Skip to main content
ole-miss logo

LOOK: March Madness has already started for Sean Pedulla and Ole Miss basketball

Ben Garrettby:Ben Garrett•03/13/25•

SpiritBen

Gl8ymCwX0AAShml
Ole Miss guard Sean Pedulla (Photo credit: USA Today Images)

Second-year head coach Chris Beard said this week Ole Miss wants to play as long as possible in Nashville. 

The Rebels have two all-time SEC Tournament wins. Marshall Henderson, Murphy Holloway and others captured the last back in 2013.

Ole Miss is well on its way. The Rebels have cleared the first two rounds in Nashville after securing a last-second, 83-80 win over Arkansas on Thursday. They earned a first-round bye as one of the league’s Top 8 teams.

“We consider this a great win, maybe one of the best of the season,” Beard said afterwards. “Arkansas had won five of their last six or six of their last seven. To me it was maybe kind of a second weekend-type game. A talented team.”

Ole Miss, the 8-seed, led by as many as 15 points. The Rebels were up 42-34 at halftime. 

Arkansas, the 9-seed, grabbed its first lead, 53-51, at 12:13 in the second half. The Razorbacks went up 80-77 with 29 seconds left. Dre Davis, however, converted a physical, contested lay-in and absorbed the foul to tie. 

Arkansas’ Trevon Brazile missed two free throws. Davis grabbed the rebound and pressed to Sean Pedulla. Pedulla nailed a 3 as time expired for the win.

“It’s March,” Pedulla told ESPN. “Gotta go get a bucket.”

Pedulla was one of five Rebels to score double-digit points. 

Malik Dia led the way with 19, including 14 in the first half on 6 for 7 shooting. He made the only 3 he took and tied Matthew Murrell for the team lead with eight rebounds. 

Murrell chipped in 12 points. Jaylen Murray had 17 and Davon Barnes 11. Ole Miss for just the second time 25 years are at the SEC Tournament not playing for an NCAA Tournament bid.

The Rebels are firmly in.

“Sean has courage,” Beard said. Pedulla has made 78 3s this season, tied for the 10th-most in school history.  “He wants the ball in that moment.”

Next is 1-seed Auburn Friday at noon on ESPN. The Rebels are 0-2 against Bruce Pearl’s Tigers (27-4, 15-3 SEC) this season. Last they met, on February 26, Auburn ran Ole Miss off the floor, 106-76.

The included photos were provided by USA Today.

Dre Davis shoots over Zvonimir Ivisic

Jaemyn Brakefield

Malik Dia

Jaemyn Brakefield and Davon Barnes defend Zvonimir Ivisic

Sean Pedulla

Ole Miss head coach Chris Beard

John Calipari and team

Dre Davis

Malik Dia

DJ Wagner surrounded by Dre Davis, Malik Dia and Eduardo Klafke

You may also like