No. 16 Ole Miss Aims to Rebound Against No. 13 Texas A&M in SEC Showdown

OXFORD, Miss. — The No. 16 Ole Miss Rebels (15-3, 4-1 SEC) will look to bounce back from their first conference loss when they host No. 13 Texas A&M (14-4, 3-2 SEC) on Wednesday at 8 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2 and streamed online.

Ole Miss is coming off a narrow 84-81 defeat to Mississippi State, where rebounding struggles proved costly. The Rebels rank 15th in the SEC with 34.8 rebounds per game, while Texas A&M sits third in the conference at 41.4. Forward Malik Dia will be key for Ole Miss in addressing this weakness.

Texas A&M boasts a strong offensive duo in Zhuric Phelps (15.6 points per game) and Wade Taylor (15.4 points per game). Both teams have showcased solid defenses, with Ole Miss allowing 65.7 points per game (No. 4 in the SEC) and Texas A&M close behind at 65.8.

In their last outing, Ole Miss nearly overcame a disastrous first half against Mississippi State, rallying from an 11-0 deficit to nearly secure a win. Coach Chris Beard emphasized the importance of rebounding and defensive intensity heading into Wednesday’s matchup.

“We have to be better on the boards,” Beard said. “Texas A&M is one of the best rebounding teams in the league, and we can’t afford to give them second chances.”

Oddsmakers favor Texas A&M by 2.5 points, but Ole Miss has shown resilience at home this season. The Rebels are 10-1 at The Pavilion, with their only loss coming against Auburn.

Fans can stream the game via ESPN+, which offers a free trial for new subscribers. The winner of this matchup will gain crucial momentum in the tightly contested SEC standings.