Mississippi

Rims are unkind to Iowa State as it falls to Mississippi in second round of NCAA tournament at Fiserv Forum

Published

1 year ago

March 23, 2025

Rims are unkind to Iowa State as it falls to Mississippi in second round of NCAA tournament at Fiserv Forum

MILWAUKEE – Milan Momcilovic stared at the basket a brief moment before running back on defense, slightly shaking his head. The rim can be unforgiving in March. Mystifying. Even when it’s in your hometown gym.

The former Pewaukee High standout saw just how temperamental the rim can be in his homecoming this weekend for the NCAA tournament. Two days after his scorching shooting led Iowa State to the second round, Momcilovic couldn’t find the net in No. 6 Iowa State’s 91-78 loss Sunday night to No. 6 Mississippi at Fiserv Forum.

The Cyclones’ sophomore forward shot just 2 of 12 from the field, including 1 of 8 behind the three-point arc. He lingered a moment, but only for a moment, after his sixth three-pointer clanged off the rim despite an open look early in the second half. Momcilovic finally drained his first three-pointer from the left corner with less than 5 minutes left, avoiding going scoreless from beyond the arc for only the third time this season.

Mississippi plays a distinctive defense that consists of regularly switching guards onto bigger forwards, and larger players onto guards. The mismatched pattern can disrupt rhythm for an offense, but Momcilovic said he felt his shots were open enough to make more consistently.

“They were being physical,” Momcilovic said. “They put a smaller guy on me, but I just think at the end of the day, I had three or four open looks in the first half. I missed them all. I got one bucket to go in the first half, but just missed four or five open looks in the first half, honestly.

“Then to come out at half and miss two or three looks, it was just tough. I couldn’t get one to go all night, and my team needed me.”

BOX SCORE: Mississippi 91, Iowa State 78

Momcilovic had plenty of company. Iowa State shot 48% from the field, but only 8 of 22 (36%) from behind the arc. The final numbers don’t show how much the Cyclones struggled shooting. Iowa State was just 3 of 11 from behind the three-point line in the first half.

The Cyclones were also just 15 of 23 from the free-throw line, emphasizing their overall shooting woes.

Without second-leading scorer Keshon Gilbert, Iowa State needed a complementary cast – including Momcilovic – to pick up the scoring burden to advance far in this tournament. The sophomore responded in Friday’s first-round win against No. 14 Lipscomb with 20 points, his second most this season. he shot 8 of 14 from the field Friday, including 4 of 8 from three.

Momcilovic finished with just 5 points against the Rebels. It was his fewest in a game since Feb. 11.

“All my teammates tell me to keep shooting,” Mimcilovic said. “The coaches tell me to keep shooting. So I’m going to keep shooting. Because, I mean, that’s what I’m good at. It’s just try to stay confident if the shots aren’t going to go down. If I’m not shooting well, hopefully try to give some energy to my teammates. Hopefully be better, be a cutter, but it is tough when you miss a lot of shots. That mindset, you don’t get a lot of confidence, and it’s tough.”

Mississippi had no problem finding the basket

The rim wasn’t so unkind when Iowa State was on defense. Mississippi shot a blistering 58% from the field, including a matching 58% from three.

After trailing 15-8 with 14:27 left, the Rebels seized control with an extended 20-2 run over the next 6:23. The stretch ended with Mississippi taking a 28-17 lead with 8:24 left in the half.

The Cyclones cut their deficit to 43-34 on a free throw from Joshua Jefferson with 18:21 left, but Rebels forward Jaemyn Brakefield answered with a layup on the next possession. Iowa State wouldn’t pull within single digits again.

“I would say we struggled just to stay in front of our guy guarding the ball,” senior guard Nate Heise said. “Then that put us into rotations. I think that’s where a lot of their 3s came from, was two guys going to the ball and then someone being open on the back side, or something like that.

Mississippi won the turnover battle 15-8, which also led to easier shots in transition. The Rebels outscored the Cyclones 20-7 off turnovers, a 13-point margin that matched a 13-point win.

Chris Beard rebuilding project ahead of schedule

With the win, Mississippi advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2001. The Rebels were the second SEC program to punch their ticket to the Sweet 16 on Sunday night in Milwaukee, joining Kentucky. The No. 3 Wildcats beat No. 6 Illinois in the first game of a doubleheader inside Fiserv Forum.

Rebels coach Chris Beard, who led Texas Tech to the national title game in 2019, was hired last season to rebuild Mississippi’s basketball program. Ending the Sweet 16 drought is a watershed moment for his program.

“It hasn’t been done recently,” Beard said, “but telling these guys what we thought we could do at Ole Miss, they trusted us enough to come. Excited about the players. All my thoughts are on those guys. We came here to win a four-team tournament. So two down. It takes six to win the whole thing. “Told the guys to enjoy this for a half a day, and we will get back to work tomorrow. We’re excited about our next opportunity in the Sweet 16.”

After trailing 15-8 with 14:27 left, the Rebels seized control with an extended 20-2 run over the next 6:23. The stretch ended with Mississippi taking a 28-17 lead with 8:24 left in the half.

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Mississippi

Ferris, West to discuss Mississippi folk artists at UM Museum – The Oxford Eagle

Published

7 hours ago

June 4, 2026

Press Room

Ferris, West to discuss Mississippi folk artists at UM Museum

Published 6:30 am Thursday, June 4, 2026

The University of Mississippi Museum will host “A Conversation with Bill Ferris & Milly West” from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on June 17.

A reception will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by the talk at 6 p.m.

The program will feature Bill Ferris, founding director of the Center for Southern Studies, author, scholar and folklorist, in conversation with photographer and former Southside Gallery owner Milly West, discussing “Mississippi Self-taught and Folk Artists in the Museum Collections.”

The discussion will explore the creativity, ingenuity and cultural storytelling of self-taught and folk artists represented in the museum’s collection. Ferris and West both had personal relationships with many of the artists and will share stories and insights into their artistic inspirations and processes.

Through paintings, sculpture, textiles, carvings and mixed-media works, the pair will examine how artists working outside traditional academic training have shaped the art and visual culture of the American South.

Among the artists discussed will be Luster Willis, whose work is currently featured in an exhibition at the museum. Most of the pieces on display were gifted to the museum by Ferris. Other artists highlighted during the conversation will include Sulton Rogers and Theora Hamblett.

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Mississippi

Mississippi Court of Appeals Brings ‘Court on the Road’ Prog…

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17 hours ago

June 4, 2026

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Mississippi Court of Appeals Brings ‘Court on the Road’ Prog…

Following the arguments, students questioned the judges about their careers and the responsibilities of serving on the appellate court.

Alfred Galtney, Alcorn State University compliance officer and a member of the academy’s planning committee, said the experience helped students understand the role law plays in everyday life.

“I hope they’ll get an understanding of how law impacts society and the important role lawyers play in our everyday lives,” Galtney said.

Several students said the event strengthened their interest in legal careers.

Layla Woods, an incoming junior at Franklin County High School, said the program encouraged her to continue pursuing her goals of attending law school. Izzy Turner, who will enter the 10th grade at Franklin County High, said watching the proceedings helped her better understand the seriousness and importance of the legal system. Turner plans to major in psychology before attending law school.

Kavion Curtis Jr., enrolled at Natchez Early College at Co-Lin, said his interest in law stems from a love of debate and courtroom advocacy.

“I’ve always loved courtroom shows and how professional lawyers are,” Curtis said. “I have a passion for debating, and I hope to become an attorney and eventually a judge.”

The Court on the Road program is designed to bring the appellate court process directly to communities across Mississippi while educating students about careers in law and public service.

The Miss-Lou Pre-Law Academy is organized by a committee made up of school counselors, judges and community leaders.

They are Maggie Allgood, Adams County Christian School Counselor; Tennecia Barber, Vidalia High School Counselor; Jennifer Beach, Cathedral High School Counselor; Walt Brown, Adams County Court Judge; Ikeecia Colenburg, Attorney; Penny Daggett, Delta Charter School Counselor; Christina Daugherty, Sixth District ADA; E. Vincent Davis, 17th District Chancery Court Judge; Carmen Drake, Sixth District Circuit Judge; Courtney Fleming, Jefferson County High School Counselor; Alfred Galtney, Alcorn State University Compliance Officer; Aimee Guido, Natchez Inc; Anthony Heidelberg, Attorney; Angela James, Natchez High School Career Coach and Nicole McLaughlin of the Mississippi Bar Association.

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Mississippi

MHSAA private schools will have enrollment multiplier starting in 2027-28 season

Published

1 day ago

June 3, 2026

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MHSAA private schools will have enrollment multiplier starting in 2027-28 season

Private high schools in Mississippi are receiving an enrollment multiplier for their respective sports teams.

The MHSAA announced on June 2 that it will apply a 1.5 multiplier to private schools enrollment for grades 9-11. The multiplier will go into effect during the 2027-28 sports season, when the MHSAA implements its new reclassification.

The MHSAA board voted on the motion, which passed.

“There’s always been a question of why our state does not have a multiplier from private schools that are in our association,” MHSAA Executive Director Rickey Neaves said in a statement. “So beginning with the next reclassification year, there will be a 1.5 multiplier added to all private schools that are currently in our organization. And to any of those that may be wanting to join our association.”

The change will affect private schools in all classes and will not affect schools for the upcoming 2026-27 season. Private schools around the state currently fluctuate through classes 1A-3A.

“We’re the only state in our section that does not have a multiplier of some kind,” Neaves said. “This was done because private schools, it is perceived, can control what classification they’re in by limiting the number of people that attend there. Also for the competitive and fair play advantage.”

Presbyterian Christian is the most recent private school to switch from MAIS to MHSAA, after making its MHSAA debut in 2025. The Bobcats recently won the MHSAA Class 3A baseball title.

In other sports during the 2025-26 year, Our Lady Academy won a Class 3A volleyball title and has the most MHSAA volleyball championships with 18. St. Stanislaus claimed a 3A boys basketball championship and St. Patrick won the Class I boys and girls soccer titles. Presbyterian Christian also won the 3A boys and girls tennis titles, while Sacred Heart won in Class I.

There are currently 10 private schools in the association.

Michael Chavez covers high school sports, among others, for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at mchavez@gannett.com or reach out to him on X @MikeSChavez or Facebook at Michael Chavez.

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