Ole Miss defeats Southern Miss 71-67

Ole Miss Edges Southern Miss in Thrilling 71-67 Victory at Home

In a back-and-forth affair that had the Mississippi Coast Coliseum on the edge of their seats, Ole Miss emerged victorious over visiting Southern Miss, securing a hard-fought 71-67 win.

The game was a true nail-biter, with both teams trading baskets and neither able to gain a clear advantage until the final minutes. At halftime, Ole Miss held a slim 31-29 lead, but it was far from certain who would come out on top in the second half. The Rebels' home crowd would ultimately play a significant role in their team's success, providing an energetic boost that helped them close the gap.

The largest leads of the game were just five points, with Ole Miss holding a 65-60 advantage with under two minutes to play. Southern Miss, however, refused to go down without a fight, scoring on consecutive possessions to cut the deficit to just four points. The Rebels then sealed the win with a pair of free throws by Kezza Giffa, as time expired and the buzzer sounded.

AJ Storr led Ole Miss in scoring with 21 points, shooting 66.7% from the field and displaying impressive range beyond the arc. Malik Dia chipped in with six rebounds and 11 points, while Kezza Giffa added 13 points of his own, including two crucial free throws down the stretch.

For Southern Miss, Isaac Taveras paced the way with 20 points, showcasing his ability to score in the paint. Tylik Weeks provided a strong all-around effort, netting 18 points and grabbing 10 rebounds while also dishing out four assists.

Despite falling short, Southern Miss's performance was nothing short of impressive, especially considering it came on the road against a top-ranked opponent. The Golden Eagles will look to build upon this momentum as they head into their next matchup.

Ole Miss, meanwhile, moves to 12-2 on the season and will look to continue its winning ways at home.