Auburn @ Mississippi preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 13, 2019 ) Mississippi 60, Auburn 55

Auburn rebounded from its first two losses of the season with a pair of victories at home last week and looks to take the momentum on the road when the 16th-ranked Tigers visit Ole Miss for an SEC battle Tuesday night. Auburn knocked off South Carolina 80-67 before recording an 80-76 victory over Iowa State in the Big 12/SEC Challenge on Saturday while holding the Cyclones to 36.2 percent shooting from the field.

The Tigers received strong performances from their top three scorers - senior guards Samir Doughty and J’Von McCormick, along with freshman forward Isaac Okoro - who combined for 48 points, and they will need the same effort against rejuvenated Ole Miss. “I thought J’Von, Samir and Isaac did a really good job getting downhill, getting to the rim and turning corners,” Auburn coach Bruce Pearl told reporters after Saturday’s win. “That’s a big part of our offense, and I thought we finished at the rim better today.” The Rebels will feel better about themselves after shooting 52 percent from the field in a 70-60 victory over Georgia on Saturday to end a six-game losing streak and Ole Miss senior guard Breein Tyree is the SEC’s active leading scorer (18.9) after dropping in 20 in the win. “Breein Tyree played like one of the best guards in college basketball, which he is,” Rebels coach Kermit Davis told reporters Saturday.

TIME: 9 p.m. ET. TV: ESPNU

ABOUT AUBURN (17-2, 4-2 SEC): Doughty had 18 points in Saturday’s win - his highest output since dropping 24 against North Carolina State on Dec. 19 - and went 5-of-13 from the field after making just 8-of-33 the previous three contests. Doughty leads the team in scoring (14.6) and Okoro (12.9) is next after draining 7-of-11 from the field for 19 points in the win over Iowa State. McCormick, who leads the team in assists (4.8), matched his average with 11 points in Saturday’s victory and senior center Austin Wiley tops the Tigers on the glass (9.2 boards) while scoring 10.2 per contest.

ABOUT OLE MISS (10-9, 1-5): The 6-2 Tyree is averaging 25.4 points over his past five games and scored at least 20 in 10 outings this season with a team-leading 40 made 3-pointers - 15-of-33 during SEC play. Sophomore guard Blake Hinson (10.9) and sophomore forward KJ Buffen (10.1, team-best 6.3 rebounds) also average in double figures scoring while junior guard Devontae Shuler (9.9, team-high 3.6 assists) is close. Junior forward Khadim Sy (8.9) dropped in 16 points on 6-of-12 from the field against Georgia, his most productive performance since scoring 20 versus Southeastern Louisiana on Dec. 21.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Auburn freshman G Devan Cambridge did not score Saturday after recording 26 points against South Carolina on Wednesday.

2. Tyree has 1,528 career points and needs 26 to move into 11th on the program’s all-time - 37 to move into the top 10.

3. The Rebels won both meetings last season, including an 82-67 victory at home despite just five points from Tyree.

PREDICTION: Auburn 74, Ole Miss 68