The Ole Miss men’s basketball team is set to host the LSU Tigers at the SJB Pavilion on Wednesday, February 25, with tip-off scheduled for 8 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on the SEC Network. Ole Miss enters the matchup with a record of 11-16 overall and 3-11 in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The Rebels are guided by head coach Chris Beard, who is in his third season leading the team.
Meanwhile, LSU brings a record of 14-13 and currently sits at the bottom of the SEC standings with a 2-12 conference record. Head coach Matt McMahon is in his fourth season at LSU and has a rich history of success from his time at Murray State, where he led the team to multiple NCAA tournaments. His Tigers are striving to improve with wins over Missouri and South Carolina earlier in the season.
This matchup marks the 220th installment of a longstanding rivalry that dates back to 1910. Historically, LSU holds the edge with a 127-92 all-time record against the Rebels. However, Ole Miss has gained momentum recently, winning four of the last five encounters and maintaining a slight advantage of 56-42 when playing in Oxford.
In their last performance, Ole Miss showcased resilience, overcoming a six-point halftime deficit against a challenging opponent. Key players for Ole Miss include a senior guard who has proven to be an offensive powerhouse, averaging 18.1 points per game off the bench over the last 13 games. For LSU, the Tigers rely on Max Mackinnon and Marquel Sutton, who are leading the team in scoring with 14.8 and 14.0 points per game, respectively.
As the season progresses, Ole Miss has established one of the nation’s top marks in turnover control, averaging just 9.7 turnovers per game—ranking them second in the SEC and 27th in the nation. The team has also boasted an impressive bench presence, averaging 30.9 points per game from substitutes, ranking them 25th nationally.
A positive highlight for Ole Miss includes the recent signing of two promising recruits for their 2026 class, which brings excitement for the future of the program. Small forward Jaron Saulsberry and combo guard Yohance Connor are considered top prospects in their respective states, indicating a bright path ahead for Ole Miss basketball.
As the Rebels prepare for this crucial match against LSU, fans are eager to see if Ole Miss can sustain its winning momentum and improve its standing in the SEC as the season approaches its climax.