AUBURN, Ala. – The Ole Miss men’s basketball team hits the road for its final regular season game, facing the Auburn Tigers this Saturday, February 28, at 7:30 p.m. on the SEC Network. This matchup is crucial for both teams as they seek to enhance their standings in the competitive SEC.
The Ole Miss Rebels, currently holding a record of 11-17 and 3-12 in conference play, are led by Head Coach Chris Beard, now in his third season with the team. Beard has a career record of 292-139 over 14 seasons. Conversely, the Auburn Tigers, under the guidance of first-year Head Coach Steven Pearl, boast a 15-13 record, including 6-9 in SEC play. Pearl, who took over after serving as associate head coach and assistant coach, has quickly made an impact in his debut season.
The game will be broadcasted on SEC Network, with Dave Neal handling play-by-play duties and Jon Sundvold offering analysis. For radio listeners, the Ole Miss Radio Network will cover the game, featuring Gary Darby as the play-by-play announcer and Murphy Holloway as the analyst.
Historically, the two teams have faced off 151 times, with Auburn leading the series 87-64. On their home court, the Tigers have been particularly dominant, holding a 57-17 advantage. This matchup marks the second encounter between the Rebels and the Tigers this season, following their previous game on January 20, where Auburn emerged victorious with a 78-66 win in Oxford.
Auburn faces challenges entering this game, having lost to Mississippi State and Oklahoma while securing a win against Kentucky in their last three outings. Despite the recent struggles, they remain in the conversation for an NCAA Tournament bid, currently sitting at 11th place in the SEC standings with a NET Ranking of 35. The Tigers are projected as a potential 10 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Keyshawn Hall, a standout forward transferred from UCF, leads Auburn with an impressive 20.8 points per game and 7.0 rebounds, ranking fourth in the SEC. Hall’s ability to draw fouls has proven advantageous, as he leads the league with 193 made free throws, showcasing his exceptional shooting at 86.2% from the line. The Tigers are notable for their offensive strategies, ranking second in the SEC for free throw attempts per game at 27.7 and third for free throws made at 20.7.
As the team prepares for this critical game, Ole Miss looks to leverage their previous experience against Auburn to turn their season around. The competition is fierce, but both teams are striving for improvement and a chance to secure their postseason ambitions. Fans can anticipate an exciting matchup that could hold significant implications for the SEC standings and postseason aspirations.