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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
22-10,10-8SEC
Arkansas
20-13,8-10SEC
Men’s Basketball Wins SEC Tournament Thriller Over Arkansas
3/13/2025 | Men's Basketball
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Sean Pedulla drained a dagger three-pointer with 1.7 seconds remaining as the No. 8 seed Ole Miss Rebels (22-10, 10-8 SEC) won an 83-80 thriller against the No. 9 seed Arkansas Razorbacks (20-13, 8-10 SEC) on Thursday in Bridgestone Arena.
SEAN PEDULLA SENDS US TO THE QUARTERFINALS!@PedullaSean x #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/XZYuaqSkzC
— Ole Miss Men’s Basketball (@OleMissMBB) March 13, 2025
Ole Miss came firing out of the gates, jumping out to a 9-0 lead just 2:45 into the game. Malik Dia would score seven of the first nine for the Rebels, forcing an early Razorback timeout.
Arkansas would battle back taking a 16-14 lead with 12:13 left in the first half. The two sides would exchange baskets before Ole Miss regained the lead at 20-16 with 10:18 to play.
The Rebels found a run over the next 3:56 of action, jumping out to a 32-21 advantage with 6:22 remaining in half number one. Ole Miss would force three turnovers over that span turning defense into offense as they stretched their lead to 11.
Ole Miss would increase the lead to 15 before Arkansas closed the half on a 7-0 run. As the two teams broke for the half Ole Miss held a 42-34 advantage.
Arkansas would grab their first lead of the second half at the 12:13 mark after a Trevon Brazile three-pointer put the Razorbacks up 53-51.
The Razorbacks would push the lead to eight with 9:35 remaining marking their largest lead of the contest. Ole Miss fought back starting with a big triple from Eduardo Klafke off the bench.
Matthew Murrell would follow with a three-pointer of his own to trim the Arkansas lead to four. After four makes at the line from the duo of Malik Dia and Jaylen Murray, Ole Miss had knotted the score at 63 with 6:45 to play.
Murrell would put Ole Miss on top with an acrobatic bucket plus the foul followed by a Dia steal and slam to put Ole Miss in front 69-65 with 5:20 remaining.
MALIK DIA ??@malikkdia x #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/eP2ILrTGP2
— Ole Miss Men’s Basketball (@OleMissMBB) March 13, 2025
Murrell and Murray would come up clutch in crunch time for the Rebels, getting key buckets as time wound down. After a Murray jumper the Rebels would lead 77-72 with 2:57 to play.
Arkansas would take a one-point advantage with 1:23 to play after a Karter Knox free throw before forcing a turnover, as DJ Wagner would answer for the Razorbacks on the other end with a jumper making it 80-77 Arkansas with 29 seconds to play.
Ole Miss remained composed and got a bucket from Dre Davis plus the foul, tying the game once again at 80 with 20 seconds. Arkansas would miss two free throws on the other end, as Davis was able to secure the rebound for the Rebels.
Sean Pedulla received the outlet pass and pulled from long range at the top of the key, burying the dagger three with 1.7 seconds left, putting Ole Miss up 83-80. Arkansas had one final heave at the basket but came up empty.
Dia led Ole Miss with 19 points and eight rebounds. Pedulla added 10 points as five Rebels scored in double-figures.
Ole Miss will gear up for the No. 1 seed Auburn Tigers (27-4, 15-3 SEC). Tipoff is set for 12 p.m. CT on ESPN.
NOTABLES
- Ole Miss had 12 steals in the game, with six different players collecting a swipe.
- Malik Dia finished two rebounds shy of a double-double, with a game-best 19 points and eight boards.
- With his game winner, Sean Pedulla now has 78 makes from beyond the arc this season, tying him for the 10th-most in school history.
- The Rebels now have 280 steals on the season, the fourth-most by an Ole Miss team in program history.
- Jaemyn Brakefield has now entered the top-20 for career points at Ole Miss, with 1,377.
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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Gallery: MBB vs Arkansas (SEC Tournament)
