Mississippi
Who wins Ole Miss vs Mississippi State rivalry basketball game? Our prediction
The first game between Ole Miss basketball and Mississippi State last season was the first time that both teams were ranked in the Top 25 for a matchup.
The Bulldogs and Rebels are in a different situation entering their first meeting of the 2025-26 season on Jan. 17 (7:30 p.m., SEC Network) at Humphrey Coliseum.
Ole Miss (10-7, 2-2 SEC) and MSU (10-7, 2-2) both got off to slow starts this season. Neither team has been ranked. They need really good SEC seasons to reach the NCAA tournament as an at-large bid.
Here are our score predictions and what else to know for the game.
Where Ole Miss, Mississippi State stand before rivalry game
The Rebels enter the game perhaps playing their best basketball of the season. They’ve won two straight SEC games, while the Bulldogs have lost their last two games.
Ole Miss beat Missouri at SJB Pavilion on Jan. 10 then upset No. 22 Georgia on the road on Jan. 14. Freshman guard Patton Pinkins won the game on a buzzer-beating putback in overtime for the Rebels’ first win against a ranked opponent this season.
MSU lost 92-68 at Kentucky on Jan. 10, its 20th consecutive regular season loss to Kentucky, and 97-82 against No. 18 Alabama on Jan. 13, its ninth straight loss to the Crimson Tide. The Bulldogs held double-digit leads in the first half of both of those games.
Josh Hubbard vs AJ Storr is matchup to watch
Ole Miss vs Mississippi State could have an intriguing guard battle.
Mississippi State’s Josh Hubbard, a former Ole Miss signee, leads the SEC with 22.8 points per game. He has three 30-point games this season and five consecutive games with at least 20 points.
Ole Miss’ AJ Storr, a Kansas transfer, is second on the team in scoring at 13.1 points per game behind forward Malik Dia. But Storr has scored 26 and 27 points in Ole Miss’ last two games despite coach Chris Beard moving him to the bench.
Chris Jans has advantage over Chris Beard so far
Mississippi State coach Chris Jans has fared well against Ole Miss. He’s 5-1 against the Rebels with three straight wins.
Ole Miss coach Chris Beard is 1-3 against Mississippi State.
None of the games in the last three seasons has been decided by more than 12 points. MSU was up by 19 in the second half of last season’s game at Ole Miss before winning 81-71. Two of the games have gone to overtime.
Jayden Epps, Jamarion Davis-Fleming injuries for Mississippi State
MSU starting guard Jayden Epps exited the Alabama game in the second half after rolling his right ankle and did not return. Backup forward Jamarion Davis-Fleming also exited with an unspecified injury and didn’t return.
Jans did not have an update on their statuses after the game.
Ole Miss vs Mississippi State score predictions
- Sam Hutchens: Ole Miss 80, Mississippi State 75: Ole Miss has found a groove after starting SEC play 0-2. The Rebels will do well to exploit MSU’s 3-point defense. The Bulldogs allow their opponents to shoot 35.8% from deep, which is No. 15 in the SEC. Look for sharpshooters Travis Perry (4-for-7 on 3-pointers vs. Georgia) and Pinkins (3-for-3) to stay hot.
- Sam Sklar: Mississippi State 74, Ole Miss 70: Despite the two recent losses, MSU has still played better over the last month than it was before. Jans will find a way to beat Ole Miss again, as long as another player besides Hubbard can step up as a second scoring option.
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.