WATCH: Ole Miss basketball ‘trending in the right direction’ after reeling off three wins in a row
The Ole Miss men’s basketball Rebels had an uneven start to SEC play.
First, though, the Rebels got the 2023-24 campaign with wins in each of their first 13 games to match the program’s best all-time start and winning streak. But they were blown out by nearly 30 at Tennessee in their conference opener.
Ole Miss self-corrected with back-to-back wins over Florida and Vanderbilt. But two additional, ugly road trips to LSU and No. 11 Auburn had the Rebels at a crossroads. How would a new-look roster featuring just five returning players to 11 newcomers respond?
Turns out, with authority.
Ole Miss has won three straight since the 82-59 face-plant on The Plains nearly two weeks ago. The latest was a thrilling, 86-82 win over in-state rival Mississippi State Tuesday night.
The Rebels improved to 18-3 (5-3) overall, including a 12-0 mark at home.
They’re 7-0 this season in games decided by five points or less, and Ole Miss set a new single-game program attendance record (10,630) in the win.
“I’ve only been here a few months, but I’m starting to understand (this rivalry),” Beard said in his postgame press conference. “It’s a great rivalry. Been watching this for a long time.
“Mississippi State’s had some great basketball over the years. In my opinion, Chris Jans is one of the best guys in our game, no doubt.”
Saint Peter’s transfer point guard Jaylen Murray led all scorers with 21 points.
Ole Miss, as a team, tied its season-best in both assists (22) and turnovers (7). Murray dished out 10, compared to just one turnover, matching Todd Abernethy for the 10th-highest individual-game effort in school history.
Murray entered the night 10th in the SEC in both assists per game (3.75) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.21).
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Sophomore guard TJ Caldwell chipped in a career-high 20 points. Eighteen came off the bench. He made four of the five threes he attempted.
“TJ’s got a demeanor about him,” Beard said. “He doesn’t get too high or too low. In my opinion, this will translate to not only being a great player in the SEC, but being a pro one day. He’s just got a poise about him that we feed off in a lot of ways. He’s a guy I really believe in.
“If he runs his own race, I think he’ll be a pro.”
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Ole Miss is currently ranked sixth in the SEC standings.
Meanwhile, the No. 16-ranked Tigers (16-4, 5-2) are in a three-way tie for third. Tipoff Saturday in The Pavilion is 5 p.m. CT on SEC Network. Auburn has won seven of the last 11 in the series.
“I think we’re starting to play our game,” Beard said. “Sometimes your’e going to win (and) sometimes you’re going to run out of time. But starting to feel like there’s a little bit more relationship between what we want to do and what we get done.
“We’re becoming more consistent. Not where we need to be to have a great February and March, but I think we’re definitely trending in the direction. I don’t think anybody would disagree with that.”
Here’s everything else Beard and select players had to say after the win.
Also included are game highlights. All videos were originally provided by Ole Miss Athletics.
