Mississippi State Bulldogs Face Ole Miss Rebels in SEC Rivalry Showdown

OXFORD, Mississippi — A fierce rivalry in college basketball resumes tonight as the No. 22 Mississippi State Bulldogs take on the No. 19 Ole Miss Rebels at 6:00 PM ET at The Sandy and John Black Pavilion. Both teams, ranked in the AP Top 25, are looking to bolster their NCAA tournament resumes.

With Ole Miss (19-6, 8-4 SEC) currently in fifth place in the Southeastern Conference, they aim to extend their winning streak to four games. Meanwhile, Mississippi State (17-7, 5-6 SEC) seeks to bounce back after suffering an 81-68 loss at home to No. 3 Florida in their last outing.

The Rebels have been particularly strong at home this season, boasting an 11-2 record, while Mississippi State has proven to be competitive on the road with a 5-2 mark away from Starkville.

“We’re excited to be back on our home court against a formidable rival,” said Ole Miss head coach Kermit Davis. “The fans, atmosphere, and energy during these games are always incredible.”

As both teams prepare for the matchup, statistics reveal some notable differences. Ole Miss averages 78.1 points per game, ranking 84th in the nation, while allowing 68.4 points per contest. They hold a significant scoring differential of +241. The Bulldogs, on the other hand, post 79.3 points per game but yield 71.8, putting their scoring differential at +180.

Sean Pedulla is the leading scorer for Ole Miss, averaging 14.6 points and 3.8 assists per game. His performance will be pivotal against a Bulldogs team led by Josh Hubbard, who averages 17.6 points. Defense will also play a crucial role, especially considering that Mississippi State has struggled to defend the perimeter, sitting at 14th in the SEC for 3-point defense.

“Our focus has to be on limiting their 3-point shooters and establishing our own offense early,” said Mississippi State head coach Chris Jans. “We can’t let them dictate the pace.”

The odds favor Ole Miss, with the Rebels opening as 3.5-point favorites and the over/under set at 146.5 points. This reflects the expected offensive output, as both teams collectively average 157.4 points per game.

Historically, rivalry games can feature unexpected outcomes, making this matchup particularly intriguing. “You throw the records out the window with these games; it’s all about who wants it more that night,” Pedulla noted.

Fans can tune into the action live on ESPN2. With emotions running high and stakes even higher, this SEC showdown promises to deliver an exciting evening of basketball.