Ole Miss Dominates Alcorn State Behind Dia’s Second Straight Double-Double
OXFORD, Miss. - What started as a slow burn turned into a full-blown rout at the SJB Pavilion on Monday night, as Ole Miss shook off a sluggish start to overwhelm Alcorn State, 79-43. The Rebels improved to 8-5 on the season, and while the final score tells a story of dominance, the opening minutes were anything but smooth.
Alcorn State came out swinging, jumping to an 8-0 lead and holding Ole Miss scoreless for the first six minutes. But once Koren Johnson knocked down a three at the 14-minute mark, the floodgates opened. That shot sparked a 19-0 run that flipped the game on its head and gave the Rebels a lead they wouldn’t come close to surrendering.
By halftime, Ole Miss had seized full control, leading 37-25. From there, it was all Rebels.
The second half was a showcase in physicality, tempo, and rebounding dominance. Malik Dia continued his impressive stretch, notching his second consecutive double-double with 12 points and 11 boards. His presence in the paint was felt on both ends, and he’s now posted three double-doubles in his last five games - the first Rebel to record back-to-back double-doubles since Sebastian Saiz in 2017.
But Dia wasn’t alone in the paint party. James Scott joined him with a double-double of his own - 13 points and 11 rebounds - marking the first time in nearly four years that two Rebels posted double-doubles in the same game. Add Corey Chest to the mix, who tied his season high with 10 rebounds, and Ole Miss had three players with double-digit boards - something that hasn’t happened since 2016.
That rebounding edge wasn’t just a stat sheet filler - it was a statement. Ole Miss outmuscled Alcorn State on the glass by a staggering 53-28 margin, a +25 differential that the program hasn’t seen since 2008. In the second half alone, the Rebels outrebounded the Braves 31-11 and outscored them 22-4 in the paint.
The game ballooned into a blowout midway through the second half. A 22-2 run starting at the 9:54 mark put the game completely out of reach, extending the lead to 40 points with just over two minutes remaining.
Now, with non-conference play in the rearview mirror, Ole Miss turns its attention to the SEC. The Rebels will head to Norman, Oklahoma, to open conference play against Oklahoma on Saturday, January 3 at 2:30 p.m. in the Lloyd Noble Center.
If Monday night was any indication, this Ole Miss team is starting to find its rhythm - and just in time for the grind of SEC basketball.