Ole Miss’s Second Year Under Coach Chris Beard
There’s plenty of excitement and fan support in Coach Chris Beard’s second year at Ole Miss, but two straight losses and the challenges of Southeastern Conference (SEC) play have brought the Rebels back to earth.
After a tough one-point home loss on Wednesday, the No. 16 Rebels will travel to Columbia, Missouri, to take on No. 22 Missouri on Saturday. Ole Miss (15-4, 4-2 SEC) played well for most of their game against No. 13 Texas A&M in front of a packed home crowd of 10,008 fans. They were in control for 36 minutes and led the entire game until Texas A&M’s Manny Obaseki hit a 3-pointer with just 13 seconds left.
Sean Pedulla led the Rebels with 16 points, but two key players—Matthew Murrell (who shot 1-for-9) and Jaemyn Brakefield (4-for-12)—struggled. Brakefield missed a crucial jumper with four seconds left on the game’s final shot.
Coach Beard expressed disappointment after the game, saying, “We’ve got a hurt locker room right now.” Ole Miss failed to score in the last 3:49 of the game and was outscored 11-2 during that stretch, which turned a hopeful game into a two-game losing streak and their first home defeat.
Recent Losses but Impressive Wins
Despite the recent setbacks, Ole Miss still has a strong overall record. The Rebels had a standout win on January 14 when they defeated No. 4 Alabama 74-64 in Tuscaloosa, which remains one of the conference’s most impressive victories and could play a key role in their NCAA Tournament bid.
Pedulla leads the team with 14.3 points per game, with Jaylen Murray (11.8), Murrell (11.3), and Brakefield (10.2) also contributing significant points.
Missouri (15-4, 4-2) is also looking to bounce back from a loss and secure a win that will strengthen their NCAA Tournament hopes. Coach Dennis Gates’ squad, which is known for its high-scoring offense, struggled in their recent 61-53 loss to Texas, which snapped their four-game winning streak. Missouri shot 70.4 percent from the free-throw line, but Coach Gates emphasized, “We’ve got to get on the road above 80 percent.”
The Tigers have four players scoring in double figures. Mark Mitchell leads the team with 13.4 points per game, while Tamar Bates (12.8), Caleb Grill (12.1), and Anthony Robinson II (10.3) also provide strong scoring.
On the same night that Ole Miss shocked Alabama, Missouri pulled off a major upset, defeating No. 5 Florida 83-82 on the road. Grill had 22 points in that game, helping Missouri achieve their first road win against a top-five team since 2012.
In the head-to-head series between Ole Miss and Missouri, the Rebels hold a 17-8 advantage and are 7-4 in Columbia. Ole Miss has won the last two matchups, after a five-game losing streak to Missouri.
