- Sean Pedulla hits decisive 3-pointer with 1.3 seconds remaining
- Arkansas misses 11 free throws, including two crucial attempts in final 7 seconds
- Ole Miss advances to face top-seeded Auburn in SEC quarterfinals
- Malik Dia leads Rebels with 19 points and 8 rebounds
- Arkansas erases 15-point deficit with 34-11 second-half run
In a dramatic SEC Tournament showdown, Ole Miss guard Sean Pedulla etched his name in conference lore with a 25-foot dagger that propelled the Rebels to an 83-80 victory over Arkansas. The thrilling second-round matchup turned on Arkansas' free-throw struggles, as the Razorbacks converted just 65.6% of their 32 attempts from the charity stripe. With the game tied at 80-80 and 7.4 seconds remaining, Arkansas forward Trevon Brazile missed two critical free throws that set up Pedulla's heroics.
The Rebels appeared headed for collapse after squandering a 15-point first-half lead. Arkansas orchestrated a 34-11 scoring burst spanning both halves, fueled by freshman wing Karter Knox's 14 points. Ole Miss regained composure behind Malik Dia's interior dominance, with the Belmont transfer scoring 12 of his game-high 19 points in the final 12 minutes. The victory marks Ole Miss' first SEC Tournament win since 2021 and provides momentum ahead of their NCAA Tournament push.
SEC teams shooting below 70% from the free-throw line have lost 83% of single-possession tournament games since 2015. This trend underscores the growing emphasis on late-game execution in conference tournaments, where 43% of games since 2020 have been decided by five points or fewer. Ole Miss' ability to capitalize on Arkansas' miscues demonstrates the value of veteran leadership - Pedulla, a junior guard, became the first Rebel since 2019 to hit a game-winning buzzer-beater in SEC Tournament play.
Mississippi's basketball resurgence continues under first-year coach Chris Beard, with the Rebels now boasting their highest win total since 2013. The state has invested $45 million in arena upgrades since 2022, helping Oxford emerge as a regional hub for SEC basketball. This infrastructure boost has translated to improved recruiting - Ole Miss' 2023 class ranked top-25 nationally for the first time in program history.
