OXFORD, Miss. — In a decisive performance, Sira Thienou delivered a personal best of 16 points on 7-for-8 shooting, leading No. 17 Mississippi to a commanding 76-44 victory over Jackson State during a Kids Day event on Monday.

The Rebels, improving to a 3-1 record, gained significant momentum in the third quarter, expanding their nine-point halftime advantage to a solid 54-30. Ole Miss capitalized on their shooting, hitting 9 of 18 attempts, contrasted with Jackson State’s struggles, as they managed only 3 of 14 shots and committed eight turnovers during that period.

Supporting Thienou, KK Deans scored 10 points for Ole Miss. The Rebels efficiently turned 29 turnovers from Jackson State into a striking 33 points and also added another 14 points from the free-throw line.

The Tigers saw contributions from Talea Dilworth and Diaka Berete, who each added 10 points. Jackson State’s new head coach, Margaret Richards, is working with a rebuilt squad that has no returning players after the team reached the NCAA Tournament last year.

Ole Miss started strong, seizing the first nine points of the contest and quickly established a 15-3 lead. Although the Tigers faced a ten-point deficit at the end of the first quarter, they narrowed the gap to six in the second quarter, before entering halftime down 31-22.

Despite their slow start, Ole Miss managed only a 32% shooting rate in the first half; however, they found success at the free-throw line, making 12 of 18 attempts. On the other side, Jackson State shot 33% with four successful free throws and kept pace with the Rebels in turnovers and rebounding.

In the second half, the Rebels responded effectively, hitting 51% of their shots and minimizing their turnovers to just five. The second-half performance showcased their ability to adapt, solidifying their lead and running away with the victory.