Ole Miss will try to remain unbeaten at home when it hosts Miami, which is playing its first true road game of the season, in Oxford, Miss., on Tuesday night.
The clash between the Hurricanes (6-2) and Rebels (5-2) is part of the ACC/SEC Challenge.
Ole Miss won its first five games but lost back-to-back games to Iowa and Utah last week in the Acrisure Classic in Palm Desert, Calif. The Rebels dropped both by five points or fewer, including a 75-74 setback against the Utes on Wednesday.
Ilias Kamardine, who had 15 points, put Ole Miss ahead when he sank a jumper with 57 seconds left, but the Rebels’ comeback fell short after Utah’s Terrence Brown hit two free throws with four seconds remaining.
Kamardine leads Ole Miss in scoring through seven games, averaging 15.1 points per game and shooting 55.6% from the field. AJ Storr (14.9 ppg) and Malik Dia (13.0 ppg) are also making an impact on the offensive end. High Point transfer Kezza Giffa also has drawn praise, averaging 8.6 points and 1.6 assists while shooting 50% from the field.
“Kez is a good player and a grown man off the court,” Rebels coach Chris Beard said recently. “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.”
Miami split two games at the ESPN Events Invitational in Kissimmee, Fla., last week losing to No. 9 BYU and beating Georgetown.
The Hurricanes are one win away from equaling their total from last season’s 7-24 mark, but they are 1-2 against power conference opponents.
Malik Reneau has been a constant for Miami, averaging a team-high 20.8 points as well as 7.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.
On Friday, Reneau scored 19 of his 23 points in the first half to help the Hurricanes build a double-digit lead as they beat Georgetown 78-65. Miami continued to defend well, holding the Hoyas to 35.6% shooting from the field and 26.9% from 3-point range.
“That’s what these Thanksgiving tournaments are all about, playing different styles, higher level competition, and learning and growing from the experiences,” Miami coach Jai Lucas said.
