The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
UAB (Exh.)
10/23/2026 | Men's Basketball
Kennedy is the all-time winningest head coach in Ole Miss men's basketball history and will return the Blazers to Oxford for the first time since Dec. 7, 1982.
SERIES HISTORY VS. UAB
A series that dates back to 1978, this will be the sixth game and first exhibition played between Ole Miss and UAB. The Rebels lead the all-time series, 4-1 and are 3-0 against the Blazers in Oxford.
LAST TIMEOUT
• Ole Miss battled back from an 18-point second-half deficit but came up short in a 92-84 loss to Alabama in an exhibition game on Oct. 15 in Birmingham, Alabama.
• The Rebels cut the Crimson Tide's lead to three points in the final three minutes but were unable to complete the comeback.
• Corey Stephenson led the scoring effort for the Rebels with 25 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the floor including three 3-pointers.
• Roman Siulepa registered 12 points and five rebounds.
• Santiago Trouet recorded a team-high seven rebounds.
• Budd Clark notched 15 points, a team-best seven assists and four steals.
• Patton Pinkins added 11 points, three rebounds and a steal.
• Ilias Kamardine registered eight points, four steals, and two rebounds.
• In the first half, the Rebels trailed by 11 with 4:13 to go. Ole Miss cut Alabama's lead to three points before the break and outscored the Tide 15-2 in points off turnovers.
• Ole Miss only trailed by three points at the break despite shooting 0-of-9 from deep.
• The Rebels shot 84 percent from the free throw line in the second half. (11-13)
• UM outscored Alabama, 23-9 in points off of turnovers.
• The game saw five lead changes and was tied three times.
NEW BLOOD IN THE SIP
The Rebels' new roster features a blend of high-level college transfers and international experience, including four players who averaged at least 10.0 points per game last season: Budd Clark (12.7), Dasear Haskins (11.1), Roman Siulepa (10.0) and Corey Stephenson (18.0).
The group also includes 7-foot-1 Micah Handlogten, a former Sun Belt Freshman of the Year and Florida national champion, along with 7-foot Stefan Cicic. Clark brings 1,513 career points and 491 assists, while Stephenson scored 559 points last season at FIU, the fifth-most in a single season in program history. Ben Henshall brings a wealth of experience after playing three seasons with the Perth Wildcats in Australia.
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
The Ole Miss men's basketball program also welcomed three signees to their 2026 recruiting class, adding Yohance Connor, Daniel Patton and Jaron Saulsberry.
Patton was ranked as one of the top players in his class from the state of Texas, listed as the 12th overall player by 247Sports. He joins the program a 3-star recruit and nearly cracked the top-200 nationally.
Saulsberry will come to Oxford from Marietta, Georgia and Wheeler High School, and is ranked as a top-10 player in his home state by both ESPN and 247Sports. A 6'6" four-star recruit, he is ranked as the No. 28 small forward in the class of 2026.
Connor ranks among the best in his state, tabbed the No. 3 player in North Carolina by 247Sports and No. 5 by Rivals. He is listed as a four-star recruit by ESPN and 247Sports, and ranked as the No. 5 combo guard in the class of 2026 by Rivals.
SHUFFLING THE STAFF
Petar Aleksić, Josh Baskin, Austin Cox, Anthony Fobb and Noah Stansbury joined the Ole Miss men's basketball staff this offseason.
Additionally, Brian Burg has been promoted to general manager, while Matt Eisele and Matt Winsberg have been elevated to assistant coach positions.
