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Ole Miss Rebels' Defensive Struggles Allow Florida Gators to Dominate in Oxford

The Ole Miss Rebels faced a challenging game against the Florida Gators at The Sandy and John Black Pavilion at Ole Miss. Despite their efforts, the Rebels fell short with a 94-75 loss. This result brought the Rebels' record to 0-1, while the Gators improved to 1-0.


Feb 21, 2026; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi Rebels guard Ilias Kamardine (6) shoots as Florida Gators forward Thomas Haugh (10) defends during the first half at The Sandy and John Black Pavilion at Ole Miss. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

First Half


In the first half, both teams showcased their offensive capabilities. The Rebels managed to score 32 points but struggled defensively against the Gators' aggressive play. Malik Dia led Ole Miss with his scoring prowess, contributing significantly to keeping his team competitive early on. However, Florida's efficiency was evident as they shot an impressive 57 percent from the field and secured a lead by halftime.


Second Half


The second half saw an intensified effort from both sides. The Landsharks attempted a comeback with James Scott making crucial plays in the paint, but it wasn't enough to counteract Florida's relentless offense. The Swamp capitalized on turnovers and extended their lead further by scoring 51 points in this period alone.


Feb 21, 2026; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Florida Gators forward Thomas Haugh (10) shoots as Mississippi Rebels forward Malik Dia (0) defends during the second half at The Sandy and John Black Pavilion at Ole Miss. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Despite strong performances from players like AJ Storr and Ilias Kamardine who added depth off the bench for Ole Miss, defensive lapses allowed Florida too many easy baskets inside. Game-changing plays Ole Miss Rebels vs Florida Gators highlighted how critical defense was throughout this matchup.


Ole Miss Rebels vs Florida Gators Match Summary


The final whistle confirmed that defensive shortcomings were costly for Ole Miss as they conceded numerous points off turnovers while struggling with rebounds against a physically dominant opponent like Florida.


Feb 21, 2026; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Florida Gators forward/center Alex Condon (21) collects a rebound over Mississippi Rebels forward Corey Chest (1) during the first half at The Sandy and John Black Pavilion at Ole Miss. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Looking ahead, fans can catch more action when Mississippi hosts LSU Tigers at The Sandy and John Black Pavilion at Ole Miss on February 25th at 9:00 PM EST live on SEC Network TV broadcast network.


Stay tuned for more updates about your favorite teams! Share this article if you enjoyed reading about today's game analysis!

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