Mississippi Rebels Upset Texas Longhorns in SEC Tournament
In a significant upset in the SEC Tournament, the Mississippi Rebels, under the guidance of former Texas coach Chris Beard, triumphed over the Texas Longhorns with a score of 76-66. This match, held in Nashville, marked a tough blow for the 10th-seeded Longhorns, who were aiming to solidify their chances for an NCAA Tournament invitation. With a record now standing at 18-14 and having lost five of their last six encounters, Texas’s hopes for an at-large bid appear bleak.
Standout Performances
Malik Dia emerged as a standout player for the Rebels, notching 23 points, while AJ Storr made a significant impact from the bench, contributing 18 points. The contest saw Texas trailing by 11 points at halftime. However, they attempted a comeback spurred on by an eight-point surge from Jordan Pope early in the second half, including a three-pointer that closed the gap to 53-48.
Despite the Longhorns’ efforts to find their rhythm, particularly as they chiselled away at the score primarily through free throws, Mississippi quickly responded. Ilias Kamardine led the Rebels on an impactful run, scoring six points in a 7-0 push to expand their advantage to 60-48. As the clock wound down, Texas narrowed the score to 66-63 within the last four minutes, but could not capitalize further, managing only one free throw and a dunk in the closing moments.
Free Throw Success and Player Contributions
In total, Texas excelled at the line, converting 12 of 15 free throws in the second half and finishing with 21 out of 25 overall. For Texas, Dailyn Swain recorded a double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds, while Pope and Matas Vokietaitis chipped in 16 and 10 points respectively. Kamardine and James Scott added 16 and 10 points for Ole Miss as they celebrated their victory.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, Ole Miss prepares for a matchup against the seventh-seeded Georgia Bulldogs on Thursday, while the second-seeded Alabama Crimson Tide awaits in the quarterfinals of the tournament.
