Ole Miss returns to Oxford Tuesday night with something to prove - and an unbeaten home record to protect - as the Rebels host Miami in a key ACC/SEC Challenge matchup.
This will be Miami’s first true road test of the season, and it comes against a Rebels team looking to bounce back from a pair of tight losses at the Acrisure Classic in Palm Desert, California. Ole Miss opened the season strong with five straight wins, but dropped back-to-back games to Iowa and Utah last week, each by five points or fewer. The most painful came in a 75-74 heartbreaker to Utah, where the Rebels clawed back late only to watch it slip away in the final seconds.
Ilias Kamardine gave Ole Miss a late lead in that one with a clutch jumper with 57 seconds left, capping a 15-point performance. But Utah’s Terrence Brown iced the game with two free throws with just four seconds remaining, sealing the Rebels’ second straight loss.
Despite the recent setbacks, Kamardine has emerged as a go-to guy for Ole Miss. Through seven games, he’s averaging 15.1 points per contest while shooting an impressive 55.6% from the floor.
He’s not doing it alone, either. AJ Storr (14.9 ppg) and Malik Dia (13.0 ppg) have been steady contributors, giving the Rebels a balanced scoring attack.
And don’t overlook Kezza Giffa. The High Point transfer has quickly earned his spot in the rotation, averaging 8.6 points and 1.6 assists while knocking down 50% of his shots.
Head coach Chris Beard has been vocal about what Giffa brings to the table, both on and off the court. “Kez is a good player and a grown man off the court,” Beard said.
“He chose Ole Miss to win. He’s a good basketball player, and there’s a reason he was [Preseason] Conference Player of the Year where he was before.”
On the other side, Miami enters the matchup at 6-2 and just one win away from matching last season’s total - a 7-24 campaign the Hurricanes would rather forget. But this year’s squad has shown early signs of turning the page, especially behind the strong play of Malik Reneau.
Reneau has been the engine for Miami’s offense, averaging 20.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. He was dominant in Miami’s 78-65 win over Georgetown on Friday, scoring 19 of his 23 points in the first half and helping the Hurricanes build a lead they never relinquished. Miami’s defense also showed up in a big way, holding the Hoyas to just 35.6% shooting overall and a chilly 26.9% from deep.
That win came after a tough loss to No. 9 BYU in the ESPN Events Invitational in Kissimmee, Florida - a tournament head coach Jai Lucas says was all about growth.
“That’s what these Thanksgiving tournaments are all about,” Lucas said. “Playing different styles, higher-level competition, and learning and growing from the experiences.”
Now, Miami faces a different kind of test in Oxford - a hostile environment, a motivated Ole Miss team, and a chance to show they can compete on the road against a quality SEC opponent. For the Rebels, it’s about getting back in the win column and keeping their home-court streak alive.
It’s early December, but this one has the feel of a game that could matter come March.