The University of Mississippi Athletics
Saturday, December 13
Biloxi, Miss.
2 p.m.
Ole Miss
vs
Southern Miss
Men's Basketball to Face Southern Miss in Biloxi
12/12/2025 | Men's Basketball
BILOXI, Miss. – For the third season in a row, the Ole Miss men's basketball team will take on Southern Miss in the Mississippi Coast Coliseum down in Biloxi, facing off on Saturday, December 13 at 2 p.m. and streaming on SEC Network+.
TEAM FACTS
Ole Miss Rebels (Record: 5-4, 0-0 SEC)
Head Coach: Chris Beard • 3rd Season at Ole Miss (49-28) • 286-126 career record (14th Season)
Southern Miss Golden Eagles (Record: 6-4, 0-0 SBC)
Head Coach: Jay Ladner • 7th Season at Southern Miss (82-115) • 158-203 career record (12th Season)
ON THE AIR
Television/Online: SEC Network+
Play-by-Play: Jake Hromada
Analyst: Kermit Davis
OLE MISS RADIO
Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
Play-by-Play: Gary Darby
Analyst: Murphy Holloway
SERIES HISTORY VS. SOUTHERN MISS
The two Magnolia State foes have battled on the basketball court 26 previous times, with Ole Miss owning the all-time series lead 20-6. First meeting over 100 years ago in 1922, the Rebels claimed the first six games of the series until a 1966 victory for the Golden Eagles. This will be the 10th time the two programs have faced off at a neutral location, with Ole Miss leading 7-2 in those contests. The Rebels have claimed seven of the last 10 matchups, winning each of their prior games against Southern Miss under head coach Chris Beard.
LAST MEETING: December 14, 2024 (W, 77-46, Biloxi, Miss.)
• Ole Miss leapt out to an early lead, connecting on nine makes from three in the first 20 minutes to take a 10-point advantage into halftime. They would keep Southern Miss to just 18 points in the second half to eventually win by 31, marking the last time Ole Miss has held their opponent to under 50 points in a game.
• Sean Pedulla (Ole Miss): 18 points, six three-point field goals made, two rebounds, four assists, two blocks, one steal.
• Denijay Harris (Southern Miss): 16 points, seven rebounds, two assists, three blocks.
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN EAGLES
Southern Miss enters this matchup with a record of 6-4 on the season, having defeated Tougaloo, William Carey, North Florida, UT Martin, Radford, and Grambling State. Their losses have come at the hands of Buffalo, South Carolina, Grambling State, and Miami. They currently rank No. 145 in the latest NET Rankings.
The team has been led offensively by a pair of talented transfers from the community college ranks in forward Tylik Weeks and Isaac Taveras, as Weeks paces the team with an average of 17.7 points per game while Taveras averages 16.7. A six-foot six-inch guard, Taveras also leads the team in rebounding with a clip of 7.1 per game, as well as steals with a total of 24. Both Weeks and Taveras have been efficient from the floor this season, each owning field goal percentages over 50%. Transfer point guard Dylan Brumfield helps orchestrate the offense for the Golden Eagles, with a team-high 33 assists and one of the better assist-to-turnover ratings in the nation at 3.30 (No. 49 in NCAA).
The Golden Eagles have had success in the rebounding game to begin this season, owning a rebound margin of +6.4, the 72nd-best mark in the country. They also rank among the top 100 in steals per game (8.4, No. 82), blocks per game (4.2, No. 93), field goal percentage defense (41.2, No. 92), and field goal percentage (47.5%, No. 95).
Currently in his seventh season at the helm of his alma mater, Jay Ladner has compiled 82 victories during his time at Southern Miss. His best season came in 2022-23, when he led the Golden Eagles to 25 wins including 14 in their first year in the Sun Belt Conference and a conference title. Prior to his time at Southern Miss he spent five years as the head coach at Southeastern Louisiana, after two years as the head coach at Jones County Junior College, where he won the 2014 NJCAA National Championship. During his collegeiate playing career, Ladner was a member of the 1986-87 Southern Miss basketball team that went on to claim the NIT Championship.
Former Ole Miss coach Win Case is on Ladner's staff at Southern Miss as the associate head coach and in is in his first year with the program. He spent two seasons on under current Ole Miss head coach Chris Beard in Oxford, remaining with the program after spending five seasons as an assistant coach under previous coach Kermit Davis.
"WHEN IT'S TIME TO EAT A MEAL, I ROB AND STEAL"
In a heated road battle in Madison Square Garden with St. John's, Kezza Giffa played a key part in the Ole Miss second-half comeback attempt. On the floor for 17 of the final 20 minutes of action, Giffa helped keep one of the nation's best offenses at bay, collecting six steals to bring his game total to seven. He became one of 11 Rebels all-time to grab seven or more steals in a game, tying him for the fifth-most in school history. It was the most steals for an Ole Miss player in a single game since Matthew Murrell had seven as well against Grambling State on November 8, 2024.
THA BLOCK IS HOT
A strong defense has been a staple for Ole Miss under head coach Chris Beard, and this year's team has used their length and athleticism to average 5.8 blocks per game, the 12th-best mark in the nation. They have been led by forward James Scott, who's average of 1.8 blocks per contest rank 59th in the country and fourth among SEC programs. Through the first nine games this season, 11 different players have recorded a block paced by Scott's 16, nine from Malik Dia, and eight from both Corey Chest and Ilias Kamardine.
DEFENDED HOME COURT
On November 18, Ole Miss played in their fifth-straight game in Oxford to open the regular season, hosting Austin Peay in what turned into a battle. Leading by eight at the half and as much as 17 early in the second period, the visiting Governors clawed their way back in, tying the game at 52 with just over six minutes to go. The Rebels would hold on, reclaiming the lead and never looking back en route to a victory to remain undefeated, 72-65.
Ole Miss was led by Malik Dia with 18 points, while Ilias Kamardine stuffed the box score with 15 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists.
ONE LAST GOODBYE TO THE TAD PAD
Nearly 60 years ago, the C.M. "Tad" Smith Coliseum opened its doors for the first Ole Miss basketball game, when they hosted Kentucky on February 21, 1966. Decades of memories and historic moments later, what was thought to be the final game in the arena was played on December 22, 2015 as the Rebels defeated Troy in a thrilling overtime victory. With the hiring of current head coach Chris Beard came the throwback games, as Ole Miss has since played a pair of games in the former arena still standing on campus. However, the University announced in the fall of 2025 that the coliseum would be demolished in 2026, opening the door for one final game in the Tad Pad early in the 2025-26 season.
Hosting Cal State Bakersfield, Ole Miss earned one final victory in front of a capacity sellout crowd, defeating the Roadrunners 82-60.
"WHOOP" THERE IT IS
Ole Miss defended their home court to move to 3-0 on the new season in their toughest matchup to date, taking down Memphis 83-77 in front of a raucous crowd. While the two would go back-and-forth to begin the matchup, the Tigers held their final lead midway through the first half as Ole Miss stepped in front and held the visitors at bay.
Newcomer Ilias Kamardine continued to dazzle and impress, as he paced the Rebels with 26 points by going 11-14 from the field, knocking down a trio of three pointers while adding four rebounds, four assists and a block and steal on defense. Senior guard Kezza Giffa made his first start of the season and took advantage of his opportunity with 15 points while dishing out five assists with zero turnovers.
The win gave Ole Miss a win in six of the last nine meetings with Memphis, while the Rebels have won five straight games when playing in Oxford.
KEPT IT ROLLING
In their second game of the season, the Rebels handled Louisiana Monroe 86-65. AJ Storr led Ole Miss with 19 points, connecting on four shots from beyond the arc for the second game in a row. Ilias Kamardine loaded the box score, dropping 15 points while dishing out seven assists with a block and three steals on defense.
CONVINCING OPENER
One of the most anticipated seasons in program history got off to a great start, as Ole Miss took down Southeastern Louisiana in their opener 88-58 on Monday, November 3. The Rebels out-rebounded the Lions 44 to 26, posting their best rebound margin of +18 under head coach Chris Beard. The team was paced offensively by Malik Dia, who scored 20 points with four rebounds, an assist, and two steals.
In his Ole Miss debut, AJ Storr dropped 18 points while going 4-5 from beyond the arc, adding six rebounds and four assists. His 18 were the most for a Rebel debut in a season opener since 2016, when Deandre Burnett scored 23 vs. UT Martin.
International guard Ilias Kamardine flashed his skill on both ends of the floor in his first college game, scoring 13 points with three boards, four assists, and a pair of steals. James Scott led the team on the boards with nine while blocking three shots (eighth career game with 3 or more blocks), while Kezza Giffa came off the bench and added 12 points in just 15 minutes.
'CAUSE I PROVIDE, THAT NEW NEW
After returning three starters and six letterwinners a year ago, head coach Chris Beard and staff were tasked with reloading an Ole Miss team that saw 11 letterwinners and all but one starter depart this past offseason. They delivered, bringing in a handful of top recruits in the 2025 freshman class, while adding a plethora of talent in the transfer portal. A recruiting class ranked as high as No. 14 in the nation and a transfer class ranked as high as No. 19, Ole Miss has retooled with length, athleticism, shooting ability, and much more to fuel the upward trajectory the program has seen in the past two seasons under Beard.
FAMILIAR FACES
Four members of the 2024-25 Sweet 16 team return to Oxford for another year this season, led by starting forward Malik Dia. Leading the team in rebounding (5.7 RPG) and finishing third in scoring (10.8 PPG) a year ago, Dia looks to continue to build upon his diverse game, where he can play multiple positions and score at all levels of the court. The second letterwinner to return to the 2025-26 roster is sophomore guard Eduardo Klafke, who was one of just 11 true freshmen in the SEC to play in all of their team's games a year ago. A high-energy player with an elite IQ, Klafke led the team in three-point percentage (48.1%, 13-27) and added 16 steals and seven blocks on defense. Returning for a second year each are guards Max Smith and Zach Day. Smith joined the team as a senior a year ago but took a redshirt following a preseason injury, and looks to help the team on the court this season. Day, a freshman a year ago, took a redshirt to develop his game and earned a scholarship this past offseason.
THE THIRD TIME IS A CHARM
Ole Miss head coach Chris Beard has built quite the reputation as a program builder, and it's been evident while here in Oxford. Bringing in a winning culture that led to 20 wins in year one, the build continued to rise in year two last season, guiding Ole Miss to an NCAA Tournament berth while matching their deepest run in school history, narrowly missing an Elite Eight appearance.
In his last third season, Beard helped lead Texas Tech to 31 victories and a spot in the NCAA National Championship Title game. The trajectory with Ole Miss has been similar through two full seasons.
A MILESTONE MAN
In his two seasons with Ole Miss, head coach Chris Beard has had six players hit the 1,000-career points mark under his watch: Davon Barnes, Jaemyn Brakefield, Malik Dia, Allen Flanigan, Jaylen Murray, and Matthew Murrell. Two other current players came to Oxford having already hit the mark in Kezza Giffa and AJ Storr.
EVERYBODY'S HANDS GO UP
This year's Ole Miss roster is comprised of experience and proven winners. Among the 10 players who have earned a letter as a collegiate athlete, they have seen 14 total 20-win seasons.
DEVELOPING PROS
Since coming to Ole Miss, head coach Chris Beard and staff have helped numerous players reach their goal of playing basketball at the next level professionally. In just two seasons in Oxford, Beard has coached a total of 10 players that have recently played professional basketball:
Davon Barnes: KK Tamis Pancevo (Serbia)
Jaemyn Brakefield: Bambitious Nara (Japan)
Mikeal Brown-Jones: NTD BH Baku (Azerbaijan)
Moussa Cisse: Dallas Mavericks
Dre Davis: Long Island Nets (NBA G League)
Allen Flanigan: FC Porto (Portugal)
Jaylen Murray: RGV Vipers (NBA G League)
Matthew Murrell: Salt Lake City Stars (NBA G League)
Sean Pedulla: Rip City Remix (NBA G League)
Jamarion Sharp: Texas Legends (NBA G League)
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 FACTS
Ole Miss Rebels (Record: 5-4, 0-0 SEC)
Head Coach: Chris Beard • 3rd Season at Ole Miss (49-28) • 286-126 career record (14th Season)
Southern Miss Golden Eagles (Record: 6-4, 0-0 SBC)
Head Coach: Jay Ladner • 7th Season at Southern Miss (82-115) • 158-203 career record (12th Season)
ON THE AIR
Television/Online: SEC Network+
Play-by-Play: Jake Hromada
Analyst: Kermit Davis
OLE MISS RADIO
Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
Play-by-Play: Gary Darby
Analyst: Murphy Holloway
SERIES HISTORY VS. SOUTHERN MISS
The two Magnolia State foes have battled on the basketball court 26 previous times, with Ole Miss owning the all-time series lead 20-6. First meeting over 100 years ago in 1922, the Rebels claimed the first six games of the series until a 1966 victory for the Golden Eagles. This will be the 10th time the two programs have faced off at a neutral location, with Ole Miss leading 7-2 in those contests. The Rebels have claimed seven of the last 10 matchups, winning each of their prior games against Southern Miss under head coach Chris Beard.
LAST MEETING: December 14, 2024 (W, 77-46, Biloxi, Miss.)
• Ole Miss leapt out to an early lead, connecting on nine makes from three in the first 20 minutes to take a 10-point advantage into halftime. They would keep Southern Miss to just 18 points in the second half to eventually win by 31, marking the last time Ole Miss has held their opponent to under 50 points in a game.
• Sean Pedulla (Ole Miss): 18 points, six three-point field goals made, two rebounds, four assists, two blocks, one steal.
• Denijay Harris (Southern Miss): 16 points, seven rebounds, two assists, three blocks.
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN EAGLES
Southern Miss enters this matchup with a record of 6-4 on the season, having defeated Tougaloo, William Carey, North Florida, UT Martin, Radford, and Grambling State. Their losses have come at the hands of Buffalo, South Carolina, Grambling State, and Miami. They currently rank No. 145 in the latest NET Rankings.
The team has been led offensively by a pair of talented transfers from the community college ranks in forward Tylik Weeks and Isaac Taveras, as Weeks paces the team with an average of 17.7 points per game while Taveras averages 16.7. A six-foot six-inch guard, Taveras also leads the team in rebounding with a clip of 7.1 per game, as well as steals with a total of 24. Both Weeks and Taveras have been efficient from the floor this season, each owning field goal percentages over 50%. Transfer point guard Dylan Brumfield helps orchestrate the offense for the Golden Eagles, with a team-high 33 assists and one of the better assist-to-turnover ratings in the nation at 3.30 (No. 49 in NCAA).
The Golden Eagles have had success in the rebounding game to begin this season, owning a rebound margin of +6.4, the 72nd-best mark in the country. They also rank among the top 100 in steals per game (8.4, No. 82), blocks per game (4.2, No. 93), field goal percentage defense (41.2, No. 92), and field goal percentage (47.5%, No. 95).
Currently in his seventh season at the helm of his alma mater, Jay Ladner has compiled 82 victories during his time at Southern Miss. His best season came in 2022-23, when he led the Golden Eagles to 25 wins including 14 in their first year in the Sun Belt Conference and a conference title. Prior to his time at Southern Miss he spent five years as the head coach at Southeastern Louisiana, after two years as the head coach at Jones County Junior College, where he won the 2014 NJCAA National Championship. During his collegeiate playing career, Ladner was a member of the 1986-87 Southern Miss basketball team that went on to claim the NIT Championship.
Former Ole Miss coach Win Case is on Ladner's staff at Southern Miss as the associate head coach and in is in his first year with the program. He spent two seasons on under current Ole Miss head coach Chris Beard in Oxford, remaining with the program after spending five seasons as an assistant coach under previous coach Kermit Davis.
"WHEN IT'S TIME TO EAT A MEAL, I ROB AND STEAL"
In a heated road battle in Madison Square Garden with St. John's, Kezza Giffa played a key part in the Ole Miss second-half comeback attempt. On the floor for 17 of the final 20 minutes of action, Giffa helped keep one of the nation's best offenses at bay, collecting six steals to bring his game total to seven. He became one of 11 Rebels all-time to grab seven or more steals in a game, tying him for the fifth-most in school history. It was the most steals for an Ole Miss player in a single game since Matthew Murrell had seven as well against Grambling State on November 8, 2024.
THA BLOCK IS HOT
A strong defense has been a staple for Ole Miss under head coach Chris Beard, and this year's team has used their length and athleticism to average 5.8 blocks per game, the 12th-best mark in the nation. They have been led by forward James Scott, who's average of 1.8 blocks per contest rank 59th in the country and fourth among SEC programs. Through the first nine games this season, 11 different players have recorded a block paced by Scott's 16, nine from Malik Dia, and eight from both Corey Chest and Ilias Kamardine.
DEFENDED HOME COURT
On November 18, Ole Miss played in their fifth-straight game in Oxford to open the regular season, hosting Austin Peay in what turned into a battle. Leading by eight at the half and as much as 17 early in the second period, the visiting Governors clawed their way back in, tying the game at 52 with just over six minutes to go. The Rebels would hold on, reclaiming the lead and never looking back en route to a victory to remain undefeated, 72-65.
Ole Miss was led by Malik Dia with 18 points, while Ilias Kamardine stuffed the box score with 15 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists.
ONE LAST GOODBYE TO THE TAD PAD
Nearly 60 years ago, the C.M. "Tad" Smith Coliseum opened its doors for the first Ole Miss basketball game, when they hosted Kentucky on February 21, 1966. Decades of memories and historic moments later, what was thought to be the final game in the arena was played on December 22, 2015 as the Rebels defeated Troy in a thrilling overtime victory. With the hiring of current head coach Chris Beard came the throwback games, as Ole Miss has since played a pair of games in the former arena still standing on campus. However, the University announced in the fall of 2025 that the coliseum would be demolished in 2026, opening the door for one final game in the Tad Pad early in the 2025-26 season.
Hosting Cal State Bakersfield, Ole Miss earned one final victory in front of a capacity sellout crowd, defeating the Roadrunners 82-60.
"WHOOP" THERE IT IS
Ole Miss defended their home court to move to 3-0 on the new season in their toughest matchup to date, taking down Memphis 83-77 in front of a raucous crowd. While the two would go back-and-forth to begin the matchup, the Tigers held their final lead midway through the first half as Ole Miss stepped in front and held the visitors at bay.
Newcomer Ilias Kamardine continued to dazzle and impress, as he paced the Rebels with 26 points by going 11-14 from the field, knocking down a trio of three pointers while adding four rebounds, four assists and a block and steal on defense. Senior guard Kezza Giffa made his first start of the season and took advantage of his opportunity with 15 points while dishing out five assists with zero turnovers.
The win gave Ole Miss a win in six of the last nine meetings with Memphis, while the Rebels have won five straight games when playing in Oxford.
KEPT IT ROLLING
In their second game of the season, the Rebels handled Louisiana Monroe 86-65. AJ Storr led Ole Miss with 19 points, connecting on four shots from beyond the arc for the second game in a row. Ilias Kamardine loaded the box score, dropping 15 points while dishing out seven assists with a block and three steals on defense.
CONVINCING OPENER
One of the most anticipated seasons in program history got off to a great start, as Ole Miss took down Southeastern Louisiana in their opener 88-58 on Monday, November 3. The Rebels out-rebounded the Lions 44 to 26, posting their best rebound margin of +18 under head coach Chris Beard. The team was paced offensively by Malik Dia, who scored 20 points with four rebounds, an assist, and two steals.
In his Ole Miss debut, AJ Storr dropped 18 points while going 4-5 from beyond the arc, adding six rebounds and four assists. His 18 were the most for a Rebel debut in a season opener since 2016, when Deandre Burnett scored 23 vs. UT Martin.
International guard Ilias Kamardine flashed his skill on both ends of the floor in his first college game, scoring 13 points with three boards, four assists, and a pair of steals. James Scott led the team on the boards with nine while blocking three shots (eighth career game with 3 or more blocks), while Kezza Giffa came off the bench and added 12 points in just 15 minutes.
'CAUSE I PROVIDE, THAT NEW NEW
After returning three starters and six letterwinners a year ago, head coach Chris Beard and staff were tasked with reloading an Ole Miss team that saw 11 letterwinners and all but one starter depart this past offseason. They delivered, bringing in a handful of top recruits in the 2025 freshman class, while adding a plethora of talent in the transfer portal. A recruiting class ranked as high as No. 14 in the nation and a transfer class ranked as high as No. 19, Ole Miss has retooled with length, athleticism, shooting ability, and much more to fuel the upward trajectory the program has seen in the past two seasons under Beard.
FAMILIAR FACES
Four members of the 2024-25 Sweet 16 team return to Oxford for another year this season, led by starting forward Malik Dia. Leading the team in rebounding (5.7 RPG) and finishing third in scoring (10.8 PPG) a year ago, Dia looks to continue to build upon his diverse game, where he can play multiple positions and score at all levels of the court. The second letterwinner to return to the 2025-26 roster is sophomore guard Eduardo Klafke, who was one of just 11 true freshmen in the SEC to play in all of their team's games a year ago. A high-energy player with an elite IQ, Klafke led the team in three-point percentage (48.1%, 13-27) and added 16 steals and seven blocks on defense. Returning for a second year each are guards Max Smith and Zach Day. Smith joined the team as a senior a year ago but took a redshirt following a preseason injury, and looks to help the team on the court this season. Day, a freshman a year ago, took a redshirt to develop his game and earned a scholarship this past offseason.
THE THIRD TIME IS A CHARM
Ole Miss head coach Chris Beard has built quite the reputation as a program builder, and it's been evident while here in Oxford. Bringing in a winning culture that led to 20 wins in year one, the build continued to rise in year two last season, guiding Ole Miss to an NCAA Tournament berth while matching their deepest run in school history, narrowly missing an Elite Eight appearance.
In his last third season, Beard helped lead Texas Tech to 31 victories and a spot in the NCAA National Championship Title game. The trajectory with Ole Miss has been similar through two full seasons.
A MILESTONE MAN
In his two seasons with Ole Miss, head coach Chris Beard has had six players hit the 1,000-career points mark under his watch: Davon Barnes, Jaemyn Brakefield, Malik Dia, Allen Flanigan, Jaylen Murray, and Matthew Murrell. Two other current players came to Oxford having already hit the mark in Kezza Giffa and AJ Storr.
EVERYBODY'S HANDS GO UP
This year's Ole Miss roster is comprised of experience and proven winners. Among the 10 players who have earned a letter as a collegiate athlete, they have seen 14 total 20-win seasons.
DEVELOPING PROS
Since coming to Ole Miss, head coach Chris Beard and staff have helped numerous players reach their goal of playing basketball at the next level professionally. In just two seasons in Oxford, Beard has coached a total of 10 players that have recently played professional basketball:
Davon Barnes: KK Tamis Pancevo (Serbia)
Jaemyn Brakefield: Bambitious Nara (Japan)
Mikeal Brown-Jones: NTD BH Baku (Azerbaijan)
Moussa Cisse: Dallas Mavericks
Dre Davis: Long Island Nets (NBA G League)
Allen Flanigan: FC Porto (Portugal)
Jaylen Murray: RGV Vipers (NBA G League)
Matthew Murrell: Salt Lake City Stars (NBA G League)
Sean Pedulla: Rip City Remix (NBA G League)
Jamarion Sharp: Texas Legends (NBA G League)
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.
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