivals. A 6'5" shooting guard from Wolfforth, Texas, he currently plays at Frenship High School, where he's described as an efficient player with a shooting percentage of over 60 percent from the field and over 40 percent from three.
Pinkins, the son of current Ole Miss assistant coach Al Pinkins, possess a high basketball IQ with strong passing ability. His ability as an on-ball defender pairs well with his prowess at scoring the basketball at all three levels.
PROGRAM POINT PRESIDENTS
Seniors Matthew Murrell and Jaemyn Brakefield have each surpassed the 1,000-point mark during their careers here in Oxford, and continue to climb the program leaderboard. Here's a snapshot of where they lie among the career points list at Ole Miss:
9. Jarvis Summers - 1,629
10. Joe Gibbon - 1,601
11. Matthew Murrell - 1,593
12. Gerald Glass - 1,564
...
30. Walter Actwood - 1,216
31. Rod Barnes - 1,201
32. Jaemyn Brakefield - 1,189
33. Rahim Lockhart - 1,160
IT STILL MEANS MORE
The gauntlet of the SEC got even tougher this season with the addition of Oklahoma and Texas to the conference for the 2024-25 academic year. With nine teams currently owning a spot in the national top-25 polls, including Ole Miss, the schedule for the Rebels is littered with big games, especially at home in the SJB Pavilion. Between January 22 and February 4, Ole Miss will host No. 11 Texas A&M, No. 1 Auburn, Texas, and No. 8 Kentucky.
NETWORKING
The 2024-25 NET Rankings made their debut on Monday, December 2 and Ole Miss has since climbed their way to No. 16 in the nation. Since the ranking's first iteration at the conclusion of the 2018-19 season, their ranking of 16th on January 16 is the highest-ever NET Ranking for the Ole Miss program.
As of January 16, the entire SEC is ranked among the top 100, with 14 of the 16 programs sitting inside the top 50, seven in the top 25, and four in the top 10.
RECORD BOOK WRECKER
Senior guard Matthew Murrell enters his fifth season with Ole Miss and continues to put his name up and down the program record book. The Memphis native currently ranks 11th in school history in career points with 1,593, and fifth in both three-point shots made (236), and three-point attempts (672). He also sits in 10th for most field goal attempts at 1,310, and has entered the top-10 in career steals with 149, just behind Rod Barnes in ninth with 154.
A consistent member of the lineup for each of his seasons, Murrell recently entered the top-10 in both career minutes and games played. He currently sits in fifth with 3,880 minutes, just behind John Stroud with 3,955, and has played in 134 games, tied for the second-most and just one behind the all-time leader in Zach Graham with 135.
TEAM FACTS
No. 21/21 Ole Miss Rebels (Record: 15-2, 4-0 SEC)
Head Coach: Chris Beard • 2nd Season at Ole Miss (35-14) • 272-112 career record (13th Season)
No. 15/18 Mississippi State Bulldogs (Record: 14-3, 2-2 SEC)
Head Coach: Chris Jans • 3rd Season at Mississippi State (56-30) • 199-74 career record (9th Season)
ON THE AIR
Television/Online: ESPN2
Play-by-Play: Brian Custer
Color: Joe Crispin
OLE MISS RADIO
Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
Play-by-Play: David Kellum
Color: Marc Dukes
SERIES HISTORY VS. MISSISSIPPI STATE
The 12th most-played matchup in all of college basketball, this will be the 271st meeting between the Rebels and Bulldogs dating back to 1914. Mississippi State holds the all-time series lead at 150-120, and lead when playing in Starkville 98-26. With Ole Miss at No. 21 and Mississippi State at No. 15 in the latest AP Poll, this will be the first-ever matchup between the two programs while both ranked. The two schools split the series last season, with Ole Miss coming out on top in Oxford 86-82 before Mississippi State won 83-71 on their home court a few weeks later.
LAST MEETING: February 21, 2024 (L, 71-83, Starkville, Miss.)
• While Ole Miss held a halftime lead 44-40, Mississippi State scored 43 in the second and held the Rebels to just 27 in the final period.
• Matthew Murrell (Ole Miss): 23 points, eight rebounds, two assists, one steal.
• Tolu Smith III (Miss. St.): 24 points, six rebounds, two assists.
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
Entering with a record of 14-3 overall and 2-2 in conference, Mississippi State has been tough at home this season, going 7-1 in the Hump. They picked up notable wins in non-conference action against Utah, SMU, No. 18 Pittsburgh, and No. 21 Memphis. In SEC action, the Bulldogs began with wins over South Carolina and Vanderbilt, recently falling to No. 6 Kentucky and No. 1 Auburn. State owns spots in both national polls, ranked No. 15 by the AP and No. 18 by the Coaches, and sits in 18th in the NET Rankings.
Sophomore guard Josh Hubbard leads the Bulldogs with an average of 17.0 points per game and ranks second in the SEC sinking 3.06 three-pointers per contest. Averaging 3.9 assists as well, Hubbard's assist-turnover ratio of 3.92 leads the SEC and ranks fourth in the nation. They're led in rebounding by KeShawn Murphy at 7.5 per game. On the defensive end, Cameron Matthews averages a conference-high 2.59 steals per outing.
Similar to Ole Miss, Mississippi State has had plenty of success in the turnover battle. They rank No. 13 in the country in turnovers per game by only surrendering 9.8, and No. 17 in turnover margin at +4.5. Their assist-turnover ratio of 1.67 is the 17th-best rate in the nation. Like the Rebels, they generate turnovers on steals, averaging 9.9 per game which ranks as the 14th-best mark in the NCAA.
Currently in his third year with the program, head coach Chris Jans is one of the winningest coaches in college basketball, with a career percentage of 72.9 which ranks as the 14th best among active coaches. He's won 21 games in each of his first two seasons in Starkville, and joined the program from New Mexico State, where he accumulated 122 wins to just 32 losses over five seasons. He got his first Division I head coaching position at Bowling Green during the 2014-15 season, after years of success at the junior college level.
DIA DE LOS MUERTOS
Junior forward Malik Dia has been dead-on to begin SEC play for Ole Miss, averaging 17.5 points and a conference-leading 10.3 rebounds per game through the first four games. He is the only player in the conference in the top-10 in both points and rebounds per game during SEC action. Dia has led all scorers in points in each of the last three games, committing zero turnovers and collecting five blocks. Against No. 4 Alabama on January 14, he scored 23 points and grabbed 19 rebounds, becoming the first Rebel to score 20+ with 10+ rebounds since Sebastian Saiz in 2017, the first with 20+ points and 15+ rebounds against an AP-ranked team since Keith Carter against Temple in 1997, and was one board shy of being the first Rebel to score 20 with 20 rebounds since Walter Actwood in 1972.
LET'S PLAY DEFENSE
A staple of success for head coach Chris Beard has always been his team's defensive play, and it's been evident on this year's Ole Miss roster to start the season. With a turnover margin of +6.9, the Rebels own the third-best average in all of college basketball, forcing 16.0 per game (No. 18 in the NCAA) while committing just 9.1 to rank sixth in the NCAA.
They have held opponents to 60 points or less in five games this season, allowing an average of just 64.5 per contest, the 29th-fewest in the NCAA. Their field goal percentage defense of 40.2 ranks 41st in the country this season, and Ole Miss holds a record of 15-1 in two years under Beard when holding the opposition to under 40 percent from the field. Their defensive efforts at the three-point line have led to an opponent shooting percentage of just 29.1 on the season, the 25th-lowest mark in the country.
Ole Miss ranks among the top teams in the nation in steals per game at 10.2, the ninth-best clip in college basketball, and blocks per game at 4.9 to rank 34th.
"HURRY UP AND GET YOUR MUSCLE UP, WE OUT THE PLYOMETRIC"
The start of the grueling SEC schedule has arrived and Ole Miss has stepped up to the challenge so far. In game one, the Rebels faced a Georgia team that entered their matchup 12th in the nation in field goal percentage at 50.7 and 12th in the country in rebound margin at +10.4. Ole Miss responded by holding the Bulldogs to just 29.3 percent from the floor, and out-rebounding Georgia, just the second time UGA had lost a battle on the boards this season.
In game two at Arkansas, the Rebels faced another top team in shooting efficiency, as the Razorbacks entered with the ninth-best field goal percentage in the nation at 50.7. The Ole Miss defense held Arkansas to just 37.3 percent shooting, and once again out-rebounded a team entering with a positive rebound margin.
The Rebels then held LSU to just 40.7 percent from the field and 22.6 percent from deep. Their defense forced 17 turnovers with 12 steals, as five players recorded two swipes. On the road again at No. 4 Alabama, Ole Miss faced the No. 1 scoring offense in the country at 91.1 points per game and the eighth-ranked offensive rebounding team. The Rebels' defense held the Tide to just 64 points, snapping a 53-game streak of 70+ for Alabama, contained them to just 4 offensive rebounds, and forced 21 turnovers in the road win.
Across their four SEC games, Ole Miss has held their opponents to just 37.2 percent from the field and 20.7 percent shooting from three-point range, both of which lead the conference. Their clip of 61.5 allowed points per game is also best in the SEC.
AP FLOUR, SUGAR, SALT, BUTTER, AND WATER
Ole Miss has dominated the turnover battle this year, ranking third in the nation with a turnover margin of +6.9 while ranking sixth in turnovers per game at 9.1. The Rebels are forcing an average of 16.0 turnovers per contest which ranks 18th in the NCAA. Ole Miss' assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.73 also ranks among the nation's best at 9th, led by Jaylen Murray with a season ratio of 2.92. They've been a force on the defensive end with an average of 10.2 steals per game (ninth in NCAA), paced by Sean Pedulla, who ranks 20th in steals per game nationally.
"POLL" POSITION
In the latest top-25 polls released this past Monday, Ole Miss ranks No. 21 in both the AP Poll and the USA Today Coaches Poll. Recently at No. 15 in the Coaches Poll on December 9, it was the highest ranking in a national poll since the Rebels were No. 14 in the AP Poll on January 4, 2010, and the highest position in the Coaches Poll since they sat in 15th on January 21 in 2008. Their current run of eight weeks in the top 25 is the longest streak since the 2009-10 season.
I'LL TAKE THAT, PLEASE
Sean Pedulla has had a big impact for the Rebels on defense, forcing 40 steals for an average of 2.35 per game. The senior guard has collected a steal in 16 of 17 games during the 2024-25 season, grabbing multiple swipes in 12 games this year with a season-best of five against Oral Roberts. He currently ranks 20th in the NCAA in steals per game and 19th in total steals.
"HIGH TIDE GUYS, HIGH TIDE"
On January 14, No. 21 Ole Miss traveled to Tuscaloosa to face No. 4 Alabama in Coleman Coliseum, coming out of a battle with a 74-64 victory. Holding the Tide to under 70 points for the first time in 54 games, the Rebels defense forced 21 turnovers with 14 steals. The win marked the first victory in 10 seasons in Tuscaloosa for Ole Miss, their fourth win ever over an AP top-four team, and the first-ever road win over an AP top-five team in school history.
BATTLE TESTED
The future schedule for Ole Miss is one of the most difficult in the nation. As of January 16, they own the nation's third-toughest remaining strength of schedule according to ESPN's Basketball Power Index. Their remaining opponent's win percentage of 81.4 is the fourth highest in all of college basketball, and their cumulative strength-of-schedule win percentage of 72.1 is the fifth-highest in the nation.
Among the SEC programs, Ole Miss is tied for the third-most quad-one victories with five.
I GOT ALL NUMBERS
The 2024-25 Ole Miss basketball roster boasts some serious career statistics. Seven players have scored over 1,000 points in their collegiate career, including Matthew Murrell (1,593), Sean Pedulla (1,467), Dre Davis (1,306), Jaemyn Brakefield (1,267), Jaylen Murray (1,197), Mikeal Brown-Jones (1,101), and Davon Barnes (1,026). The Rebels roster is one of three in the nation to feature seven players with over 1,000 career points (also Minnesota and Kentucky). Entering the season, the team possessed 8,735 career points, 3,062 rebounds, 1,346 assists, 596 steals, and 327 blocks.
HOOP IN THE 'SIP
On November's signing day, Chris Beard and staff added two top recruits to Athletic Financial Aid Agreements in Tylis Jordan and Patton Pinkins. The pair gave Ole Miss a consensus top-25 recruiting class for 2025 on signing day, ranked No. 12 in the nation by Rivals, No. 16 by On3, and No. 25 by 247Sports. They were each recently named McDonald's All-American nominees on January 15, Jordan in the East and Pinkins in the West.
Tylis Jordan, PF, 6-9, 210, Wheeler, Louisville, Ga.
Jordan is a consensus top-100 recruit for the class of 2025, owning a national ranking as high as No. 28 in the country by On3 and Rivals. Listed as a power forward, the 6'9" Louisville, Ga. native is an incredibly skilled big man who can easily play with the ball in his hands.
He has the ability to stretch the floor with his shooting and is able to knock down threes. One of the top-ranked players in his class in the always-talented state of Georgia, Jordan averaged a double-double last season at Shiloh as a junior with 21.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, and is currently playing his senior season at Wheeler.
Patton Pinkins, SG, 6-5, 170, Frenship, Wolfforth, Texas
Another top-100 recruit, Pinkins is ranked as high as No. 78 in his class nationally by Rivals. A 6'5" shooting guard from Wolfforth, Texas, he currently plays at Frenship High School, where he's described as an efficient player with a shooting percentage of over 60 percent from the field and over 40 percent from three.
Pinkins, the son of current Ole Miss assistant coach Al Pinkins, possess a high basketball IQ with strong passing ability. His ability as an on-ball defender pairs well with his prowess at scoring the basketball at all three levels.
PROGRAM POINT PRESIDENTS
Seniors Matthew Murrell and Jaemyn Brakefield have each surpassed the 1,000-point mark during their careers here in Oxford, and continue to climb the program leaderboard. Here's a snapshot of where they lie among the career points list at Ole Miss:
9. Jarvis Summers - 1,629
10. Joe Gibbon - 1,601
11. Matthew Murrell - 1,593
12. Gerald Glass - 1,564
...
30. Walter Actwood - 1,216
31. Rod Barnes - 1,201
32. Jaemyn Brakefield - 1,189
33. Rahim Lockhart - 1,160
IT STILL MEANS MORE
The gauntlet of the SEC got even tougher this season with the addition of Oklahoma and Texas to the conference for the 2024-25 academic year. With nine teams currently owning a spot in the national top-25 polls, including Ole Miss, the schedule for the Rebels is littered with big games, especially at home in the SJB Pavilion. Between January 22 and February 4, Ole Miss will host No. 11 Texas A&M, No. 1 Auburn, Texas, and No. 8 Kentucky.
NETWORKING
The 2024-25 NET Rankings made their debut on Monday, December 2 and Ole Miss has since climbed their way to No. 16 in the nation. Since the ranking's first iteration at the conclusion of the 2018-19 season, their ranking of 16th on January 16 is the highest-ever NET Ranking for the Ole Miss program.
As of January 16, the entire SEC is ranked among the top 100, with 14 of the 16 programs sitting inside the top 50, seven in the top 25, and four in the top 10.
RECORD BOOK WRECKER
Senior guard Matthew Murrell enters his fifth season with Ole Miss and continues to put his name up and down the program record book. The Memphis native currently ranks 11th in school history in career points with 1,593, and fifth in both three-point shots made (236), and three-point attempts (672). He also sits in 10th for most field goal attempts at 1,310, and has entered the top-10 in career steals with 149, just behind Rod Barnes in ninth with 154.
A consistent member of the lineup for each of his seasons, Murrell recently entered the top-10 in both career minutes and games played. He currently sits in fifth with 3,880 minutes, just behind John Stroud with 3,955, and has played in 134 games, tied for the second-most and just one behind the all-time leader in Zach Graham with 135.
