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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Wednesday, January 7
Oxford, Miss.
8 p.m.
Ole Miss
vs
Arkansas
Men's Basketball Back in Action Hosting No. 15 Arkansas Wednesday Night
1/6/2026 | Men's Basketball
OXFORD, Miss. – The Ole Miss men's basketball team returns home for a ranked game, as they face No. 15 Arkansas on Wednesday, January 7 in the SJB Pavilion at 8 p.m. on the SEC Network.
TEAM FACTS
Ole Miss Rebels (Record: 8-6, 0-1 SEC)
Head Coach: Chris Beard • 3rd Season at Ole Miss (52-30) • 289-128 career record (14th Season)
Arkansas Razorbacks (Record: 11-3, 1-0 SEC)
Head Coach: John Calipari • 2nd Season at Arkansas (33-17) • 846-278 career record (34th Season)
ON THE AIR
Television/Online: SEC Network
Play-by-Play: Kevin Fitzgerald
Analyst: Rodney Terry
OLE MISS RADIO
Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
Play-by-Play: Gary Darby
Analyst: Murphy Holloway
SERIES HISTORY VS. ARKANSAS
The Rebels and Razorbacks have faced each other 88 times in their long history dating back to 1937, with Arkansas leading the series 52-36. When playing in Oxford, Ole Miss holds a 21-9 advantage. Under head coach Chris Beard, Ole Miss has won each of their three matchups, including a thrilling 83-80 victory in last year's SEC Tournament.
LAST MEETING: March 13, 2025 (W, 83-80, Nashville, Tenn.)
• Ole Miss owned an eight-point lead at halftime before Arkansas stormed back. Trailing by three with 20 seconds left, Dre Davis converted an and-one opportunity to tie the game at 80. Following two missed free throws by Arkansas with seven second remaining, Sean Pedulla connected on a game-winning three as the clock hit zero.
• Malik Dia (Ole Miss): 19 points, eight rebounds, one assist, three steals.
• Trevon Brazile (Arkansas): 15 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, one steal.
SCOUTING THE RAZORBACKS
Arkansas went 10-3 during their non-conference slate, with key wins over No. 6 Louisville and No. 16 Texas Tech. In their SEC opener this past weekend, they hosted No. 19 Tennessee and picked up an 86-75 victory. They currently sit at No. 15 in both the AP and Coaches Polls, and No. 28 in the latest NET Rankings.
One of the nation's top recruits in the recent class of 2025, Darius Acuff Jr. has led Arkansas this season, averaging 19.5 points per game, one of the top clips in the nation and fourth within the SEC. The freshman also leads the team and ranks second in the SEC with an average of 6.0 assists per game. On the glass, they are led by returner Trevon Brazile with a mark of 7.0 per outing.
The Razorbacks have used a fast-paced and efficient offense to fuel their success this season, ranking third in the nation in fastbreak points per game, No. 13 in three-point field goal percentage, No. 16 in free throws made per game, and No. 19 in points per game. Averaging just 9.9 turnovers per game (No. 24 in the NCAA), they own an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.76 which ranks No. 18 in the country. Arkansas uses their depth to their advantage as well, averaging 35.1 points per game off their bench, the 20th-best mark in the country.
The active leader in career wins, ninth all-time in NCAA coaching victories, and 17th in active career win-percentage, John Calipari is in his second season at the helm of Arkansas. The 34-year veteran began his coaching career by turning Massachusetts into a national powerhouse, including five straight NCAA Tournament berths, highlighted by an Elite Eight appearance in 1995 and a Final Four appearance in his final year in 1996. He then took over the job at Memphis in 2000 after a brief stint in the NBA, earning 30 or more wins in his final four seasons. He then moved on to Kentucky in 2009 where he reached the Final Four or better in four seasons, including an NCAA National Championship in 2012. Following 15 seasons in Lexington where he accumulated over 400 wins, Calipari took the job at Arkansas in April of 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 4.9 blocks per game, the 34th-best mark in the nation. They have been led by forward James Scott, who's average of 1.4 blocks per contest ranks among the top 10 among SEC programs. So far this season, 12 different players have recorded a block paced by Scott's 20, 14 from Corey Chest, 11 from Malik Dia, and eight from Ilias Kamardine.
PATTON PINKINS PHENOM
In the team's SEC opener at Oklahoma, freshman guard Patton Pinkins scored a career-best 25 points on an impressive 9-11 (.818) shooting while draining four three pointers. His game-high 25 points were the most for a freshman at Ole Miss since November 2022, when Amaree Abram score 26 against Stanford. Over the past two games, Pinkins is shooting 77.8 percent from the floor (14-18), 63.6 percent from beyond the arc (7-11), and on the season the guard has 14 assists to just one turnover.
NON-CONFERENCE CLOSER
In their final game before SEC action, Ole Miss hosted Alcorn State on December 29, picking up a dominating 79-43 victory. Their success stemmed from impressive rebounding, posting a margin of +25 for the first time since 2008, led by Malik Dia and James Scott with 11 rebounds, and Corey Chest with 10. It had been nearly a decade since the Rebels had a trio of players with 10+ boards in a single game.
Paired with their 11 rebounds, both Dia and Scott posted double-doubles as well, marking the first time Ole Miss had two double-doubles in a single game since 2021. For Dia, that was his third double-double of the season, all of which occurred in a five-game stretch, and second in a row. He became the latest Ole Miss player to record double-doubles in back-to-back games since Sebastian Saiz in 2017. After beginning the season with an average of 4.8 rebounds per contest over the first six games of the season, Dia averaged 9.0 per game over the final seven in non-conference action.
SHAKE, RATTLE, AND WIN
For the first time since 2004, Ole Miss traveled down to Tupelo, Mississippi for a game, taking on Alabama A&M in Cadence Bank Arena. The Rebels jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, leading by 15 at the half before winning 80-66. Malik Dia set a new high for his Ole Miss career with 27 points while grabbing seven rebounds and blocking two shots. Ilias Kamardine ran an efficient offense at point guard, dishing out eight assists with just one turnover. As a team, the Rebels set a new season-high by shooting 54.0 percent from the floor.
50 VICTORIES
With an Ole Miss win over Southern Miss on Saturday, December 13, head coach Chris Beard picked up his 50th win at the helm in Oxford. He became the 13th coach to win 50 games at Ole Miss, the fifth coach to reach that mark in their third season, and the third-fastest to 50 in school history.
"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.
BLACKJACK
For the third season in a row, the Ole Miss Rebels traveled down to Biloxi, Mississippi to take on Southern Miss in the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. Holding a narrow lead at halftime, 31-29, guard AJ Storr helped fuel a second-half surge where the team shot 63.6 percent from the field, their second-best shooting performance in a half this season. The senior guard finished with a season-best eight made shots and a game-high 21 points while adding three offensive rebounds, and a pair of steals.
The Ole Miss bench outscored Southern Miss 29-6, led by 13 points from Kezza Giffa and 12 from Patton Pinkins. For the third game in a row, the Ole Miss defense had 10 or more steals, led by Giffa with three.
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.
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.
KEEP THE FUTURE BRIGHT
The Ole Miss men's basketball program recently welcomed two signees to their 2026 recruiting class, adding small forward Jaron Saulsberry and combo guard Yohance Connor.
Saulsberry will come to Oxford from Marietta, Georgia and Wheeler High School, and is ranked as a top-10 player in his home state by both ESPN and 247Sports. A 6'6" four-star recruit, he is ranked as the No. 28 small forward in the class of 2026.
Hailing from Charlotte, N.C., Connor ranks among the best in his state, tabbed the No. 3 player in North Carolina by 247Sports and No. 5 by Rivals. He is listed as a four-star recruit by ESPN and 247Sports, and ranked as the No. 5 combo guard in the class of 2026 by Rivals.
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: 8-6, 0-1 SEC)
Head Coach: Chris Beard • 3rd Season at Ole Miss (52-30) • 289-128 career record (14th Season)
Arkansas Razorbacks (Record: 11-3, 1-0 SEC)
Head Coach: John Calipari • 2nd Season at Arkansas (33-17) • 846-278 career record (34th Season)
ON THE AIR
Television/Online: SEC Network
Play-by-Play: Kevin Fitzgerald
Analyst: Rodney Terry
OLE MISS RADIO
Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
Play-by-Play: Gary Darby
Analyst: Murphy Holloway
SERIES HISTORY VS. ARKANSAS
The Rebels and Razorbacks have faced each other 88 times in their long history dating back to 1937, with Arkansas leading the series 52-36. When playing in Oxford, Ole Miss holds a 21-9 advantage. Under head coach Chris Beard, Ole Miss has won each of their three matchups, including a thrilling 83-80 victory in last year's SEC Tournament.
LAST MEETING: March 13, 2025 (W, 83-80, Nashville, Tenn.)
• Ole Miss owned an eight-point lead at halftime before Arkansas stormed back. Trailing by three with 20 seconds left, Dre Davis converted an and-one opportunity to tie the game at 80. Following two missed free throws by Arkansas with seven second remaining, Sean Pedulla connected on a game-winning three as the clock hit zero.
• Malik Dia (Ole Miss): 19 points, eight rebounds, one assist, three steals.
• Trevon Brazile (Arkansas): 15 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, one steal.
SCOUTING THE RAZORBACKS
Arkansas went 10-3 during their non-conference slate, with key wins over No. 6 Louisville and No. 16 Texas Tech. In their SEC opener this past weekend, they hosted No. 19 Tennessee and picked up an 86-75 victory. They currently sit at No. 15 in both the AP and Coaches Polls, and No. 28 in the latest NET Rankings.
One of the nation's top recruits in the recent class of 2025, Darius Acuff Jr. has led Arkansas this season, averaging 19.5 points per game, one of the top clips in the nation and fourth within the SEC. The freshman also leads the team and ranks second in the SEC with an average of 6.0 assists per game. On the glass, they are led by returner Trevon Brazile with a mark of 7.0 per outing.
The Razorbacks have used a fast-paced and efficient offense to fuel their success this season, ranking third in the nation in fastbreak points per game, No. 13 in three-point field goal percentage, No. 16 in free throws made per game, and No. 19 in points per game. Averaging just 9.9 turnovers per game (No. 24 in the NCAA), they own an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.76 which ranks No. 18 in the country. Arkansas uses their depth to their advantage as well, averaging 35.1 points per game off their bench, the 20th-best mark in the country.
The active leader in career wins, ninth all-time in NCAA coaching victories, and 17th in active career win-percentage, John Calipari is in his second season at the helm of Arkansas. The 34-year veteran began his coaching career by turning Massachusetts into a national powerhouse, including five straight NCAA Tournament berths, highlighted by an Elite Eight appearance in 1995 and a Final Four appearance in his final year in 1996. He then took over the job at Memphis in 2000 after a brief stint in the NBA, earning 30 or more wins in his final four seasons. He then moved on to Kentucky in 2009 where he reached the Final Four or better in four seasons, including an NCAA National Championship in 2012. Following 15 seasons in Lexington where he accumulated over 400 wins, Calipari took the job at Arkansas in April of 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 4.9 blocks per game, the 34th-best mark in the nation. They have been led by forward James Scott, who's average of 1.4 blocks per contest ranks among the top 10 among SEC programs. So far this season, 12 different players have recorded a block paced by Scott's 20, 14 from Corey Chest, 11 from Malik Dia, and eight from Ilias Kamardine.
PATTON PINKINS PHENOM
In the team's SEC opener at Oklahoma, freshman guard Patton Pinkins scored a career-best 25 points on an impressive 9-11 (.818) shooting while draining four three pointers. His game-high 25 points were the most for a freshman at Ole Miss since November 2022, when Amaree Abram score 26 against Stanford. Over the past two games, Pinkins is shooting 77.8 percent from the floor (14-18), 63.6 percent from beyond the arc (7-11), and on the season the guard has 14 assists to just one turnover.
NON-CONFERENCE CLOSER
In their final game before SEC action, Ole Miss hosted Alcorn State on December 29, picking up a dominating 79-43 victory. Their success stemmed from impressive rebounding, posting a margin of +25 for the first time since 2008, led by Malik Dia and James Scott with 11 rebounds, and Corey Chest with 10. It had been nearly a decade since the Rebels had a trio of players with 10+ boards in a single game.
Paired with their 11 rebounds, both Dia and Scott posted double-doubles as well, marking the first time Ole Miss had two double-doubles in a single game since 2021. For Dia, that was his third double-double of the season, all of which occurred in a five-game stretch, and second in a row. He became the latest Ole Miss player to record double-doubles in back-to-back games since Sebastian Saiz in 2017. After beginning the season with an average of 4.8 rebounds per contest over the first six games of the season, Dia averaged 9.0 per game over the final seven in non-conference action.
SHAKE, RATTLE, AND WIN
For the first time since 2004, Ole Miss traveled down to Tupelo, Mississippi for a game, taking on Alabama A&M in Cadence Bank Arena. The Rebels jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, leading by 15 at the half before winning 80-66. Malik Dia set a new high for his Ole Miss career with 27 points while grabbing seven rebounds and blocking two shots. Ilias Kamardine ran an efficient offense at point guard, dishing out eight assists with just one turnover. As a team, the Rebels set a new season-high by shooting 54.0 percent from the floor.
50 VICTORIES
With an Ole Miss win over Southern Miss on Saturday, December 13, head coach Chris Beard picked up his 50th win at the helm in Oxford. He became the 13th coach to win 50 games at Ole Miss, the fifth coach to reach that mark in their third season, and the third-fastest to 50 in school history.
"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.
BLACKJACK
For the third season in a row, the Ole Miss Rebels traveled down to Biloxi, Mississippi to take on Southern Miss in the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. Holding a narrow lead at halftime, 31-29, guard AJ Storr helped fuel a second-half surge where the team shot 63.6 percent from the field, their second-best shooting performance in a half this season. The senior guard finished with a season-best eight made shots and a game-high 21 points while adding three offensive rebounds, and a pair of steals.
The Ole Miss bench outscored Southern Miss 29-6, led by 13 points from Kezza Giffa and 12 from Patton Pinkins. For the third game in a row, the Ole Miss defense had 10 or more steals, led by Giffa with three.
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.
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.
KEEP THE FUTURE BRIGHT
The Ole Miss men's basketball program recently welcomed two signees to their 2026 recruiting class, adding small forward Jaron Saulsberry and combo guard Yohance Connor.
Saulsberry will come to Oxford from Marietta, Georgia and Wheeler High School, and is ranked as a top-10 player in his home state by both ESPN and 247Sports. A 6'6" four-star recruit, he is ranked as the No. 28 small forward in the class of 2026.
Hailing from Charlotte, N.C., Connor ranks among the best in his state, tabbed the No. 3 player in North Carolina by 247Sports and No. 5 by Rivals. He is listed as a four-star recruit by ESPN and 247Sports, and ranked as the No. 5 combo guard in the class of 2026 by Rivals.
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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PRESSER | Chris Beard & Patton Pinkins - Postgame at Oklahoma (01-03-26)
Saturday, January 03
PRESSER: James Scott & Chris Beard (Alcorn State Postgame)
Monday, December 29
HIGHLIGHTS: Men's Basketball vs. Alcorn State (12/29/25)
Monday, December 29
PRESSER: Chris Beard (Alcorn State Postgame)
Monday, December 29