The University of Mississippi Athletics
Thursday, October 15
Birmingham, AL
8 p.m. (CT)
Ole Miss
84
vs
92
Alabama (Exh.)
Men’s Basketball Comeback Falls Short Against Alabama in Exhibition
10/15/2026 | Men's Basketball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The University of Mississippi men's basketball team battled back from an 18-point second-half deficit but came up short in a 92-84 loss to Alabama on Thursday night's exhibition game. The Rebels cut the Crimson Tide's lead to three points in the final three minutes but were unable to complete the comeback.
Ole Miss opened the game with the first three points, as senior Budd Clark knocked down a turnaround jumper. Sophomore Roman Siulepa followed with a two-handed dunk in the opening two minutes, and Clark added another jumper to give the Rebels a 7-4 lead at the first media timeout.
After the teams traded baskets, Corey Stephenson connected on a free-throw-line jumper to put Ole Miss back in front by three. Alabama later took the lead, but Clark recorded a steal and found Stephenson for a basket to pull the Rebels within one at 15-14. Following back-to-back defensive stops, senior Santiago Trouet finished a layup to give Ole Miss an 18-17 advantage with under 10 minutes remaining in the half.
The Crimson Tide built a nine-point lead, but Stephenson converted a tough and-one opportunity to cut the deficit to 35-29 with under five minutes to play. Senior Ilias Kamardine followed his own miss with a putback to bring the Rebels within one at 40-39. Alabama scored late to take a 42-39 lead into halftime.
Ole Miss forced 12 turnovers and scored 15 points off of those Alabama turnovers in the first half.
Ole Miss opened the second half with a second-chance midrange jumper from senior Ilias Kamardine before sophomore Patton Pinkins converted an old-fashioned three-point play to keep the Rebels within striking distance. Alabama extended its lead to 18, but Zach Day connected from beyond the arc, and Clark found Pinkins in transition to help Ole Miss chip away at the deficit.
The Rebels continued to battle back behind strong defensive pressure and timely shooting. Clark converted a contested fastbreak layup before Corey Stephenson knocked down consecutive three-pointers to cut the Alabama lead to seven with seven minutes remaining. Clark added another tough layup to bring Ole Miss within five after trailing by 18, but the Crimson Tide responded with back-to-back three-pointers to extend their advantage.
Ole Miss refused to go away, as Stefan Cicic converted two free throws and Clark recorded another steal that led to a Stephenson tip-in. Stephenson later connected from the corner to make it an 81-75 game with just over four minutes remaining. Clark added a coast-to-coast layup, and Pinkins converted two free throws following an Alabama technical foul to bring the Rebels within four.
Stephenson then made two free throws to cut the deficit to three with 2:46 remaining.
Alabama made its free throws down the stretch to hold off the Rebel comeback.
FOLLOW US
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.
UP NEXT
The Rebels will return home to face UAB on Tuesday, October 27 at 7:30 p.m. in their final exhibition game before the start of the regular season.
Ole Miss opened the game with the first three points, as senior Budd Clark knocked down a turnaround jumper. Sophomore Roman Siulepa followed with a two-handed dunk in the opening two minutes, and Clark added another jumper to give the Rebels a 7-4 lead at the first media timeout.
After the teams traded baskets, Corey Stephenson connected on a free-throw-line jumper to put Ole Miss back in front by three. Alabama later took the lead, but Clark recorded a steal and found Stephenson for a basket to pull the Rebels within one at 15-14. Following back-to-back defensive stops, senior Santiago Trouet finished a layup to give Ole Miss an 18-17 advantage with under 10 minutes remaining in the half.
The Crimson Tide built a nine-point lead, but Stephenson converted a tough and-one opportunity to cut the deficit to 35-29 with under five minutes to play. Senior Ilias Kamardine followed his own miss with a putback to bring the Rebels within one at 40-39. Alabama scored late to take a 42-39 lead into halftime.
Ole Miss forced 12 turnovers and scored 15 points off of those Alabama turnovers in the first half.
Ole Miss opened the second half with a second-chance midrange jumper from senior Ilias Kamardine before sophomore Patton Pinkins converted an old-fashioned three-point play to keep the Rebels within striking distance. Alabama extended its lead to 18, but Zach Day connected from beyond the arc, and Clark found Pinkins in transition to help Ole Miss chip away at the deficit.
The Rebels continued to battle back behind strong defensive pressure and timely shooting. Clark converted a contested fastbreak layup before Corey Stephenson knocked down consecutive three-pointers to cut the Alabama lead to seven with seven minutes remaining. Clark added another tough layup to bring Ole Miss within five after trailing by 18, but the Crimson Tide responded with back-to-back three-pointers to extend their advantage.
Ole Miss refused to go away, as Stefan Cicic converted two free throws and Clark recorded another steal that led to a Stephenson tip-in. Stephenson later connected from the corner to make it an 81-75 game with just over four minutes remaining. Clark added a coast-to-coast layup, and Pinkins converted two free throws following an Alabama technical foul to bring the Rebels within four.
Stephenson then made two free throws to cut the deficit to three with 2:46 remaining.
Alabama made its free throws down the stretch to hold off the Rebel comeback.
FOLLOW US
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.
UP NEXT
The Rebels will return home to face UAB on Tuesday, October 27 at 7:30 p.m. in their final exhibition game before the start of the regular season.
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Basketball
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