Sam Houston St. @ Mississippi preview

Andy Kennedy is in his 13th season as coach of Ole Miss, but he is in the midst of unfamiliar territory as the struggling Rebels prepare to host Sam Houston State on Wednesday. Ole Miss lost at Middle Tennessee State on Saturday, marking the first time in Kennedy’s tenure the Rebels have dropped three non-conference games in a row, and while the competition has been a challenge that does not mean Kennedy or his players are satisfied with falling short.

“It’s a combination of a number of different things,” Kennedy told reporters Monday in addressing the status of his team, which now is at .500 through eight games. “When you play against quality competition, those things bite you.” The Rebels led in the final two minutes of regulation in an overtime defeat to South Dakota State, led for 37 minutes in an overtime loss to Virginia Tech, and were ahead by one at halftime before losing to the Blue Raiders by 19 points. One area of concern is defense, where the Rebels are 290th in the nation in allowing 78.4 points per contest. The Bearkats have defeated just one Division I team this season, a victory over Santa Clara in the Great Alaska Shootout, and lost their last game to No. 21 Baylor by 28 points.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, SEC Network Plus

ABOUT SAM HOUSTON STATE (5-4): Senior forward Chris Galbreath Jr. is the only Bearkats player averaging in double figures at 14.8 points per game. He recorded his third consecutive double-double in the loss at Baylor, finishing with 24 points on 10-of-21 shooting from the field to go with 10 rebounds. Sam Houston State is averaging just 58.4 points in five games against Division I competition.

ABOUT OLE MISS (4-4): Several Rebels spent Monday telling reporters there is no panic in their locker room, with a four-game homestand opening Wednesday before the SEC opener against South Carolina on New Year’s Eve. Junior guard Terence Davis leads Ole Miss in scoring at 16.9 points per game but scored just 10 against Middle Tennessee State. Senior forward Marcanvis Hymon matched a season high with 12 points Saturday, finishing a perfect 6-of-6 from the field.

TIP-INS

1. The Rebels shot a season-worst 5-of-18 from 3-point range Saturday, and are shooting just 27.6 percent from beyond the arc during their losing streak.

2. Ole Miss has committed 96 turnovers in eight games, the 19th lowest number of miscues in the country.

3. Ole Miss senior G Deandre Burnett is 21st in the country in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.5).

PREDICTION: Ole Miss 77, Sam Houston State 59