Ole Miss vs. LSU: How to watch, start time, TV channel, spread

Jaemyn Brakefield has taken his offensive game to another level in his fourth season with Ole Miss basketball. 

Brakefield has finally settled in as a capable point-forward for the Rebels. He’s opened up the floor for his teammates, as opposing bigs have to account for him beyond the 3-point line. 

Brakefield is shooting his best clip from distance (36.5) in three years and despite more regular in-game attempts. He’s scored double-digit points in nine of the Rebels’ last 10 games. He has at least five rebounds in six of 10.

“The biggest change I’ve seen, honestly, is him bouncing back,” all-time Ole Miss basketball great Murphy Holloway told the Ole Miss Spirit of Brakefield’s growth this season. “Usually when he would have a not-so-great game last year it would roll over into another day of not a great game. He lets those roll off his sleeve pretty easily now. He might not have a great game, but right back at it and doesn’t harp on them at all.”

Holloway was a graduate assistant under second-year Ole Miss head coach Chris Beard last season. 

Holloway finished his Ole Miss career as the school-record-holder for rebounds (1,093). He was the only player in SEC history to post 1,400 points, 1,000 rebounds and 190 steals. Holloway had 39 career double-doubles, the second-most all-time at Ole Miss

The No. 25-ranked Rebels (17-6, 6-4 SEC) are fresh off just their 15th all-time win over Kentucky. Brakefield this season is averaging 10.8 points a team-high 4.9 rebounds. He’s chipping in 1.9 assists and 0.7 steals, too.

Even more, Brakefield’s averaging 13.1 points and shooting 49.4 percent from the field and 45.3 percent from 3 in SEC play.

“When he’s right,” Holloway said of Brakefield, “he’s bringing energy and distributing the ball as a point-forward — stretching the floor, pulling big men from the basket (and) passes to Juju (Murray) and Sean Pedulla on back-door cuts. There’s no big man at the basket ‘cause you’ve got to guard him. 

“He’s opened up the offense a lot, and he’s not letting one loss carry over to something else.”

The Rebels next travel to rival LSU (12-10, 1-8) on Saturday, February 8. Ole Miss is currently projected as a 5-seed in the NCAA Tournament by ESPN’s Joe Lunardi. The Rebels are in search of their 10th all-time appearance and first in nearly six years.

HOW TO WATCH

Television/Online: SEC Network
Play-by-Play: Kevin Fitzgerald
Analyst: Joe Kleine

HOW TO LISTEN

Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
Play-by-Play: David Kellum
Analyst: Marc Dukes

SERIES HISTORY

LSU is the second-most-played rivalry in Ole Miss history and tied for the 55th most-played in all of college basketball. 

Saturday will be the 219th all-time meeting between the teams, with the first game played all the way back in 1910, which was the second-ever season of Ole Miss basketball. 

The Tigers lead the series, 127-91. 

LSU is 78-31 against Ole Miss in Baton Rouge. The Tigers have won seven of the past 10 games, though the Rebels have won three of the last four, including a 77-65 win in Oxford in January. Ole Miss scored 49 second-half points to win by 12. Malik Dia had 19 points, seven rebounds, one assist and two blocks.

GAME ODDS/SPREAD

Moneyline, via DraftKings: Ole Miss -225 | Kentucky +185
Spread: Ole Miss -5 (-108) | Kentucky +5 (-112)
Total: O157.5 (over -108 /under -112)

Ole Miss is 14-9 against the spread this season. The Rebels are 10-6 ATS and 15-1 overall when giving up fewer than 77.3 points. The Rebels are 13-4 ATS, as well as 13-4 overall, in games where they score 72.3 points or more.

RELATED: Murphy Holloway’s front-row perspective of Ole Miss’ win at No. 4 Alabama

SCOUTING LSU

LSU has picked up just a single win (against Arkansas) in seven games since the teams last met. The Tigers claimed notable non-conference wins over Kansas State, USC and Florida State. 

They’re second-to-last in the 16-team SEC and own a NET Ranking of 78. Ole Miss is No. 20.

Kansas State transfer Cam Carter is ninth in the conference in scoring average (17.0). He’s scored 16 or more in every SEC game. Carter is shooting 44 percent from the field and has knocked down a team-high 51 3s.

Corey Chest leads the Tigers and ranks 10th in the SEC in rebounding (7.2). 

LSU is fourth in the conference in defensive rebounds (26.5). The Tigers are fifth in the SEC and 16th in the NCAA in blocks (5.2), as well as sixth in the SEC in field-goal percentage defense (40.8).

Matt McMahon is in his third season as LSU head coach. He was hired away from Murray State prior to the 2022-23 season. He had four 20-win seasons with the Racers, including three NCAA Tournament berths. They won an historic 31 gams in 2021-22.

Murray State secured four regular season conference titles under McMahon, as well as three conference tournament titles. He was named OVC Coach of the Year in 2022.