Ole Miss Rebels Defeat Illinois 91-74 in Exhibition

In a strong preseason performance, the No. 24 Ole Miss Rebels defeated the Illinois Fighting Illini 91-74 in a charity exhibition game at the SJB Pavilion. The Rebels maintained control throughout the match, leading 51-35 at halftime thanks to an impressive 49% shooting from the field and a remarkable 52% from three-point range. Malik Dia stood out with a game-high 20 points, supported by Jaemyn Brakefield with 15 points, while both Matthew Murrell and Dre Davis contributed 11 points each. Ole Miss's defensive prowess was evident as they forced Illinois into 22 turnovers, despite being outrebounded 44-32. The matchup served as a promising start for Chris Beard's second season as head coach, with the regular season set to begin next week against Long Island. Illinois, coming off an Elite Eight appearance, showcased new talent but struggled against Ole Miss's established team dynamics.