OXFORD – Sean Pedulla scored a season-high 29 points, but No. 23 Ole Miss (16-6, 5-4 SEC) fell just short against No. 1 Auburn (20-1, 8-0 SEC), falling 92-82 Saturday afternoon at the SJB Pavilion. Auburn was led by their starting five which accounted for 79 of their 92 points.
It was a high level, fast paced first half of basketball with both teams trading runs of their own. Auburn would jump out to a quick 6-1 lead two minutes into the game after a pair of triples.
Ole Miss would respond with a 9-0, run of their own over 1:55 to grab a 10-6 lead. Auburn extended their lead to as much as seven in the first half before the Rebels cut the deficit to one with 1:00 to play. The Tigers would finish the half on a 6-0, run taking a 41-34 lead into the break.
Ole Miss had the long ball going over the first 20 minutes knocking down four triples. Jaemyn Brakefield had 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting to lead the Rebels in the first half. Sean Pedulla added eight points, knocking down a pair of three-pointers.
The Tigers would extend their lead to nine with 15:01 to play after a three from Tahaad Pettiford. The Rebels would battle back and cut the lead to two at 56-54, with 11:22 remaining.
Auburn pushed the lead to five again but Ole Miss would find life behind 9,974 faithful at the SJB Pavilion. Mikeal Brown-Jones grabbed an offensive rebound and converted the putback plus the foul. Jaylen Murray would draw contact on the next possession, converting one of two at the charity stripe making it 59-58, Auburn, with 8:05 to play.
The visitors would have one final run in them in which Ole Miss was unable to battle back from.
Pedulla left it all on the floor leading all scorers with a season-high 29 points on 10-of-16 shooting.
Ole Miss remains home and will welcome No. 12/12 Kentucky (15-5, 4-3 SEC). Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. CT at the SJB Pavilion on ESPN.
Notables
- Sean Pedulla led all scorers with a season-high 29 points on 10-of-16 shooting. Pedulla's previous season-high of 27 came against South Alabama on Nov. 12, 2024. It marked his 17th game in double-figures and his ninth leading the team in scoring.
- Pedulla, Jaemyn Brakefield, and Davon Barnes each pulled down five rebounds to lead Ole Miss on the glass.
- Jaylen Murray led Ole Miss with four assists. It marked his 11th game leading the Rebels in passing this season.
- The crowd of 9,974 is the third largest crowd in program history.
