For the first time in 271 meetings, Mississippi State and Ole Miss would enter the matchup ranked inside the AP top-25, creating the biggest regular-season basketball game in the series history. All week long, we heard about how the Hump would be bumping as the Rebels and Bulldogs met on the hardwood for the first of two games this season, those rumors turned out to be accurate, and the rest of the country was in for a treat as the Magnolia State came together to provide an insane basketball environment showcasing all that’s right in Mississippi.

With the crowd behind them, 15th-ranked Mississippi State jumped out early on Ole Miss, building a 14-point lead, before the Rebels closed the first half on a 6-0 run to make it a 37-29 Mississippi State advantage at the half.

As halftime gave way to the second half, Ole Miss had put together another run filled with halftime adjustments to make it a one-point Mississippi State lead at the under-16 media timeout. At the under-12 media timeout of the second half, Ole Miss refused to go away as the Bulldogs held on for dear life to a 51-47 lead over the Rebels with Josh Hubbard at the line shooting two following the timeout. As it would go in an intense rivalry game, Mississippi State held on to a 55-53 lead over the Rebels at the under-8 media timeout. As the final media timeout rolled around, Mississippi State extended the lead to 69-65 with 3:33 on the clock. With 1:02 on the clock, Ole Miss Head Coach Chris Beard called a timeout as the Bulldogs held on to a 71-69 lead over the Rebels. Down three with 14.4 on the clock, Coach Beard called another timeout to draw up a play for Matthew Murrell to send it to overtime in Starkville. A beautiful pass from Cam Matthews to Riley Kugel would give the Bulldogs a 79-77 lead over the Rebels with 50 seconds left on the clock in overtime. With 30.4 on the clock, Mississippi State held an 81-79 lead over the Rebels. With some drama on the side, Mississippi State would end the perfect SEC record for Ole Miss by a score of 84-74.

Saturday night was further proof that basketball, not only in the Southeastern Conference but in Mississippi, is on the rise. Despite a slow start from the Rebels, Saturday’s first matchup between the Rebels and Bulldogs was an instant classic. You had everything from a rocking environment at the Hump, then two teams who hate each other but are pretty good at basketball play in a fully forty-minute classic that generations after will be able to discuss as the turning point for the sport in the state.

Mississippi State will return to action on Tuesday night for the first of two road games this week. They will travel to take on the Volunteers of Tennessee before a rematch with South Carolina on Saturday.

Ole Miss will return home on Wednesday night as they host the Aggies of Texas A&M before hitting the road on Saturday for a game against Mizzou.

Photo Credits – Ole Miss and Mississippi State Basketball on X