Ole Miss Rebels vs Lindenwood Lions Picks and Predictions December 7th 2024

No. 23 Ole Miss Hosts Lindenwood as SEC Preparation Continues

Ole Miss will aim to fine-tune its lineup and rotation as the No. 23 Rebels (7-1) host Lindenwood on Saturday in Oxford, Miss. With Southeastern Conference play approaching, the game provides another opportunity for coach Chris Beard’s team to build cohesion and maintain momentum.

Rebels’ Balanced Scoring Shines

In their most recent outing, the Rebels showcased their depth with five players scoring in double figures during an 86-63 victory over Louisville in the SEC/ACC Challenge.

Guard Dre Davis led the way with a season-high 20 points on 9-of-12 shooting, emphasizing Ole Miss’ team-first offensive philosophy.

“We feel like we can all get double figures every night,” Davis said. “We just focus on moving the basketball and finding the right guy every possession and taking a good shot.”

The Rebels shot a season-best 56.7 percent from the field, including 63.3 percent in the second half, and made 40 percent of their 3-pointers.

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Sean Pedulla added 16 points and a season-high seven assists, while Davon Barnes, Matthew Murrell, and Jaylen Murray also scored in double figures.

Beard’s Vision for the Team

Coach Chris Beard praised Davis’ competitiveness and versatility, attributes he values as Ole Miss prepares for tougher competition.

“He’s an aggressive scorer, but we need him to be a point guard as well,” Beard said of Pedulla, a transfer from Virginia Tech. “Their ability to play together, take care of the ball, and continue to improve on the defensive end will be a big signal in our fate this season.”

The Rebels boast four players averaging double figures in scoring and have rebounded effectively from their lone loss, a narrow 80-78 defeat against then-No. 13 Purdue.

Lindenwood Seeks Confidence Boost

The Lions (3-5), representing the Ohio Valley Conference, are coming off a dominant 102-45 victory over East-West University, a USCAA team, on Wednesday.

Coach Kyle Gerdeman expressed optimism about the win after a tough stretch of games that included road losses to Valparaiso and Missouri.

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“You need those games … that if you play the right way you should feel really good about yourself individually and as a team,” Gerdeman said.

Anias Futrell led the Lions with 15 points, while freshman Clayton Jackson, in his first start, scored 14. Jalen Bouknight, Colin Ruffin, and Jaylon McDaniel also reached double figures.

What’s at Stake

The Rebels are using games like this to fine-tune their approach ahead of their SEC opener against Georgia on Jan. 4. Meanwhile, Lindenwood hopes to gain confidence and experience as it navigates its challenging nonconference slate.

Key Matchups

• Ole Miss’ Perimeter Defense vs. Lindenwood’s Shooters: The Rebels will need to maintain their defensive intensity to neutralize a Lions team coming off a high-scoring outing.
• Rebounding Battle: With Ole Miss excelling on the boards, Lindenwood must find ways to compete inside to avoid being overwhelmed.

Outlook

While Ole Miss enters as the heavy favorite, the game offers both teams an opportunity to prepare for the challenges that lie ahead in conference play. For the Rebels, it’s another step toward solidifying their identity as one of the SEC’s top contenders.