No Murrell, No Problem: Sean Pedulla drops 27, Ole Miss moves to 3-0 with win over South Alabama
Ole Miss basketball’s second ‘Throwback Game at the Tad Pad’ was much like the first — a nostalgia-filled, gritty Rebel win.
The Rebels were back in Tad Smith Coliseum for the second straight year. They played all their games there for 51 seasons before moving into The Pavilion at Ole Miss in 2016.
Ole Miss honored former head coach Rob Evans last year. Bob Weltlich was the man of honor this time around. Weltlich led Ole Miss for six seasons, including the Rebels’ first-ever postseason appearance and win in the 1980 NIT.
“A lot of things going on with this game that were as important as the scoreboard,” second-year Ole Miss head coach Chris Beard said. No. 25 Ole Miss improved to 3-0 on the 2024-25 season with a 64-54 win over South Alabama.
“A lot of tradition, great coaches, great players, great teams and Ole Miss basketball history. One of our objectives as we build the program in Year 2 is to try to unite everybody, no matter what era you played in or for what coach. Try to get everybody back under the same umbrella so we can build this thing. Last year, huge first step with coach Evans. The last couple days having coach Weltlich and his wife here was special. Some of his former assistants were here last night. A lot of players.
“It was a special deal.”
Virginia Tech transfer Sean Pedulla scored 27 points on a career-high seven 3s.
He made five in the first half for 19 points. Pedulla shot 60 percent (6 for 10) from the floor in the period.
The Jaguars cut the deficit to single digits multiple times in the second half. They were within 55-52 with four minutes remaining. However, Jaylen Murray and Jaemyn Brakefield made back-to-back threes.
Pedulla put the game on ice with his final 3.
“It just opened up some things, especially in the first half,” Pedulla said of his perimeter scoring. “Going in we kind of did a good job of replicating (the South Alabama zone defense) the best we could. I knew it would make our jobs a little bit easier if I could get a few shots to drop from outside.”
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Pedulla is the first Rebel to connect on seven 3s since Matthew Murrell had eight against Texas A&M last season. Murrell has been Ole Miss’ leading scorer each of the last three seasons.
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Murrell missed the game with an undisclosed injury.
“Yeah, got banged up in the last game,” Beard said. “Worked tirelessly to prepare and play tonight. Wanted to play tonight. Just more of a coach’s decision. His heart was in the right place, but it’s a long season, and this will allow him a couple more days to rehab and hopefully help the team on Saturday.
“But he did a great job from the time the last game ended all the way up until tipoff tonight to give himself a chance. I really appreciate his effort.”
Belmont transfer Malik Dia finished with a career-best 13 rebounds. Murray had five assists and no turnovers. Ole Miss has forced 10 or more turnovers in all three of its games.
But the night belonged to Ole Miss’ old home and Pedulla’s big night.
Pedulla was an All-ACC guard with the Hokies. He had a team-high 16.4 points a year ago. Pedulla played north of 100 games in three seasons and totaled over 1,200 points and 300 assists.
“I like the gym a lot,” Pedulla said. “It was a cool throwback environment. I don’t know if there was anything in particular that made me shoot differently, but it was definitely a fun environment.”
Ole Miss next hosts Colorado State Saturday at 3 p.m. CT on ESPN.
