Late Rally Falls Short as Ole Miss Men’s Basketball Drops 71–68 Decision at Vanderbilt – The Rebel Walk

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Posted by Evelyn Van Pelt | Feb 1, 2026 | Men’s Basketball
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Ole Miss closed Saturday night with momentum and opportunity, but the late push wasn’t enough to overcome an early deficit as the Rebels dropped a 71–68 decision to Vanderbilt inside Memorial Gymnasium.
Final from Nashville.
Ole Miss fought hard but falls just short to #18 Vanderbilt 71-68.
Rebels were led by AJ Storr and Malik Dia who each added 16 points off the bench. pic.twitter.com/3ed7BYC6pY
— The Rebel Walk (@TheRebelWalk) February 1, 2026

“There’s zero quit,” Beard said of his team after the game. “To me, college basketball doesn’t start until February and March. Our situation, personally, we just haven’t done the things we needed to do in the non-conference schedule to put ourselves in great contention right now. So our backs are against the wall.
“But as you saw tonight with our team, if there’s a game on the schedule, no matter where it is, we’re going to show up to play. There’s a lot of season left. I thought our guys showed a lot of courage tonight, no doubt about it.”
The opening minutes were defined by missed shots and uneven offensive rhythm on both ends, but Vanderbilt gradually found separation. By the second media timeout of the first half, the Commodores had built an 18–10 advantage, using defensive pressure and transition chances to control the tempo.
That cushion continued to grow, with the home team stretching the lead to as many as 13 points before Ole Miss responded. A timely 9–0 run in the final three minutes of the half pulled the Rebels back into contention, trimming the margin to four before Vanderbilt steadied itself and carried a 31–23 lead into the locker room.
Ole Miss wasted little time changing the tone after halftime. Travis Perry opened the second half with a corner three, cutting the deficit to five and signaling a more aggressive offensive approach. Still, Vanderbilt answered, briefly pushing the lead back to double digits at 51–40 following a fastbreak basket off a Rebel turnover with 11:46 remaining.
From there, Ole Miss methodically chipped away. Ilias Kamardine powered through a baseline drive, drawing contact and converting the three-point play to make it 61–57. Over the next several minutes, the Rebels hovered within striking distance, refusing to let the game slip away.
AJ Storr’s trip to the free-throw line with three minutes remaining brought Ole Miss within two at 65–63, setting the stage for a tense finish. After several empty possessions on both sides, Storr again delivered, drilling a deep three with just under a minute left to pull the Rebels within two once more, 70–68.
Vanderbilt’s AK Okereke went to the line with 15 seconds remaining and split a pair of free throws, extending the lead to three and leaving Ole Miss with one final chance. Storr’s contested three-point attempt missed, but Malik Dia tracked down the rebound and fired a turnaround three from the corner at the buzzer — a shot that fell short as time expired.
Despite the loss, Ole Miss showed defensive resolve against one of the nation’s most efficient offenses. Vanderbilt entered the game averaging 89.6 points per contest but was held to 71. The Rebels also protected the ball well in the second half, committing just two turnovers as they mounted their comeback.
Storr continued his strong stretch, finishing in double figures for the seventh straight game and averaging 19.4 points per game over that span.
Ole Miss now turns its attention to Knoxville, where the Rebels will face Tennessee on February 3 at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. on ESPN2.
Evelyn has covered sports for over two decades, beginning her journalism career as a sports writer for a newspaper in Austin, Texas. She attended Texas A&M and majored in English. Evelyn’s love for Ole Miss began when her daughter Katie attended the university on a volleyball scholarship. Evelyn created the Rebel Walk in 2013 and has served as publisher and managing editor since its inception. Email Evie at: [email protected]
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Evelyn has covered sports for over two decades, beginning her journalism career as a sports writer for a newspaper in Austin, Texas. She attended Texas A&M and majored in English. Evelyn’s love for Ole Miss began when her daughter Katie attended the university on a volleyball scholarship. Evelyn created the Rebel Walk in 2013 and has served as publisher and managing editor since its inception. Email Evie at: [email protected]
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