Alabama @ Mississippi preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 14, 2019 ) Alabama 62, Mississippi 57

Alabama will need to be in desperation mode during the final five games of the regular season, including in Saturday's SEC contest at Ole Miss. Any more losses like the one suffered Wednesday at home to Texas A&M, and the Crimson Tide, who have taken four of the last five games against the Rebels, can probably turn the lights out on their season.

The Crimson Tide have been competitive against the best in the SEC and the nation and carry a NET rating of 45, but it means nothing if they can't beat a team such as Texas A&M at home. "We've got to get this figured out," first-year coach Nate Oats, who team recently beat Georgia and LSU and took No. 12 Auburn to overtime before falling, told the media. "Some of this is on the coaching staff. We've got to get them more prepared to play." Freshman Jaden Shackelford worked his magic again, notching his third straight 20-point game and the Crimson Tide led for the first 17 minutes of the second half before succumbing to a 12-0 run and suffering their ninth loss of the season by single digits. Senior guard Breein Tyree has been on a tear, averaging 29.8 points in the last five contests, including games of 38 points and a career-high 40, but the Rebels have dropped the last two by a total of eight points and have never had much luck at Alabama, going 11-74 overall and 7-39 at Coleman Coliseum.

TIME: 8:30 p.m. ET. TV: SEC Network

ABOUT ALABAMA (14-12, 6-7 SEC): James "Beetle" Bolden only had six points, but drew high praise from Oats, who said the Crimson Tide were plus-17 when he was on the court. The senior's minutes have been sporadic, ranging from 30 or better against Georgia and Auburn to fewer than 20 in the last two games, and his production has followed suit, resulting in him averaging 7.8 points in conference play. "I thought he turned the whole game around for us when he came in the first half," Oats told the media. "I thought he had the best practice of anybody. That's kind of how this game works. You get yourself ready to play."

ABOUT OLE MISS (13-13, 4-9): The SEC hasn't seen a five-game run like the one Tyree has been on in more than the 10 seasons, but he may have a tough time adding to it against an Alabama squad he has averaged only 9.8 points against in four games with his only game in double figures coming as a freshman. The New Jersey native has been doing it from all over the court in the last five contests but especially at the foul line, where he has made 37-of-44. Tyree passed Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter (1,682 points) for seventh on the school's scoring list and needs six points for 1,700 in his career.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. John Petty Jr. ranks fifth in Alabama history in 3-pointers made (228) and attempted (593).

2. Ole Miss is 1-6 in games decided by fewer than six points, including 0-5 in the SEC.

3. Kermit Davis coached his 700th game (436-264) in Ole Miss' loss Tuesday at Missouri.

PREDICTION: Alabama 77, Ole Miss 72