The University of Mississippi Athletics
Saturday, January 18
Starkville, Miss.
5 P.M.
Ole Miss
15-3,4-1SEC
81
at
84
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Mississippi State
15-3,3-2SEC
1
2
OT 1
F
Ole Miss
29
45
7
81
Mississippi St.
37
37
10
84
No. 21 Men’s Basketball Falls in Overtime Battle at No. 15 Mississippi State
1/18/2025 | Men's Basketball
STARKVILLE, Miss. – The 271st meeting between No. 21 Ole Miss (15-3, 4-1 SEC) and No. 15 Mississippi State (15-3, 3-2 SEC) was an instant classic as the Rebels fought back in the second half to force overtime but would ultimately fall 84-81 on Saturday in Humphrey Coliseum. Ole Miss climbed back after an eight-point halftime deficit but was unable to convert the game-tying three point attempt as time expired in overtime.
The Bulldogs were hot from the tip as they jumped out to a 14-2 lead as action broke for the first media timeout.
Jaemyn Brakefield hit a big step-back three for the Rebels as Ole Miss tried to get into a rhythm offensively. Defense answered the call as Sean Pedulla forced a steal and would convert a fast break layup to cut the deficit to nine.
Ole Miss would close the half on a 6-0 run over 50 seconds going 4-of-4 from the floor to end the period to cut the deficit to eight. Sean Pedulla led the Rebels with 11 points and three rebounds over the first 20 minutes as Mississippi State took a 37-29, lead into the break.
The Rebels would storm back to start the second half, erasing their eight-point deficit to just one with 15:39 to play.
The next 4:43 of play, both sides coasted up and down the floor exchanging buckets. Ole Miss would connect on three straight triples in consecutive possessions, with two coming from Malik Dia. Mississippi State held the lead at 51-47, with 10:56 left in regulation.
The Bulldogs would stretch their lead back to eight before a 6-0 Ole Miss run over 1:10 capped off by a Sean Pedulla three cut the State lead to 55-53, with 7:40 left.
A one possession game occurred for the 14th time in the second half after a Matthew Murrell floater with 1:02 remaining made it 71-69. States' Keshawn Murphy would answer with a layup of his own to push the lead back to four before Jaemyn Brakefield answered, cutting the lead to two once again.
After an Ole Miss foul, RJ Melendez would tack on one free throw for Mississippi State with 24 seconds left to push the lead to 74-71. A huge triple from Murrell with just over eight seconds left tied the game at 74, forcing the extra five minutes of action. Ole Miss hit nine second half threes shooting 52.9 percent (9-for-17) from beyond the arc over the final 20 minutes of regulation.
The Rebels would take their first lead of the game after a Brakefield monster flush with 3:52 left in overtime. However, Mississippi State retook the lead after a Melendez block led to a fastbreak three from Riley Kugel to make it 79-77 Bulldogs with 1:35 to play.
An offensive rebound and putback from Melendez stretched the Bulldog lead to four, with 36 ticks left. Brakefield would get a putback dunk off a Pedulla missed three to cut the lead to two again with 30.4 left on the clock.
Ole Miss was forced to foul after a Pedulla missed three with 11.7 seconds. Riley Kugel stepped to the line for Mississippi State and pushed the lead to 84-79. The Rebels had a chance to tie it at 84 with four seconds left but came up empty on a game-tying three-point attempt.
Brakefield led the Rebels with a season-high 20 points and seven rebounds. Mississippi State had five players in double-figures led by Riley Kugel with 21 points.
Ole Miss returns home and will face Texas A&M (13-4, 2-2 SEC) Wednesday, January 22 in the SJB Pavilion. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. CT on ESPN2.
NOTABLES
For the latest news and updates regarding Ole Miss Men's Basketball, follow the Rebels on X at @OleMissMBB, on Facebook at Ole Miss Men's Basketball and on Instagram at olemissmbb.
Subscribe to The Sip
Want to stay up-to-date on the latest Ole Miss basketball news? Subscribe to The Sip, the official newsletter of the Rebels to have all the crucial content, stories, videos and more sent to your inbox.
New Ole Miss Sports App
Update today to the all-new version of the Ole Miss Sports app, presented by Renasant Bank! The new app will serve as a dynamic hub for Rebel content, including ticketing, parking, schedules, shopping for official Ole Miss merchandise and much more. Click here for more info or to download.
Gallery: (1-18-2025) MBB at MSU
The Bulldogs were hot from the tip as they jumped out to a 14-2 lead as action broke for the first media timeout.
Jaemyn Brakefield hit a big step-back three for the Rebels as Ole Miss tried to get into a rhythm offensively. Defense answered the call as Sean Pedulla forced a steal and would convert a fast break layup to cut the deficit to nine.
Ole Miss would close the half on a 6-0 run over 50 seconds going 4-of-4 from the floor to end the period to cut the deficit to eight. Sean Pedulla led the Rebels with 11 points and three rebounds over the first 20 minutes as Mississippi State took a 37-29, lead into the break.
The Rebels would storm back to start the second half, erasing their eight-point deficit to just one with 15:39 to play.
The next 4:43 of play, both sides coasted up and down the floor exchanging buckets. Ole Miss would connect on three straight triples in consecutive possessions, with two coming from Malik Dia. Mississippi State held the lead at 51-47, with 10:56 left in regulation.
The Bulldogs would stretch their lead back to eight before a 6-0 Ole Miss run over 1:10 capped off by a Sean Pedulla three cut the State lead to 55-53, with 7:40 left.
A one possession game occurred for the 14th time in the second half after a Matthew Murrell floater with 1:02 remaining made it 71-69. States' Keshawn Murphy would answer with a layup of his own to push the lead back to four before Jaemyn Brakefield answered, cutting the lead to two once again.
After an Ole Miss foul, RJ Melendez would tack on one free throw for Mississippi State with 24 seconds left to push the lead to 74-71. A huge triple from Murrell with just over eight seconds left tied the game at 74, forcing the extra five minutes of action. Ole Miss hit nine second half threes shooting 52.9 percent (9-for-17) from beyond the arc over the final 20 minutes of regulation.
The Rebels would take their first lead of the game after a Brakefield monster flush with 3:52 left in overtime. However, Mississippi State retook the lead after a Melendez block led to a fastbreak three from Riley Kugel to make it 79-77 Bulldogs with 1:35 to play.
An offensive rebound and putback from Melendez stretched the Bulldog lead to four, with 36 ticks left. Brakefield would get a putback dunk off a Pedulla missed three to cut the lead to two again with 30.4 left on the clock.
Ole Miss was forced to foul after a Pedulla missed three with 11.7 seconds. Riley Kugel stepped to the line for Mississippi State and pushed the lead to 84-79. The Rebels had a chance to tie it at 84 with four seconds left but came up empty on a game-tying three-point attempt.
Brakefield led the Rebels with a season-high 20 points and seven rebounds. Mississippi State had five players in double-figures led by Riley Kugel with 21 points.
Ole Miss returns home and will face Texas A&M (13-4, 2-2 SEC) Wednesday, January 22 in the SJB Pavilion. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. CT on ESPN2.
NOTABLES
- Jaemyn Brakefield led Ole Miss with a season-high 20 points and a team best seven rebounds. Brakefield tied a season-high with seven made field goals and three triples.
- Four Rebels scored in double-figures: Brakefield (20), Sean Pedulla (18), Matthew Murrell (15), and Jaylen Murray (10).
- Sean Pedulla led Ole Miss with four assists on the night.
- The Ole Miss defense held a +5 advantage in the turnover margin and a +11 margin in points off turnovers, they have won the turnover battle in each of their 18 games this season.
For the latest news and updates regarding Ole Miss Men's Basketball, follow the Rebels on X at @OleMissMBB, on Facebook at Ole Miss Men's Basketball and on Instagram at olemissmbb.
Subscribe to The Sip
Want to stay up-to-date on the latest Ole Miss basketball news? Subscribe to The Sip, the official newsletter of the Rebels to have all the crucial content, stories, videos and more sent to your inbox.
New Ole Miss Sports App
Update today to the all-new version of the Ole Miss Sports app, presented by Renasant Bank! The new app will serve as a dynamic hub for Rebel content, including ticketing, parking, schedules, shopping for official Ole Miss merchandise and much more. Click here for more info or to download.
Team Stats
UM
MS
FG%
.455
.446
3FG%
.371
.333
FT%
.571
.607
RB
29
51
TO
10
15
STL
9
9
Game Leaders
Pts
20
FGM
7
3FGM
3
FTM
3
Pts
18
FGM
7
3FGM
3
FTM
1
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's BasketballG
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