Tennessee Tech @ Mississippi preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 22, 2006 ) Tennessee Tech 77, Mississippi 86

Ole Miss has rediscovered its offense after losing three times in four games, and while its three-game winning streak has not come against upper-echelon competition, the Rebels' confidence nonetheless is growing entering Sunday’s home contest against Tennessee Tech. The Rebels averaged just 63.8 points in that 1-3 stretch but have averaged 82.7 points during the current winning streak, including an 83-76 triumph on Dec. 21 against Southeastern Louisiana.

That offense came in handy as the Rebels struggled defensively in their final game before Christmas break, allowing Southeastern Louisiana to shoot 58.2 percent from the field and 10-of-15 from 3-point range. But junior forward Khadim Sy continued his recent surge with a career-high 20 points – his fourth consecutive game with double-figure scoring – to help Ole Miss stay hot offensively and overcome its defensive shortcomings. “Coach (Kermit Davis) has been telling me to pick it up,” Sy told reporters after hitting 7-of-11 shots from the field and 5-of-5 free-throw attempts. “This was one of our worst games defensively, so we had to step up on offense and execute to win.” The Golden Eagles have lost three in a row and seek the program’s first victory over a Power 5 team since 2007.

TV: 4 p.m. ET, No TV

ABOUT TENNESSEE TECH (3-9): Sophomore guard Jr. Clay is the only player averaging double figures in scoring at 10.2 points, and across his past five games is averaging 15.8 points after scoring just 11 points total in his previous four contests. Sophomore forward Amadou Sylla is averaging 7.6 points and 6.6 rebounds on 57.8 percent shooting from the field. The Golden Eagles have been outscored on average by 8.5 points per game in coach John Pelphrey’s first season.

ABOUT OLE MISS (8-3): Sy averaged 6.6 points through his first seven games, but in his past four contests is averaging 13 points and 6.3 rebounds while shooting 21-for-34 from the field. Senior guard Breein Tyree, the SEC’s active career leader in points (1,383), leads the Rebels in scoring at 17.8 points, while sophomore forward Blake Hinson is averaging 13 points and 4.1 rebounds on 53.6 percent shooting after missing the first four games with a blood abnormality. Sophomore forward KJ Buffen averages 10 points while leading Ole Miss in rebounding (6.9 per game) and steals (1.8 per contest).

TIP-INS

1. The Rebels have limited opponents to 58 points per game and 25 percent 3-point shooting at home this season.

2. The quartet of Tyree, Hinson, Buffen and junior G Devontae Shuler (9.9 points) combine to account for 63.9 percent of Ole Miss’s scoring.

3. Ole Miss wraps up non-conference play Jan. 4 at No. 25 Wichita State.

PREDICTION: Ole Miss 89, Tennessee Tech 67