Illinois St. @ Mississippi preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 14, 2012 ) Illinois St. 96, Mississippi 93

Ole Miss hosts Illinois State on Saturday looking to continue establishing an inside presence on the offensive side of the court. The Rebels, who lost three of their last four games, have struggled without consistent production from the paint.

Bruce Stevens, a 6-8 junior, scored a career-high 13 points for Ole Miss in a victory over Sam Houston State on Wednesday in his second consecutive start while playing just 17 minutes. Stevens has scored in double digits in each of the past two games. Rebels coach Andy Kennedy is looking to increase the role Stevens is growing in to while looking to round out his game. "He is big and he’s quick and he creates space with his body, making tough angle shots,'' Kennedy told reporters. "We are trying to establish a low post presence and he’s our best option. But on the defensive side, he has got to get better. This isn’t football. You have to be able to play both ends. Bruce needs to get better defensively.''

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network

ABOUT ILLINOIS STATE (4-6): Junior forward Milik Yarbrough scored a career-high 30 points in the Redbirds' last outing, more than doubling his regular season average while hitting on 10-of-19 shots. Guard Keyshawn Evans, who averages 18.6 points and is connecting on 49.3 percent from 3-point range, leads the offense which features three players averaging double figures. Phil Fayne, who missed the last game due to a funeral, is second on the team at 16.9 points.

ABOUT OLE MISS (5-4): The Rebels snapped a three-game losing streak last time out and the work along the glass was a big reason. Ole Miss enjoyed its greatest margin of advantage in rebounds on the season, out-boarding Sam Houston State 43-30. Every player who entered the game for Ole Miss recorded at least one rebound, led by Marcanvis Hymon (9), Terence Davis (7) and Justas Furmanavicius (7).

TIP-INS

1. The Rebels are in the middle of five consecutive games at home that carries through the end of the month, and their next road contest is Jan. 3 at Georgia.

2. Ole Miss utilized its bench last time out with nine players seeing action and eight logging at least 17 minutes, leading to a 40-20 advantage in points by reserves.

3. This is the fourth all-time meeting between the schools and Illinois State has won the previous three, including the most recent game on March 14, 2012 in the NIT.

PREDICTION: Ole Miss 78, Illinois State 72