The University of Mississippi Athletics
Monday, November 3
Oxford, Miss.
7 p.m.
Ole Miss
1-0,0-0SEC
88
vs
58
Southeastern Louisiana
0-1,0-0Southland
1
2
F
Southeastern La.
29
29
58
Ole Miss
45
43
88
Men's Basketball Opens Regular Season with Convincing Win Over Southeastern Louisiana
11/3/2025 | Men's Basketball
OXFORD, Miss. – Senior forward Malik Dia led Ole Miss with 20 points as the Rebels won their first game of the 2025-26 season against Southeastern Louisiana 88-58 on Monday night in the SJB Pavilion.
SLU (0-1) struck first, opening the game with a deep three, as the Lions would hold their lead for the first 12 minutes of action.
The Rebels (1-0) eventually got going offensively after senior Frenchman Ilias Kamardine converted an and-one turnaround fadeaway from the right side of the key at the six-minute mark to give Ole Miss its first lead of the game.
From there, the Rebels went on a 22-5 run to close the half, and Ole Miss led 45-29 at the midway break.
In the second half, the offense picked up its pace. Rebel newcomer AJ Storr scored back-to-back three-point baskets around the 13-minute mark. Storr finished with 18 points and shot 4-of-5 from beyond the arc.
The defensive effort turned up and turned into offense. The Rebels racked up five steals and five blocks in the second half, including a Kamardine steal with 6:12 remaining, which ended with a lob and slam by Dia on the other end of the floor to put the Rebels up 75-48.
Ole Miss finished the game 28-of-54, 51.9% from the field and 7-of-22, 31.8% from three. The Rebels dominated the glass, outrebounding the Lions 44-26.
Two other Rebels finished the game with double digits in points, Kamardine (13) and Kezza Giffa (13).
Ole Miss returns to action in the SJB Pavilion this Friday in a matchup against Louisiana Monroe. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. on SEC Network+.
NOTABLES
For the latest news and updates regarding Ole Miss Men's Basketball, follow the Rebels on X at @OleMissMBB, on Facebook at Ole Miss Men's Basketball and on Instagram at olemissmbb.
SLU (0-1) struck first, opening the game with a deep three, as the Lions would hold their lead for the first 12 minutes of action.
The Rebels (1-0) eventually got going offensively after senior Frenchman Ilias Kamardine converted an and-one turnaround fadeaway from the right side of the key at the six-minute mark to give Ole Miss its first lead of the game.
From there, the Rebels went on a 22-5 run to close the half, and Ole Miss led 45-29 at the midway break.
In the second half, the offense picked up its pace. Rebel newcomer AJ Storr scored back-to-back three-point baskets around the 13-minute mark. Storr finished with 18 points and shot 4-of-5 from beyond the arc.
The defensive effort turned up and turned into offense. The Rebels racked up five steals and five blocks in the second half, including a Kamardine steal with 6:12 remaining, which ended with a lob and slam by Dia on the other end of the floor to put the Rebels up 75-48.
Ole Miss finished the game 28-of-54, 51.9% from the field and 7-of-22, 31.8% from three. The Rebels dominated the glass, outrebounding the Lions 44-26.
Two other Rebels finished the game with double digits in points, Kamardine (13) and Kezza Giffa (13).
Ole Miss returns to action in the SJB Pavilion this Friday in a matchup against Louisiana Monroe. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. on SEC Network+.
NOTABLES
- Malik Dia surpassed 1,000 career points in the win against Southeastern Louisiana. The Belmont, Tenn. native led all scorers with 20 points.
- Chris Beard is now 11-0 all-time in season openers as a Division I head coach.
- The Rebels' rebound margin of +18 today was the highest in Beard's tenure at Ole Miss.
- In his Ole Miss debut, AJ Storr had 18 points, went 4-of-5 from three, with six rebounds, four assists, and zero turnovers.
- Ilias Kamardine's debut consisted of 13 points, three rebounds, four assists, and two steals.
For the latest news and updates regarding Ole Miss Men's Basketball, follow the Rebels on X at @OleMissMBB, on Facebook at Ole Miss Men's Basketball and on Instagram at olemissmbb.
Team Stats
SL
UM
FG%
.340
.519
3FG%
.250
.318
FT%
.600
.833
RB
26
44
TO
13
10
STL
6
7
Game Leaders
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
12
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
5
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballPRESSER: Chris Beard & AJ Storr (SE Louisiana Postgame)
Monday, November 03
PRESSER: Chris Beard (SE Louisiana Postgame)
Monday, November 03
HIGHLIGHTS: Men's Basketball vs. SE Louisiana (11/3/25)
Monday, November 03
Malik Dia 1K Points
Monday, November 03