KK Deans drives to the basket during a game against Texas in the Pavilion on Jan. 26, 2024. Photo by Lexi Titus.

Ole Miss Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams entered the weekend with a competitive SEC slate. The men traveled north to face No. 22 Missouri on Saturday, Jan. 25, and the women hosted No. 7 Texas on Sunday, Jan 26. at the Sandy and John Black Pavilion.

Men’s head coach Chris Beard and the men’s team suffered their third consecutive SEC loss, falling 83-75 to the Tigers. The Lady Rebels came up just short in a hard-fought battle seeking a Top 10 upset win. Head coach Yolett Mcphee-McCuin and her team fell to the Longhorns 61-58.

Men’s Basketball

After their 83-75 disappointment, the Ole Miss Men’s Basketball team fell to 15-5 on the season, leaving their NCAA Tournament status in question.

Beard and the Rebels failed to rebound again in this game, as they were out-rebounded 39-28. This has been a deciding factor in many of the team’s losses this season.

Missouri’s Caleb Grill had 25 points while shooting 60% from three. The Rebels did not defend the three-point line well at all, allowing the Tigers to shoot 44% from deep.

Ole Miss forward Malik Dia had another impressive showing, scoring 17 points and notching eight rebounds, leading the team in both. Dia has been the star of the season for Ole Miss, leading the Rebels in scoring four times this season and in rebounds for the 10th time.

Guard Matthew Murrell passed former Rebel player and current Vice Chancellor for InterCollegiate Athletics Keith Carter for the fourth most minutes played at Ole Miss.

Stepping in for an injured Dre Davis, forward Jaemyn Brakefield delivered a solid performance scoring 14 points on 5-8 shooting.

The Rebels came within three of the lead at 54-51 with 10:45 to play, but Grill and Tigers guard Tamar Bates shot a couple of key threes to essentially eliminate all momentum for Ole Miss.

This loss leaves Ole Miss at 4-3 in conference play. The Rebels control their own destiny going forward in order to make the NCAA Tournament in March, which would be the Rebels’ first tournament appearance since 2019.

Beard and the Rebels host Texas on Wednesday, Jan. 29 at the Pavilion. Tip off is set for 8 p.m. and can be streamed on ESPN 2.

Women’s Basketball

McPhee-McCuin and the Lady Rebels fell to No. 7 Texas in heartbreaking fashion 61-58.The Rebels fell to to 4-3 in SEC play and 13-6 overall.

In the fourth quarter, Ole Miss got out to an 8-point lead, 56-48, with 6:13 left to go.

Texas forward Madison Booker hit a jump shot with 13 seconds remaining.

Ole Miss had a chance to tie it up in the final seconds of the game but committed a turnover on the inbounds pass to seal their own fate. The Lady Rebels have struggled to inbound the ball late in the game all season long.

Guard Kennedy Todd-Williams scored eight points in the game, reaching 1,500 career points.

Leading the way for the Rebels, guard Madison Scott scored 17 points and shot 6-13 from the field. Guard Sira Thienou added 14 points and three steals.

Texas shot 1-11 from three as Ole Miss shot 4-14, which was not either team’s best shooting performance from deep.

The loss ended a two-game winning streak for the Rebels in SEC play, and a lot of momentum faded after a heartbreaker at home.

The team will head east to Athens, Ga., on Thursday, Jan. 30. Tip off against Georgia is set for 5 p.m. CT and will be streamed on SEC Network.