The Ole Miss men’s basketball team is still early in its season, but Tuesday night looked a lot like a group that already knows exactly what it wants to be. The Rebels smothered Southeastern Louisiana, 91-51, at the Sandy and John Black Pavilion, leaning into the physical, defensive identity that has become the calling card of a Chris Beard team.
Ole Miss had to shake off a small early deficit, but once it found its footing, the game tilted hard and stayed that way. The Rebels’ intensity never let up, and the Lions were eventually worn down by the pressure and pace.
A transfer-heavy roster usually needs time to click. This one already looks connected. Ole Miss is moving with the kind of cohesion that suggests the pieces are fitting together faster than expected, and after a disappointing 2025-2026 campaign, the Rebels appear better equipped for a push toward a March Madness bid.
Budd Clark was the engine again. Beard recently called the Seton Hall transfer a “Philly guard,” and that label fit perfectly on Tuesday. Clark scored 23 points on 10-of-13 shooting, adding three rebounds and three assists while continuing to reshape the way Ole Miss operates.
He reached 500 career assists in the previous game against Central Arkansas, and through three games he has already become the player who sets the tone for everything else the Rebels do. He’s not just producing; he’s making the whole offense cleaner and more dangerous.
Santiago Trouet gave Ole Miss exactly what it needs in the frontcourt. The 6-foot-11 big man posted 12 points and seven rebounds, and he looked like a steady presence on both ends. Ole Miss has looked stronger on the glass early, and Trouet’s fit alongside Roman Sielupa and Christian Brown gives Beard several different looks up front.
Trouet’s role matters even more with Micah Handlogten still in the middle of his eligibility fight. For now, the Rebels can at least feel good about what they’ve gotten from Trouet, who appears to be the most fluid center in the group.
Corey Stephenson also delivered another strong outing. The Florida International transfer scored 12 points, grabbed four rebounds and dished out an assist while adding three steals. He brings a burst of scoring that can change the feel of a possession in a hurry, and he has already carved out a place in the starting rotation.
Ilias Kamardine turned in his best game of the season as well. After a difficult first year stateside, he looked far more comfortable against Southeastern Louisiana, finishing with 12 points and seven assists. With Clark, Stephenson and Patton Pinkins around him, Kamardine was able to play more like the pass-first guard Ole Miss expected when it brought him in.
Christian Brown added another layer of force inside. The 6-foot-8, 240-pound sophomore forward scored 11 points and played with the kind of aggression that makes him hard to keep out of the paint. He paired well with Trouet and punctuated the night with a posterizing dunk late in the first half.
Ole Miss now gets one more tune-up next Tuesday, November 17th, before its first headline matchup with Clemson on November 23rd.
In Other News...
Mississippi State Just Ended One Huge Question For Ole Miss Fans
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The timing matters, too, because Taylors 2026 season was cut short by a turf toe injury that required surgery, leaving his status and long-term outlook a real talking point around the program. Jeff Lebby has already voiced support for Taylors recovery and return, and now the focus shifts to what that continuity could mean for Mississippi State as it tries to build around him again. [Read more 🡒]
Ole Miss Season May Hinge On These Rebels Vs Oklahoma
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Ole Miss Suddenly Has A Bigger CFP Problem Than Fans Expected
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Georgias move to No. 1 and Utahs rise to No. 2 reshuffled the top of the bracket, while Ohio State and LSU also took hits after recent losses. For Ole Miss, the issue is no longer just the defeat itself, but how crowded the path has become with other contenders still positioned ahead of it, including teams like Notre Dame that remain very much in the conversation. [Read more 🡒]