Ole Miss concluded non-conference play with a 79-43 win over Alcorn State on Monday, marking the largest margin of victory of the Chris Beard era in Oxford. While the opening half of the season was filled with challenges and frustrating losses, the red and blue shone at home in its final game of 2025, as the team prepared to shift its focus to a gauntlet of SEC opponents.
Chris Beard’s Rebels led a balanced offensive attack, with four players reaching double-figures on the scoreboard, while Malik Dia’s 12-point and 11-rebound performance set the tone. Defensively, Ole Miss (8-5) stifled the Braves, holding the visitors to just 25% shooting. Alcorn State (1-11) forward Tycen McDaniels, however, went against the grain and scored a game-best 17 points, connecting on 50% of his field goals.
A very slow and sloppy start found Ole Miss with an 8-0 deficit and 4 turnovers in the first 6 minutes of action. A three-point shot by bench guard Koren Johnson at the 13:56 mark got the Rebels on the board and kick-started a 19-0 run in the home team’s favor over the next 4 minutes. From there, Ole Miss continued to step on the gas without looking back. A deep shot by Patton Pinkins put the Rebels up 37-25 at the intermission.
Ole Miss opened the second frame with a lob from Ilias Kamardine, followed by a dunk by James Scott. A neutralizing triple by McDaniels gave Alcorn State a hint of lifem but it was short-lived. A three-point play by Scott and a pair of deep shots by Kamardine, who was scoreless in the first half, catalyzed a 14-3 run by the Rebels over a 4-minute stretch. With 13:21 on the clock, Ole Miss led 53-21.
Then the Dia show began. The promising big man scored 10 of the Rebels’ next 12 points, helping build the home team’s lead to 30 with 7 minutes remaining in regulation. Ole Miss amassed its largest advantage of the night, 40 points, following a shot from behind the arc by Pinkins at the 2:28 mark. The Braves made the score look a little more competitive with a three-point play and a triple in the last 35 seconds.
Joining Dia in the double-digit scoring club were Kezza Giffa with 14 points, Pinkins with 13 points, and Scott with 13 points. Scott also joined his fellow big man in the double-double club with 11 rebounds. Corey Chest secured 11 boards in the matchup.
As a team, Ole Miss dominated on the glass, grabbing 25 more rebounds than its SWAC opponent. The Rebels also had the advantage down low, scoring 20 more points in the paint than the Braves. While there were many stark differences between the two teams on Monday, the biggest advantage Ole Miss had was its bench, which outscored the Braves’ 44-4.
Next up for Ole Miss is its SEC opener at Oklahoma on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CT. The game will air on the SEC Network and participating SuperTalk Mississippi stations. Meanwhile, Alcorn State will begin SWAC play at Jackson State on Saturday at 3 p.m. CT.