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Ole Miss to pay Tennessee $500,000 in court-storming fine

IMG_3593by:Grant Ramey•03/07/25•

GrantRamey

Ole Miss Basketball | Wesley Hale-Imagn Images
(Wesley Hale-Imagn Images ) Mar 5, 2025; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi Rebels fans storm the court after winning the game against the Tennessee Volunteers at The Sandy and John Black Pavilion at Ole Miss

Tennessee Basketball’s 78-76 loss at Ole Miss Wednesday night turned into a payday as soon as the final horn sounded. The SEC fined Ole Miss $500,000 after fans rushed the floor to celebrate the win at SBJ Pavilion in Oxford. 

That money, per league rules, goes to the opposing team. 

“Wednesday was a momentous night for the Ole Miss men’s basketball team,” Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter wrote in a statement on Friday. “Our program has experienced record attendance growth this season, and that is due to the love and support of Rebel Nation. 

“Unfortunately, Wednesday’s special moment was marred by the unacceptable behavior of a select few in our fanbase that chose to impatiently rush the court before the Tennessee team and game officials had exited and before the crowd was welcomed to come down. These selfish actions have consequences, as they will cost our coaches and student-athletes valuable resources.

‘Losing resources as a result of fines can no longer be part of (the game-day experience)’

“We are being levied a $500,000 fine to bring our department’s total to $850,000 for the season,” Carter continued. “Additionally, SEC regulations dictate that this money be distributed to the opposing institution. With potential future fines continuing at a similar level, it is imperative that we take immediate action to end this behavior.”

Ole Miss rallied from down eight points in the second half to beat Tennessee, with Jaemyn Brakefield scoring all of his 19 points in the game’s final 10 minutes, 24 seconds.

Tennessee erased a four-point deficit with 26 seconds left with a four-point play from Igor Milicic Jr., but Brakefield scored the go-ahead points on the other end, scoring off an offensive rebound with 7.5 seconds left.

Milicic lost control of the ball on the way up for a shot near the rim as time expired, just before Ole Miss fans rushed the floor.

The game was interrupted earlier in the second half when a fan threw an object on the floor while Jordan Gainey was at the foul line. Ole Miss coach Chris Beard addressed the crowd after the object was thrown. 

Up Next: No. 4 Tennessee vs. South Carolina, Saturday, 2 p.m. ET, SEC Network

Carter’s statement on Friday said Ole Miss officials are reviewing film from after Wednesday’s game in an attempt to identify individuals, which could lead to “potential loss of game privileges.”

“Entering the playing surface without permission is strictly prohibited and will not be tolerated,” Carter wrote. “Penalties will be increased moving forward, including holding perpetrators on the court or field and revoking their game privileges on site. We are also exploring other avenues to hold those that break the rules accountable. Simply put, this must stop.

“… We ask that our fans help us avoid future fines by adhering to rules and policing each other. We remain focused on creating a bucket-list gameday experience, but losing resources as a result of fines can no longer be part of that.”

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