Ole Miss Upsets Georgia in SEC Tournament

15th-seeded Rebels weather late Bulldogs rally to advance to quarterfinals

Mar. 13, 2026 at 7:25am

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A.J. Storr scored 19 points and Malik Dia added 17 as 15th-seeded Ole Miss held off a late rally by seventh-seeded Georgia to pull off a 76-72 upset victory in the second round of the SEC tournament in Nashville. The Rebels led by as many as 23 points in the second half before Georgia used a 22-2 run to get within 3, but Ole Miss made key free throws down the stretch to secure the win and advance to the quarterfinals against Alabama.

Why it matters

The upset victory over Georgia, a team considered a lock for the NCAA Tournament, is another impressive result for Ole Miss, which had lost 12 of 13 games to close the regular season. The Rebels' ability to withstand the Bulldogs' late surge and hold on for the win demonstrates their resilience and shows they should not be overlooked as a potential Cinderella team in the postseason.

The details

Ole Miss led 55-32 with 13 minutes remaining before Georgia used a full-court press to spark a 22-2 run and get within 57-54. The Bulldogs crept as close as 60-58 but could never take the lead. Ole Miss held Georgia to just 36.4% shooting and 23.7% from 3-point range. Georgia center Somto Cyril was ejected in the second half for a flagrant-2 foul.

  • The game was played on Thursday, March 13, 2026 in the second round of the SEC tournament in Nashville.
  • Ole Miss led 55-32 with 13 minutes remaining in the second half.

The players

A.J. Storr

Ole Miss guard who scored a team-high 19 points in the upset victory.

Malik Dia

Ole Miss forward who added 17 points and 15 rebounds for the Rebels.

Kanon Catchings

Georgia guard who scored 17 of his 19 points in the second half to lead the Bulldogs' late comeback effort.

Somto Cyril

Georgia center who was ejected in the second half for a flagrant-2 foul.

Jeremiah Wilkinson

Georgia's leading scorer at 17.3 points per game, but was held to just 8 points on 3-of-12 shooting.

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What they’re saying

“We must have gotten complacent with the big lead, but credit Georgia for fighting back. Our guys showed a lot of poise to hold on at the end.”

— Kermit Davis, Ole Miss Head Coach

What’s next

Ole Miss will face second-seeded and 15th-ranked Alabama in the quarterfinals of the SEC tournament on Saturday.

The takeaway

Ole Miss' upset victory over Georgia, a team considered a lock for the NCAA Tournament, demonstrates the Rebels' ability to pull off Cinderella runs in the postseason. Their resilience in withstanding Georgia's late rally shows they should not be overlooked as a potential tournament darkhorse.