Ole Miss lost a Southeastern Conference game for the first time this season on Saturday, the same day Texas A&M collected what could be a pivotal victory.
The No. 16 Rebels (15-3, 4-1 SEC) will try to bounce back and the No. 13 Aggies (14-4, 3-2) will try to continue their momentum when they meet Wednesday night in Oxford, Miss.
Ole Miss was the last team other than No. 1 Auburn to lose an SEC game when it got off to a terrible start, fought back but fell short in an 84-81 overtime loss at then-No. 15 Mississippi State.
The Rebels began the game lacking the competitiveness they had shown in an upset win at then-No. 4 Alabama earlier in the week.
“This isn’t the first time we’ve had some adversity or played against a really good team,” Ole Miss coach Chris Beard said. “The start of the game for us was just unacceptable. You can’t dig a hole like that in the first eight minutes of a 40-minute game.”
If the Rebels are going to be the type of national contender that they appeared to be against Alabama, they are going to have to shore up their rebounding. They rank last in the SEC in rebounding margin (minus-1.7).
MSU exploited that weakness and finished with a 51-29 advantage in rebounds, including 19-8 in offensive rebounds. The most glaring number was the two rebounds that Ole Miss forward Malik Dia had after grabbing 19 against the Crimson Tide.
“It’s not just Dia … many of his teammates … it’s a team sport,” Beard said. “We need Dia to play well.”
Texas A&M was reminded how much it needs All-SEC guard Wade Taylor IV. After he missed three straight games, the last two being losses, because of an undisclosed injury, he returned for Saturday’s 68-57 victory against visiting LSU.
Taylor’s return was uplifting for the Aggies beyond just the 12 points, four rebounds and four assists that he contributed in 24 minutes.
“He has unbelievable talent with the ball (and) without the ball,” Texas A&M coach Buzz Williams said. “But personally, I think his greatest talent is his spirit. His greatest talent is his IQ. Any time you have those two characteristics as a quarterback, you impact not only yourself, but you impact the program.”
Taylor’s continuing presence will be necessary if the Aggies are to compete for the SEC title.
“He’s obviously a big difference-maker,” forward Solomon Washington said of Taylor. “We know when he’s playing, teams have to do their defensive scouts differently knowing the type of player he is. It was big having him back out there.”
Taylor, who knocked down the game’s first field goal against LSU, said he didn’t return until he was 100 percent.
“It was rough for three games,” Taylor said. “I’m thankful to get through it. I didn’t want to come back 75 or 80 (percent). I find that selfish. I feel like that’s just trying to get out there just because I can.”
–Field Level Media
