MILWAUKEE — Despite Mississippi’s substantial lead reduction during Friday’s intense March Madness contest, Sean Pedulla retained faith in himself and his team. He played a crucial role in securing Ole Miss’s first NCAA Tournament victory in ten years.
Pedulla drained a pivotal 3-point shot with just under a minute on the clock, leading Ole Miss to triumph over North Carolina 71-64. His shot was vital after North Carolina’s RJ Davis closed Ole Miss’s advantage to merely two points.
“They had a big run, and we absolutely needed that score,” remarked Pedulla. “I took the shot with confidence, and everything else was up to fate.”
As the No. 6 seed in the South Region, Ole Miss (23-11) eyes its first Sweet 16 appearance since 2001. They are set to compete against No. 3 seed Iowa State (25-9) on Sunday, following Iowa State’s commanding 82-55 victory over Lipscomb earlier in Milwaukee.
This tournament marks Ole Miss’s first NCAA appearance since 2019. The Rebels last celebrated a win in the NCAA tournament by overcoming BYU 94-90 during the 2015 First Four.
Chris Beard, Ole Miss’s coach and former leader of Texas Tech to the NCAA finals in 2019, took the win as an opportunity to address criticisms labeling the Rebels as “frauds” earlier in the week.
“Our performance today had nothing fraudulent about it,” asserted Beard. “That notion doesn’t reflect our team.”
However, Ole Miss faced stiff resistance from North Carolina (23-14).
RJ Davis showcased his talent with a strong drive, attracting a foul and converting a subsequent free throw to narrow the score to 66-64 with just over a minute left. Pedulla answered with a key three-pointer, Ole Miss’s single successful long-range shot out of seven attempts in the second half.
“I trust in my preparation,” stated Pedulla. “Missing a few shots doesn’t stop me from taking good ones.”
Following a missed three by North Carolina’s Drake Powell, Pedulla ensured the win with two free throws and 34 seconds left. He concluded with 20 points, Dre Davis contributed 15, and Jaemyn Brakefield added 12 for Ole Miss.
For North Carolina, RJ Davis posted 15 points, with Ven-Allen Lubin contributing 14. The Tar Heels progressed to this point with a 95-68 victory against San Diego State earlier in the week.
Ole Miss managed to hold the lead throughout, initially seemingly poised for a decisive win.
“Ole Miss outperformed us in every measure of physicality in the first half,” noted North Carolina coach Hubert Davis. “Our only choices were to fight back or face embarrassment.”
North Carolina’s deficit stood at 50-30 over 16 minutes before Jae’lyn Withers exited due to an injury. Despite leading by 15 with nine minutes to go, Ole Miss faced a fierce challenge as the Tar Heels intensely countered.
A stunning dunk by Jalen Wahington capped the Tar Heels’ 11-0 run, narrowing Ole Miss’s lead to 63-59 with over five minutes to play. RJ Davis further trimmed the lead, setting up Pedulla’s crucial contribution.
Reflecting on RJ Davis’s Career
As a fifth-year senior, RJ Davis concluded his North Carolina run with 2,725 points, second only to Tyler Hansbrough’s lifetime accomplishment at the school. JJ Redick’s record for the ACC stands at 2,769 points.
“These past five years have been the best of my life,” expressed Davis, emphasizing the journey’s value beyond basketball.
ACC’s Tournament Challenges
North Carolina’s loss continued a difficult NCAA Tournament series for the ACC.
With four ACC teams entering the tournament, only Duke progressed beyond the first round. Louisville fell 89-75 to Creighton, while Clemson faced a narrow 69-67 defeat to McNeese.