FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — In a notable victory, Malik Dia led the No. 23 Mississippi Rebels to a 73-66 triumph over the Arkansas Razorbacks on Wednesday night. This victory marked the Rebels’ first win in Fayetteville since 2015.
Dia scored an impressive 21 points, supported by Sean Pedulla with 16 points and Dre Davis adding 10 points. With under nine minutes remaining in the game, both Pedulla and Dia contributed back-to-back baskets, allowing Ole Miss to stretch their lead to over ten points after the Razorbacks had narrowed the margin to six.
For Arkansas, Adou Thiero was the standout player, scoring 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting, but as a team, they struggled with a shooting percentage of only 32% throughout the game. In a crucial five-minute segment midway through the second half, Dia, Pedulla, and Davis combined for 14 consecutive points, allowing the Rebels to maintain their double-digit lead over Arkansas (11-4, 0-2 Southeastern Conference).
The Razorbacks, having dropped out of the Top 25 following their loss at Tennessee last week, now find themselves starting the SEC season at 0-2 for the second consecutive year.
Looking forward, Arkansas may face a significant challenge in the NCAA Tournament standings as they prepare to host ninth-ranked Florida at Bud Walton Arena on Saturday. Conversely, the Rebels, now standing at 2-0 in the SEC for the first time since 2019—the same year they last qualified for the NCAA Tournament—are showing signs of potentially making a return in 2025.
One of the pivotal moments of the game was a 17-7 run by Ole Miss in the early stages of the second half, which was crucial in securing their victory over Arkansas.
A key statistic that played a role in the game was Arkansas’ poor shooting performance, particularly from beyond the arc. The Razorbacks managed only 22% from three-point range, while Ole Miss excelled with 39% shooting. Additionally, leading scorer Boogie Fland struggled, finishing with 14 points on just 5-of-20 shooting.
Next on the schedule, Ole Miss will host LSU on Saturday, while the Razorbacks will be looking to bounce back as they take on No. 8 Florida.
