Missouri @ Mississippi preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 18, 2020 ) Mississippi 68, Missouri 71

Ole Miss looks for a second straight win when it hosts Missouri in an SEC contest on Wednesday night. The Rebels are coming off a victory over Vanderbilt on Saturday that snapped a four-game losing streak, while the Tigers enter this game off a home loss to Mississippi State on Saturday.

Missouri is led by the backcourt duo of Dru Smith (12.7 points, 3.8 assists) and Xavier Pinson (11, 2.7), who have been the best offensive threats for coach Cuonzo Martin of late. Guard Mark Smith is averaging 10.1 points, but he has struggled since coming back from an injury that kept him out seven games, scoring a total of five points in two contests. Ole Miss will be looking to send senior Breein Tyree out with a win in his final regular-season home game, with Tyree leading the Rebels with 20.1 points per game. Backcourt mate Devontae Shuler has been filling up the boxscore, averaging 11.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.7 steals this season.

TIME: 9 p.m. ET. TV: SEC Network

ABOUT MISSOURI (14-15, 6-10 SEC): If the Tigers are going to make an improbable run to a postseason berth by winning the SEC tournament, it is likely going to be behind the hot scoring of Pinson. Since being inserted into the starting lineup nine games ago, Pinson has averaged 18.3 points, hitting 18 3-pointers over that span and becoming Missouri's go-to scorer. Pinson is a player that can get very hot and carry a team, and he's really turned it on over the last five games, averaging 22.4 points, including a career high of 32 against Ole Miss.

ABOUT OLE MISS (14-15, 5-11): Depth has been a big problem for the Rebels this season, with Ole Miss getting almost no point production from its bench. The five starters are averaging 63.6 points per game in conference play, while the bench is averaging just 8.8 points. Three starters -- Tyree, Shuler and Blake Hinson -- are averaging more than 33 minutes a game in conference play, while only two reserves -- Bryce Williams and Austin Crowley -- are averaging as many as 15.1 minutes per contest.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Missouri is currently shooting 77.8 percent from the free-throw line on the season, ranking 11th nationally and on pace for a school record in the category.

2. Ole Miss ranks 17th nationally in 3-point percentage defense, holding opponents to 29.2 percent shooting from beyond the arc.

3. The Rebels dished out 26 assists in the win over Vanderbilt, the most by the team in an SEC contest since January 1979.

PREDICTION: Ole Miss 69, Missouri 66