Ole Miss Rebels Advance to NCAA Tournament Second Round After Defeating Ball State

In the first round of the NCAA Tournament, the No. 12 seed Ball State Cardinals lost to the fifth-seeded Ole Miss Rebels, 83-65, marking the end of Ball State's historic season with a record of 27-8. Ole Miss advanced to the second round, improving their record to 21-10, and will face No. 4 seed Baylor next. The Cardinals started strong with a 7-0 lead, but Ole Miss rallied, leveraging their athleticism and defensive prowess to secure a comfortable victory. This was Ball State's second NCAA tournament appearance in program history, while Ole Miss celebrated its 21st, aiming for a deeper run after consistent appearances in recent years. Analysts have speculated on Ole Miss's potential to reach the Sweet 16, given their strong performance and previous tournament success. The Rebels have now reached 20 wins for the fourth consecutive season, a feat not achieved since the early 1990s.