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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Saturday, March 7
Oxford, Miss.
12 p.m.
Ole Miss
vs
South Carolina
Men's Basketball Hosts South Carolina for Regular Season Finale
3/6/2026 | Men's Basketball
OXFORD, Miss. – The Ole Miss men's basketball team will play their final home game of the regular season, as they host South Carolina on Saturday, March 7 at noon in the SJB Pavilion, broadcasting on the SEC Network.
TEAM FACTS
Ole Miss Rebels (Record: 12-18, 4-13 SEC)
Head Coach: Chris Beard • 3rd Season at Ole Miss (56-42) • 293-140 career record (14th Season)
South Carolina Gamecocks (Record: 12-18, 3-14 SEC)
Head Coach: Lamont Paris • 4th Season at South Carolina (61-67) • 148-139 career record (9th Season)
ON THE AIR
Television: SEC Network
Play-by-Play: Mike Morgan
Analyst: Rodney Terry
OLE MISS RADIO
Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
Play-by-Play: Gary Darby
Analyst: Murphy Holloway
SERIES HISTORY VS. SOUTH CAROLINA
The Gamecocks and Rebels have met 50 times in a series that began back in 1960, with Ole Miss holding a lead 26-24. Following their first game the two didn't play each other again until South Carolina joined the SEC in 1991. Each team holds an advantage when playing at home, with the Rebels leading the series in Oxford 15-5.
LAST MEETING: February 12, 2025 (W, 72-68, Columbia, S.C.)
• Taking a 10-point lead into halftime, Ole Miss held off a South Carolina comeback attempt on the road to win by four.
• Malik Dia (Ole Miss): 18 points, three rebounds, one block.
• Collin Murray-Boyles (South Carolina): 20 points, six rebounds, three assists, three blocks, one steal.
SCOUTING THE GAMECOCKS
South Carolina holds a season record of 12-18, having gone 3-14 during conference play. They've picked up wins over LSU, Oklahoma, and Mississippi State in the SEC, but have recently dropped three in a row to Kentucky, Georgia, and Tennessee. They own a NET Ranking of 110 and sit in 98th in KenPom.
The team is led by Meechie Johnson, who averages 17.3 points per game and earns much of his scoring output from the charity stripe, ranking third in the SEC and 25th in the nation with 163 made free throws. They are led on the glass by Mike Sharavjamts at 5.4 rebounds per game.
Notable NCAA Team Statistical Rankings:
- Free throw percentage: 78.6, 8th
- Fewest turnovers per game, 9.8, 35th
- Free throws made per game, 16.9, 63rd
- Three-point-percentage defense, 31.9, 75th
- Three point attempts per game, 25.5, 99th
In his fourth year with the Gamecocks, head coach Lamont Paris was recently named the SEC Coach of the Year in 2024, after guiding South Carolina to a 26-win season. He's in his ninth season as a Division-I head coach, after spending five years at Chattanooga from 2017 to 2022, where he was named the 2022 SoCon Coach of the Year after leading the Mocs to 27 wins and an NCAA Tournament berth.
"SAFETY FIRST, THEN TEAMWORK"
In 30 games played this season, Ole Miss has had 10 or less turnovers in 18 contests, including 13 of their 17 SEC games. Their season average of 9.8 turnovers per game is the 32nd-best mark in the nation and third in the conference, while their clip of 8.8 per game is third best in the SEC during conference play.
After finishing last year with an average of 9.0 turnovers per game and setting a new school record, their current average would rank second, just ahead of Chris Beard's first season in Oxford (10.8), giving him the three-best marks in school history.
During Beard's three years in Oxford, Ole Miss leads the SEC in fewest turnovers per game at 9.8, and is the only program averaging under 10.0.
HOT BENCH
Averaging 30.6 points of the bench per game, Ole Miss ranks 25th in the country and third in the SEC. Spearheading the output is senior guard AJ Storr, who has been coming off the bench in each of the last 16 games. He's posted seven 20-point games during that span, including a pair of season-best 27-point performances, and has averaged 18.4 points per game. Including his lone start in conference play, the SEC Sixth Man of the Year candidate is averaging 17.8 points per game in SEC games, the 11th-best mark overall and most among non-starters.
PATTON PINKINS PHRESHMAN 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. Pinkins has also hit game-winning shots in an overtime win at No. 21 Georgia, and in hostile territory at Mississippi State this season.
Among SEC programs, Pinkins leads all qualifying players averaging at least 20 minutes per game with just seven turnovers on the season, and is the only player with less than 10.
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 4.2 blocks per game, the 60th-best mark in the nation. All fifteen student-athletes that have played this season have recorded a block paced by James Scott's 33, 27 from Malik Dia, and 23 from Corey Chest.
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.
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: 12-18, 4-13 SEC)
Head Coach: Chris Beard • 3rd Season at Ole Miss (56-42) • 293-140 career record (14th Season)
South Carolina Gamecocks (Record: 12-18, 3-14 SEC)
Head Coach: Lamont Paris • 4th Season at South Carolina (61-67) • 148-139 career record (9th Season)
ON THE AIR
Television: SEC Network
Play-by-Play: Mike Morgan
Analyst: Rodney Terry
OLE MISS RADIO
Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
Play-by-Play: Gary Darby
Analyst: Murphy Holloway
SERIES HISTORY VS. SOUTH CAROLINA
The Gamecocks and Rebels have met 50 times in a series that began back in 1960, with Ole Miss holding a lead 26-24. Following their first game the two didn't play each other again until South Carolina joined the SEC in 1991. Each team holds an advantage when playing at home, with the Rebels leading the series in Oxford 15-5.
LAST MEETING: February 12, 2025 (W, 72-68, Columbia, S.C.)
• Taking a 10-point lead into halftime, Ole Miss held off a South Carolina comeback attempt on the road to win by four.
• Malik Dia (Ole Miss): 18 points, three rebounds, one block.
• Collin Murray-Boyles (South Carolina): 20 points, six rebounds, three assists, three blocks, one steal.
SCOUTING THE GAMECOCKS
South Carolina holds a season record of 12-18, having gone 3-14 during conference play. They've picked up wins over LSU, Oklahoma, and Mississippi State in the SEC, but have recently dropped three in a row to Kentucky, Georgia, and Tennessee. They own a NET Ranking of 110 and sit in 98th in KenPom.
The team is led by Meechie Johnson, who averages 17.3 points per game and earns much of his scoring output from the charity stripe, ranking third in the SEC and 25th in the nation with 163 made free throws. They are led on the glass by Mike Sharavjamts at 5.4 rebounds per game.
Notable NCAA Team Statistical Rankings:
- Free throw percentage: 78.6, 8th
- Fewest turnovers per game, 9.8, 35th
- Free throws made per game, 16.9, 63rd
- Three-point-percentage defense, 31.9, 75th
- Three point attempts per game, 25.5, 99th
In his fourth year with the Gamecocks, head coach Lamont Paris was recently named the SEC Coach of the Year in 2024, after guiding South Carolina to a 26-win season. He's in his ninth season as a Division-I head coach, after spending five years at Chattanooga from 2017 to 2022, where he was named the 2022 SoCon Coach of the Year after leading the Mocs to 27 wins and an NCAA Tournament berth.
"SAFETY FIRST, THEN TEAMWORK"
In 30 games played this season, Ole Miss has had 10 or less turnovers in 18 contests, including 13 of their 17 SEC games. Their season average of 9.8 turnovers per game is the 32nd-best mark in the nation and third in the conference, while their clip of 8.8 per game is third best in the SEC during conference play.
After finishing last year with an average of 9.0 turnovers per game and setting a new school record, their current average would rank second, just ahead of Chris Beard's first season in Oxford (10.8), giving him the three-best marks in school history.
During Beard's three years in Oxford, Ole Miss leads the SEC in fewest turnovers per game at 9.8, and is the only program averaging under 10.0.
HOT BENCH
Averaging 30.6 points of the bench per game, Ole Miss ranks 25th in the country and third in the SEC. Spearheading the output is senior guard AJ Storr, who has been coming off the bench in each of the last 16 games. He's posted seven 20-point games during that span, including a pair of season-best 27-point performances, and has averaged 18.4 points per game. Including his lone start in conference play, the SEC Sixth Man of the Year candidate is averaging 17.8 points per game in SEC games, the 11th-best mark overall and most among non-starters.
PATTON PINKINS PHRESHMAN 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. Pinkins has also hit game-winning shots in an overtime win at No. 21 Georgia, and in hostile territory at Mississippi State this season.
Among SEC programs, Pinkins leads all qualifying players averaging at least 20 minutes per game with just seven turnovers on the season, and is the only player with less than 10.
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 4.2 blocks per game, the 60th-best mark in the nation. All fifteen student-athletes that have played this season have recorded a block paced by James Scott's 33, 27 from Malik Dia, and 23 from Corey Chest.
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.
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.
Players Mentioned
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