Missouri @ Mississippi preview
The Sandy and John Black Pavilion at Ole Miss
Last Meeting ( Feb 20, 2018 ) Mississippi 90, Missouri 87
Streaky Ole Miss looks to keep the momentum going and bolster its hopes of a top-four finish in the SEC when it hosts Missouri on Saturday. The Rebels have won three straight following a four-game skid to pull into a fourth-place tie with South Carolina in the conference standings.
Ole Miss has locked down on defense during its three-game winning streak, allowing just 63.3 points per game. The Rebels were especially stingy in a 60-55 win at Auburn on Wednesday, holding the Tigers to a season-low 32.7 percent from the field. Missouri snapped a two-game skid with a 79-78 home victory over Arkansas on Tuesday but has lost its last three road contests. The Rebels have dominated the all-time series, winning nine of the last 10 meetings, but Missouri ended an eight-game slide with a triumph at Ole Miss last season.
TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network
ABOUT MISSOURI (12-11, 3-8 SEC): The Tigers have been without guard Mark Smith (12.6 points), the SEC’s top 3-point shooter at 47.5 percent, for six games due to an ankle injury. Without Smith, the offense has more often gone through Jeremiah Tilmon (11.2 points, 5.8 rebounds), who scored 21 points against Arkansas and has averaged 19.5 and six rebounds over his last four games. Tilmon’s strong play has helped take some of the pressure off Jordan Geist (13.8 points), who is the team’s most reliable offensive player.
ABOUT OLE MISS (17-7, 7-4): The Rebels possess one of the SEC’s top backcourt duos in Breein Tyree (18.6 points) and Terence Davis (15.9, 6.2 rebounds), who have combined to hit 100 3-pointers. Devontae Shuler (9.6 points) and Blake Hinson (8.9) also like to let it fly from 3-point range. Tyree leads the SEC in scoring during conference play at 19.6 points and is averaging 23.3 over his last six contests.
TIP-INS
1. After committing 61 turnovers during a three-game losing streak in January, the Tigers have limited themselves to 42 in four contests since.
2. The Rebels lead the SEC and rank ninth nationally in free-throw shooting at 76.8 percent.
3. Missouri is 11-1 when holding opponents under 70 points.
PREDICTION: Ole Miss 77, Missouri 69