OXFORD, Miss.–Following a road win this past weekend, the Ole Miss men's basketball team returns to The Sandy and John Black Pavilion at Ole Miss to host Mississippi State on Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. on the SEC Network.
TEAM FACTS
Ole Miss Rebels (17-3, 4-3 SEC)
Head Coach: Chris Beard • 1st Season at Ole Miss (17-3) • 254-101career record (12th Season)
Mississippi State Bulldogs (14-6, 3-4 SEC)
Head Coach: Chris Jans•2ndSeason at Mississippi State (35-19) •178-63 career record (8thSeason)
ON THE AIR
Television/Online: SEC Network
Play-by-Play: Dave Neal
Color: Jon Sundvold
OLE MISS RADIO
Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
Play-by-Play: David Kellum
Color: Marc Dukes
SERIES HISTORY VS. MISSISSIPPI STATE
Dating back to 1914, this will be the 269th meeting between Ole Miss and Mississippi State on the basketball court, tying them with Kansas and Missouri for the 12th-most played series in the history of college basketball. The Bulldogs lead the all-time series 149-119, but the Rebels hold the advantage playing at home in Oxford, 88-47.
LAST MEETING: FEBRUARY 18, 2023 (L, 61-69 (OT), OXFORD, MISS.)
• It was a close game in Oxford with 10 lead changes and six ties, but after leading by one at the half Ole Miss would fall in overtime.
• This was the 12th game that went beyond regulation between the two teams, the most overtime games versus a single opponent in Ole Miss history. Mississippi State leads seven wins to five when the two play extra periods.
• Jaemyn Brakefield led Ole Miss with 20 points, while Matthew Murrell played 45 minutes in a game for the second time in his career, scoring 15.
• Tolu Smith and Cameron Matthews led the Bulldogs with 17 points each, with Smith posting a double-double as he secured 12 boards. Each player returns to the Mississippi State roster this season.
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
Entering with a 14-6 record on the season, Mississippi State has gone 3-4 in conference play, defeating No. 5 Tennessee, Vanderbilt, and No. 8 Auburn, all at home, while falling to South Carolina, Alabama, No. 8 Kentucky, and Florida. Earlier in the season, the Bulldogs picked up some key non-conference victories over Arizona State, Washington State, Northwestern, and Tulane.
Mississippi State currently sits in ninth place in the SEC standings.
Fifth-year forward Tolu Smith has led the team in scoring since returning from a late-preseason injury, averaging 17.1 points per game. The Bay St. Louis, Miss. native is also the team's leading rebounder, averaging 8.0 boards per outing. Primarily coming off the bench, freshman Josh Hubbard ranks second on the team in scoring with an average of 14.9 points. Hubbard ranks among the best in the SEC and NCAA in three points attempts with 156 (No. 37 NCAA, No. 2 SEC), three-pointers made per game at 2.80 (No. 47 NCAA, No. 1 SEC), and three-point percentage at 35.9 percent (No. 87 NCAA, No. 2 SEC).
Mississippi State has hung their hat on strong defensive play this season, especially on deep shots, owning the sixth-best three-point defensive percentage in college basketball at 27.7 percent. Their opponent's field goal percentage of 40.1 ranks third in the SEC and 32nd in college basketball. Highlighted by Hubbard's performances, the team also ranks 17th in the nation in bench points per game, averaging 30.9.
In his eighth season as a collegiate head coach and second year with the program, Chris Jans leads the Bulldog program and has accumulated a career win-percentage of 73.9. In his previous seven seasons across Mississippi State, New Mexico State and Bowling Green, Jans has six 20-win seasons and a 30-win year in 2018-19.
PARTY IN THE 'SIP
The spring semester is underway at Ole Miss, and it's clear the Rebel students are glad to be back on campus and back at the SJB Pavilion for SEC play. On January 24, Ole Miss set a student attendance record as Club Red was overflowing to watch the Rebels take down Arkansas, 77-51.
"THE FUTURE IS NOW, OLD MAN"
The 2024 early signing class for Ole Miss is already making its mark for the program. Ranked as the second-highest recruit according to 247Sports in school history, forward John Bol was selected to play in the prestigious McDonald's All-American game on April 2nd. The two rosters, representing the east and west, are made up of 24 of the best high school basketball players the country has to offer.
Joining Bol in the early signing period in November, Eduardo Klafke has enrolled at Ole Miss early and began taking classes in the 2024 spring semester. The guard, who trained with the NBA Academy Latin America, has been able to train with the team recently since beginning school.
"PUT ME ANYWHERE ON GOD'S GREEN EARTH, I'LL TRIPLE MY WORTH"
Jaylen Murray has been on fire from the three-point line this season, especially as of late. Over the last 10 games, "Juju" has connected on two or more threes in each game, sinking 31 total buckets on 60 attempts from beyond the arc. The Bronx native is averaging 14.7 points on the season, is shooting a blistering 45.4 percent from three, and owns an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.21 while averaging 3.75 assists per game.
ALL-AMERICAN DR. PARTY
The Rebels hosted a block party on January 10 in the SJB Pavilion, setting a school record with 16 team blocks. Breaking the previous best by three, their total against the Gators tied the SEC record for most blocks in a conference game all-time. Ole Miss was led in the paint by forward Jamarion Sharp, who set a program record of his own with a nine-block performance.
"TEN OUGHTA DO IT, DON'T YOU THINK?"
On December 19 against Troy, Matthew Murrell secured 10 steals to set a new program record for Ole Miss, adding 18 points for the first double-double involving steals in school history. His 10 steals also tied the SEC record for most in a game, the most since 1991, and tie him for the 25th-most in a game in NCAA history. Murrell helped Ole Miss collect 16 steals in the game against Troy, setting a new SJB Pavilion record.
With an average of 1.95 steals per game on the season, Murrell ranks fifth in the SEC and 63rd in the nation.
A NEW 1K KING
With 12 points in Ole Miss' win over NC State, Matthew Murrell surpassed the 1,000-career point mark, becoming the 42nd student-athlete in program history to do so. Now at 1,256 points in his career with the Rebels, Murrell is 28th in school history and sits 3 points behind next on the list, B.L. "Country" Graham.
26. Sebastian Saiz: 1,273
27. B.L. "Country" Graham: 1,259
28. Matthew Murrell (2020-): 1,256
29. Dwayne Curtis (2005-08): 1,232
A NEW ERA BEGINS
With the hiring of Chris Beard last March, the Ole Miss men's basketball program is prepared to take the next step forward, bringing in one of the most successful coaches of the last decade.
Compiling a record of 254-101 as an NCAA head coach since 2012, Beard holds one of the highest win percentages in the nation, ranking 10th among active head coaches with 10 or more years of experience at 71.5%.
The 2019 AP National Coach of the Year has led three different programs to the NCAA Tournament over the previous eight years, and is undefeated in the opening round at 5-0. His all-time record in the NCAA Tournament is 11-5 (.688).
THA BLOCK IS HOT
Ole Miss ranks fourth in college basketball averaging 6.3 blocks per game. The muscle in the paint for the Rebels has been Jamarion Sharp, who leads the SEC in blocks per game (2.70) and blocks (54), ranking sixth and seventh in the nation, respectively.
With 126 blocks through 20 games, Ole Miss is on pace to best the program record for blocks in a season of 185 set during the 2012-13 season. Sharp has also already entered the top-10 for most blocks in a single season at Ole Miss, now with 54 which ranks seventh.
Blocked Shots in a Single Season
1. 98, Reginald Buckner (36 games, 2013)
2. 95, Reginald Buckner (34 games, 2011)
3. 69, Aaron Jones (33 games, 2014)
69, Reginald Buckner (32 games, 2012)
5. 64, Reginald Buckner (31 games, 2010)
6. 56, David Dean (28 games, 1993)
7. 54, Jamarion Sharp (20 games, 2024)
8. 52, David Dean (22 games, 1994)
9. 49, Rahim Lockhart (35 games, 2001)
49, Sean Murphy (28 games, 1991)
"I TAKE THE WORK, FLIP IT, ACROBATIC"
Ole Miss has shown elite ball control and movement on the offensive side. With a total of 307 assists compared to 210 turnovers, the Rebels' ratio of 1.46 ranks 36th in the nation.
The team is led in assists by Jaylen Murray (75 assists to 34 turnovers) and Allen Flanigan (63 assists to 42 turnovers). Murray ranks 10th in the SEC in both assists per game (3.75) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.21).
A RECORD START
Ole Miss matched the program record for best start to a season and longest overall win streak, going a perfect 13-0 in non-conference play (also in 2007-08). The Rebels were one of three teams in the nation to start 13-0, joined by James Madison and Houston.
Ole Miss is the third different program head coach Chris Beard has taken to a 10-0 start to begin a season during his nine years as a Division-I coach, having done so in 2015-16 with Little Rock and 2018-19 at Texas Tech.
*MIKE BREEN VOICE* "BANG!"
Shooting 38.4 percent from the three-point line this season, Ole Miss currently ranks 18th in the country in efficiency beyond the arc and third in the SEC. The Rebels have shot 50 percent or better from deep five times, the most in an entire season since they hit that mark or better five times during the 2014-15 campaign.
• Nov. 14 vs. Detroit Mercy: 9-18 (50.0%)
• Nov. 22 at Temple: 10-18 (55.6%)
• Dec. 2 vs. Memphis: 11-22 (50.0%)
• Dec. 16 vs. California: 12-21 (57.1%)
• Dec. 23 vs. Southern Miss: 11-19 (57.9%)
"I CAN BE YOUR LONG LOST PAL"
After posting the third double-double of his career in the season opener (15 points, career-best 12 rebounds), Allen Flanigan followed it up with a career-best 29 points against Eastern Washington. The senior guard surpassed the 1,000 career-point mark against the Eagles, and played a key part in securing the victory by scoring eight of the last 11 points for the Rebels.
He once again led the team in scoring with 23 against Sam Houston, connecting on a career-best 14 makes from the free throw line. The senior helped lead Ole Miss to victory in their first road game at Temple with 26 points, the second-most scored in a game for his career, while tallying a then career-best seven assists. Flanigan added his second double-double of the year in a 20-point win over NC State in the ACC/SEC Challenge with 15 points and 10 rebounds and helped Ole Miss take down Memphis with 18. Against Troy, he increased his career-mark for most assists in a game with nine, following that up with his third double-double of the year against Southern Miss in Biloxi with 10 points and 11 boards. Flanigan helped the Rebels take down Arkansas 77-51 on January 24 with his sixth double-double of his career.
RUNNING THE COURT LIKE MCKENZIE LONG
Ole Miss is averaging just under 12 fastbreak points per game to begin the season, with their clip of 12.80 ranking No. 68 in the NCAA. Outscoring their opponents 257-133 in fastbreak points this year, the Rebels have scored equal or more fastbreak points in 18 of 20 games.
Ole Miss has created their opportunities for quick points by ranking fourth in the country in blocks per game and 39th in steals per game.
AMONG THE BEST
Forwards Jamarion Sharp and Moussa Cisse rank among the nation's best in active career leaders in a handful of statistical categories. After becoming the fifth player ever to lead the NCAA in blocks in two seasons, Sharp ranks first in both career blocks (333) and career blocked shots per game (3.96). Establishing himself as a premier shot blocker as well, Cisse ranks 19th in blocks per game (1.75) and 19th in total blocks (180). Cisse also ranks 75th among active players in total rebounds with 688.
Sharp ranks as the second-most efficient active shot maker in the nation as well, with a career field goal percentage of 67.1. While he doesn't qualify for the minimum made field goals for the all-time list, his career field goal percentage would rank as the fifth-highest in college basketball history.
SKEE-LO'S HERO
Transfer forward Jamarion Sharp stands as the tallest student-athlete in NCAA Division I men's basketball this season at 7'5", a title he has held for three-straight seasons now, and is even listed as one of the tallest living humans on Wikipedia. After spending his first two college years at John A. Logan College, Sharp played two years at Western Kentucky from 2021 to 2023. In 64 games played, he averaged 7.8 points per game, 7.6 rebounds per game, and became just the fifth person ever to lead the NCAA in blocks twice. His margin of 3.96 blocks per game during his career is currently tied for the 15th-best average in college basketball history, while his 333 total blocks are tied for 68th all time. Against Vanderbilt on January 13, Sharp passed former Rebel-great Reginald Buckner who had 326 swats during his career.
With career block No. 300, Sharp became the 95th player in NCAA history to hit that mark. He is one of just 14 on that list to hit the 300-block mark in three years or less.
Career Blocked Shot Average (min. 225 blocks)
1. 5.87 - Keith Closs, Central Conn. St. (54 GP, 317 blks.)
2. 5.66 - Adonal Foyle, Colgate (87 GP, 492 blks.)
3. 5.34 - Shawn James, Northeastern/Duquesne (83 GP, 443 blks.)
4. 5.24 - David Robinson, Navy (67 GP, 351 blks.)
5. 4.66 - Mickell Gladness, Alabama A&M (85 GP, 396 blks.)
6. 4.65 - Wojciech Myrda, La.-Monroe (115 GP, 535 blks.)
7. 4.58 - Shaquille O'Neal, LSU (90 GP, 412 blks.)
8. 4.48 - Jerome James, Florida A&M (81 GP, 363 blks.)
9. 4.42 - Deng Gai, Fairfield (100 GP, 442 blks.)
10. 4.28 - Emeka Okafor, UConn (103 GP, 441 blks.)
11. 4.21 - Justin Williams, Wyoming (58 GP, 244 blks.)
12. 4.17 - Hasheem Thabeet, UConn (100 GP, 417 blks.)
13. 4.11 - Justin Rowe, Maine (55 GP, 226 blks.)
14. 4.00 - Jarvis Varnado, Mississippi St. (141 GP, 564 blks.)
t15. 3.96 - Travis Williams, Hampton (114 GP, 452 blks.)
t15. 3.96 - Jamarion Sharp, Western Ky./Ole Miss (84 GP, 333 blks.)
Career Blocked Shots
66. 334 - Kenny Green, Rhode Island
67. 334 - Elden Campbell, Clemson
t68. 333 - Jerome Jordan, Tulsa
t68. 333 - Jamarion Sharp, Western Ky./Ole Miss
"THE SMOOTH CRIMINAL ON BEAT BRAKES"
From December 16 to January 10, senior Jaemyn Brakefield was playing in a unique state of mind. The forward from Jackson, Miss. shot 67.2 percent from the field (45-67) and 56.5 percent from three (13-23), averaging 20.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. He set career-highs for points in a game twice during that stretch, first with 27 against Cal before scoring 28 in the Rebels' win over Florida.
PACING THE GAME LIKE VERSTAPPEN
Through 20 games this season in 13 hours and 20 minutes of total gameplay, Ole Miss has held a lead for nine hours, 16 minutes, and 21 seconds, just under over 70 percent of action during the 2023-24 campaign. The Rebels have led their opponent for 30 or more minutes in 13 of 20 games so far, and for 38 minutes or more in eight games.
IT'S ELITE IN THE 'SIP
Ole Miss is one of just three FBS programs in the country to start at 10-0 in hoops and compile a 10-win season in football. They are joined by James Madison and Oklahoma.
The No. 11 Ole Miss football team defeated No. 10 Penn State 38-25 in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on December 30 in Atlanta.
CLIMBING THE LEADERBOARDS
Senior Matthew Murrell has been a consistent threat from three-point range throughout his four years at Ole Miss. This season, he has entered the top-10 career lists in school history for three-point field goals made and attempts.
Three-Point Field Goals Made
1. 334, Chris Warren (115 games, 2008-11)
2. 278, Aaron Harper (123 games, 2001-04)
3. 267, Marshall Henderson (66 games, 2013-14)
4. 249, Keith Carter (117 games, 1996-99)
5. 214, Joe Harvell (114 games, 1990-93)
6. 207, Breein Tyree (130 games, 2017-20)
7. 185, Matthew Murrell (109 games, 2020-)
8. 181, Stefan Moody (65 games, 2014-16)
9. 178, Devontae Shuler (124 games, 2018-21)
10. 176, Terence Davis (121 games (2016-19)
Three-Point Field Goals Attempted
1. 900, Chris Warren (115 games, 2008-11)
2. 771, Marshall Henderson (66 games, 2013-2014)
3. 720, Aaron Harper (123 games, 2001-04)
4. 686, Keith Carter (117 games, 1996-99)
5. 581, Breein Tyree (130 games, 2017-20)
6. 536, Matthew Murrell (109 games, 2020-)
7. 528, Joe Harvell (114 games, 1990-93)
8. 523, Devontae Shuler (124 games, 2018-21)
9. 519, Terence Davis (121 games, 2016-19)
10. 494, Stefan Moody (65 games, 2015-16)
"AROUND THE 'ARC', A PERIMETER CREATE"
Ole Miss has been strong at defending the three-point shot this season, holding opponents to 31.4% from deep. The Rebels have kept their foe under 25% in seven games this year:
• Nov. 10 vs. Eastern Washington: 4-22 (18.2%)
• Nov. 28 vs. NC State: 3-25 (12.0%)
• Dec. 2 vs. Memphis: 3-18 (16.7%)
• Dec. 5 vs. Mount St. Mary's: 5-25 (20.0%)
• Dec. 10 at UCF: 4-22 (18.2%)
• Jan. 13 vs. Vanderbilt: 4-18 (22.2%)
• Jan. 24 vs. Arkansas: 5-22 (22.7%)
HOW'S THE WEATHER?
The roster for Ole Miss this season has the tallest student-athlete in Division I in forward Jamarion Sharp, and has the shortest student-athlete in the country in guard Cam Brent. The two stand a full two feet apart in height, with Sharp at 7'5" and Brent at 5'5".
PREPARED FOR A CHALLENGE
The remainder of the Ole Miss schedule ranks as one of the toughest in the country, as their upcoming opponents win-percentage of 68.2% ranks 17th in the NCAA. Among their 11 games left on the schedule, 9 are against a top-100 NET team, and 8 against a top-50 team. ESPN's BPI ranks Ole Miss' remaining strength of schedule 23rd-hardest in the nation.
VALUED LEADERSHIP
The Ole Miss men's basketball coaching staff is one of the more experienced around the country. In his 14th year as a collegiate head coach, Chris Beard is joined on the court by former head coaches Win Case (16 years), Brian Burg (three years), and Wes Flanigan (two years). Assistant coach Bob Donewald Jr. has 16 years of head coaching experience at the professional and national level, while assistant Al Pinkins has been an associate or assistant coach at six different NCAA Division-I programs, including four within the SEC. The Ole Miss coaching staff has experience at five other SEC programs: Auburn, Florida, LSU, Mississippi State, and Tennessee.
"IT AIN'T GON' NEVER STOP"
Head coach Chris Beard and staff continue to work on securing the future for Ole Miss basketball, and did so with a pair of signees in the NLI early signing period in November:
John Bol
Ranked as the second-highest recruit in program history according to 247Sports, Bol is a consensus four-star recruit, ranking as high as No. 38 in the nation by 247Sports and No. 40 by ESPN. He is an elite shot blocker and rebounder who stands at 7'1" and is able to affect the game on both ends of the floor. Ranked as the top player in the state of Georgia by ESPN, Bol has developed a reputation as one of the hardest playing big men in the country.
Eduardo Klafke
A combo guard from the prestigious NBA Academy Latin America, Klafke will come to Oxford from Franca-Sao Paulo, Brazil. One of the top international players in his age group, he has consistently played above his age while representing Brazil on the national stage, playing in U19 games as a 17-year-old. Klafke will help bring a spark to the offense as an elite shooter and is excellent in playing both on and off the ball.
"WE BALLIN' LIKE THE MARCH MADNESS"
Among the seven transfers for the Rebels, over half have been to the NCAA Tournament during their collegiate career, with a total of five appearances. Brandon Murray (LSU, 2022 First Round), Austin Nunez (Arizona State, 2023 First Round), and Jaylen Murray (Saint Peter's, 2022 Elite Eight) have each been to the postseason once in their careers, while Allen Flanigan has been twice (Auburn, 2022 and 2023 Second Round).
"I'M 22 AND A VET IN THE GAME"
The Ole Miss men's basketball team returned a plethora of NCAA experience to the court to begin the year. Between their returners and transfers on opening day, the Rebels' roster included:
Games Played: 624
Minutes Played: 14,975
Points: 5,220
Rebounds: 2,644
Assists: 801
Steals: 425
Blocks: 524 (441 from Cisse and Sharp alone)
ADAPT TO THE TIMES
The new age of the NCAA often sees heavy roster turnover from year-to-year. While Ole Miss returns five members of last year's team, they added 11 strong newcomers through the transfer portal and the high school recruiting trail:
Returners (5): Jaemyn Brakefield, Cam Brent, TJ Caldwell, Robert Cowherd, Matthew Murrell
Transfers (7)
Moussa Cisse - Oklahoma St.; 61 GP, 7.0 PPG, 7.3 RPG
Allen Flanigan - Auburn; 114 GP, 8.5 PPG, 4.2 RPG
Cole McGrath - Blue Mountain; 53 GP, 6.5 PPG, 1.8 RPG
Brandon Murray - Georgetown; 27 GP, 13.7 PPG, 3.9 RPG
Jaylen Murray - St. Peter's; 62 GP, 8.9 PPG, 2.2 RPG
Austin Nunez - Arizona St.; 28 GP, 4.5 PPG, 1.1 RPG
Jamarion Sharp - Western Ky.; 65 GP, 7.8 PPG, 7.6 RPG
Freshman (4)
Cameron Barnes - Three-star (ESPN, 247, Rivals), No. 147 national (Rivals)
Jacob Gazzo - Three-star (ESPN), No. 3 in Mississippi (ESPN)
Rashaud Marshall - Four-star (ESPN, 247, Rivals), No. 83 national (247)
Gavin Murphy - His high school's fourth-leading all-time scorer
For the latest news and updates regarding Ole Miss Men's Basketball, follow the Rebels on X at@OleMissMBB, on Facebook atOle Miss Men's Basketballand on Instagram atolemissmbb.
