**Nashville, Tenn. - In a thrilling contest at Bridgestone Arena, the Ole Miss Rebels clinched a hard-fought victory over Georgia, 76-72, advancing in the 2026 SEC Tournament. This sets the stage for an exciting quarterfinal clash against No.
15 Alabama. **
Ole Miss showcased resilience and composure down the stretch, especially in the final seconds. With Georgia narrowing the gap to just two points after a late dunk, the Bulldogs called a timeout to strategize. Kezza Giffa then stepped up, calmly sinking a crucial free throw to give the Rebels a 74-71 edge with mere seconds remaining.
The tension peaked when an Ole Miss foul sent Georgia to the line. They made the first free throw but missed the second, allowing Travis Perry to snag a pivotal defensive rebound and seal the game at the free-throw line.
The Rebels (14-19, 4-14 SEC) started strong, taking an early 9-5 lead. Georgia (22-10, 10-8 SEC) responded, trimming the deficit to two, but Ilias Kamardine's timely three-pointer extended the Rebels' lead back to five.
Ole Miss's defense was relentless, holding Georgia to just 20 first-half points-their lowest opening half of the season. A fastbreak finish by AJ Storr capped off the half, giving Ole Miss a commanding 34-20 advantage.
The second half saw the Rebels firing on all cylinders, draining four three-pointers in the first six minutes to stretch their lead to 53-32. However, Georgia wasn't done yet.
They mounted an impressive comeback, narrowing the gap to five points at 57-52 with under nine minutes left. A crucial three-pointer by Travis Perry helped Ole Miss regain momentum, pushing their lead to 60-54.
Despite Georgia's persistent efforts, Ole Miss maintained their lead, with Eduardo Klafke's step-back jumper providing a crucial cushion. The Rebels held firm, advancing to the SEC Tournament quarterfinals for the second consecutive year and notching two victories at the event for the first time since their 2013 title run.
Now, the stage is set for a showdown with Alabama on Friday, March 13, at 6 p.m. The game promises to be a must-watch, airing live on the SEC Network.
Fans can follow the action on Twitter @OleMissMBB, on Facebook at Ole Miss Men's Basketball, and on Instagram at olemissmbb.