The University of Mississippi Athletics
Tuesday, November 25
Palm Springs, Calif.
8:30 p.m.
Ole Miss
5-1,0-0SEC
69
vs
74
Iowa
6-0,0-0Big Ten
1
2
F
Ole Miss
31
38
69
Iowa
31
43
74
Men's Basketball Suffers First Loss of the Season at Acrisure Series Tournament
11/25/2025 | Men's Basketball
PALM DESERT, Calif. – Ole Miss dropped its first game of the season in a battle with Iowa 74-69 at the Acrisure Series Tournament in Palm Desert, California on Tuesday Night.
The Hawkeyes (6-0) struck first, as Kael Combs hit a tough turnaround jumper to give the Hawkeyes the first lead of the game.
The Rebels (5-1) came down on their next offensive possession, where Ilias Kamardine hit his own contested turnaround fadeaway to tie the game at two at the 19:06 mark.
Following a defensive showcase, Iowa's Bennett Stirtz, who led the way for the Hawkeyes with 29 points, hit a step back three-pointer to put the Hawkeyes up 10-8 about midway through the half.
Ole Miss trailed until Kamardine drove down the lane and converted on a tough floater to give the Rebels their first lead of the game at 20-18 with 5:52 left to play before halftime.
Iowa managed to regain the lead and keep it, leading by as much as five, 31-26, in the final 1:04 of the half. However, in the final seconds of the half, Kamardine brought the ball down the court for the Rebels in their final possession, finding Kezza Giffa in the corner who buried a three to tie the game at 31 at the break.
Each team traded buckets early in the second frame, but it would be the Hawkeyes holding a tight lead against the Rebels. At the 7:22 mark, Eduardo Klafke drew a foul on a drive to the rim, where he made both free throws to put the Rebels back on top 55-54.
However, Iowa's Cooper Koch retook the lead for the Hawkeyes after converting a line drive to the basket for a layup to put the Hawkeyes up one.
From then on, the Hawkeyes held Ole Miss at bay the game the rest of the way, despite AJ Storr dropping 17 of his 22 points in the second half.
Two other Rebels finished the game in double digits, in Giffa (13) and Kamardine (12).
Ole Miss returns to action in the Acrisure Series Wednesday night at 11 p.m. CT in a matchup against either Utah or Grand Canyon on the CBS Sports Network.
NOTABLES
• Iowa entered the game leading all of college basketball in field goal percentage at 57.6 percent. Ole Miss held the Hawkeyes to just 44.4% from the floor.
• AJ Storr scored a season-high 22 points, tying his career-best with eight makes from the free throw line.
• James Scott has now posted two or more blocks in five of six 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.
The Hawkeyes (6-0) struck first, as Kael Combs hit a tough turnaround jumper to give the Hawkeyes the first lead of the game.
The Rebels (5-1) came down on their next offensive possession, where Ilias Kamardine hit his own contested turnaround fadeaway to tie the game at two at the 19:06 mark.
Following a defensive showcase, Iowa's Bennett Stirtz, who led the way for the Hawkeyes with 29 points, hit a step back three-pointer to put the Hawkeyes up 10-8 about midway through the half.
Ole Miss trailed until Kamardine drove down the lane and converted on a tough floater to give the Rebels their first lead of the game at 20-18 with 5:52 left to play before halftime.
Iowa managed to regain the lead and keep it, leading by as much as five, 31-26, in the final 1:04 of the half. However, in the final seconds of the half, Kamardine brought the ball down the court for the Rebels in their final possession, finding Kezza Giffa in the corner who buried a three to tie the game at 31 at the break.
Each team traded buckets early in the second frame, but it would be the Hawkeyes holding a tight lead against the Rebels. At the 7:22 mark, Eduardo Klafke drew a foul on a drive to the rim, where he made both free throws to put the Rebels back on top 55-54.
However, Iowa's Cooper Koch retook the lead for the Hawkeyes after converting a line drive to the basket for a layup to put the Hawkeyes up one.
From then on, the Hawkeyes held Ole Miss at bay the game the rest of the way, despite AJ Storr dropping 17 of his 22 points in the second half.
Two other Rebels finished the game in double digits, in Giffa (13) and Kamardine (12).
Ole Miss returns to action in the Acrisure Series Wednesday night at 11 p.m. CT in a matchup against either Utah or Grand Canyon on the CBS Sports Network.
NOTABLES
• Iowa entered the game leading all of college basketball in field goal percentage at 57.6 percent. Ole Miss held the Hawkeyes to just 44.4% from the floor.
• AJ Storr scored a season-high 22 points, tying his career-best with eight makes from the free throw line.
• James Scott has now posted two or more blocks in five of six 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.
Team Stats
UM
Iowa
FG%
.469
.429
3FG%
.353
.364
FT%
.850
.750
RB
29
30
TO
13
7
STL
2
5
Game Leaders
Pts
13
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
5
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
6
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballF
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