Ole Miss basketball fell just short of an Elite Eight spot, going down 73-70 to the No.2 seed Michigan State. The Rebels led most of the game, but missed shots in the final 5 minutes let the Spartans back into the game, and they took advantage.
It was a sluggish opening to the game, with both teams missing three-point shots and failing to capitalize on turnovers. The Rebels played excellent defense and continued to do that all the way through the first half, suffocating the Spartans.
Sean Pedulla didn't play much of the first due to having two fouls, but had two successful and impressive three-pointers at key times. Malik Dia, Matthew Murrell, and Dre Davis had great spells in the first 20. Michigan State was stunned, usually scoring for fun against opponents, but limited to just 31 at the half.
In the second half, the Rebels raced to an eight-point lead but were pinned again by the Spartans, missing five consecutive shots. However, the team showed grit, keeping the game close despite what looked like fatigue.
The momentum started to shift towards the Spartans entering the first 8 minutes, and they grabbed their first lead of the game, with Ole Miss missing nine of their last 10 field goals.
Heading into the final two minutes, it was anybody's ball game. The game all tied up at 63-63. Sean Pedulla had a chance to take the lead but missed a layup, with the advantage back with MSU, who only had seven team fouls compared to the Rebel's nine.
BANG‼️ pic.twitter.com/c44U3RNohX
— Ole Miss Men’s Basketball (@OleMissMBB) March 29, 2025
The Rebels battled hard and did not have enough in the game's final minutes against an excellent Tom Izzo team. Chris Beard's side can hold their heads high, competing well and nearly pulling off another upset win
Sean Pedulla finished with 24 points, the most in the game. Michigan State freshman Jase Richardson made a big difference in the game, leading the scoring for the No.2 seed with 20 points.