In a bid to conclude their time in Palm Desert, California on a high note, Ole Miss and Utah will clash in the consolation game of the Acrisure Classic on Wednesday night. Both teams are looking to bounce back after recent losses, making this matchup crucial for morale.
Ole Miss enters the game with a record of 5-1, following a narrow 74-69 defeat to Iowa. Despite trailing for much of the contest, the Rebels managed to keep the game within eight points. The team’s performance was highlighted by AJ Storr, who led the scoring with 22 points and contributed five rebounds. Other notable contributions came from Kezza Giffa with 13 points and Ilias Kamardine with 12. However, the Rebels faced challenges on defense, particularly against Iowa’s Bennett Stirtz, who scored 29 points, including 18 in the second half. This game marked the first instance this season the Rebels were held below 70 points, and they tied their season high in turnovers with 13, which Coach Chris Beard acknowledged would be a focal point moving forward.
Meanwhile, Utah is looking to recover from a disappointing 68-58 loss to Grand Canyon, marking their second consecutive defeat. Terrence Brown, who has been a standout with an average of 25.2 points per game, struggled significantly, scoring only nine points on 3-for-11 shooting. Don McHenry was the leading scorer for the Utes with 16 points, yet as a team, they faced offensive struggles and failed to reach 80 points for the first time this season. Utah’s coach, Alex Jensen, emphasized the need for improvement, stating that while they would prepare for Ole Miss, there were fundamental areas that need attention, regardless of the opponent.
As both teams prepare for this important matchup, the hope is to turn their fortunes around and gain momentum heading into the rest of the season. With both sides eager for a victory, the consolation game promises to be an intriguing and competitive clash.