Cotie McMahon, No. 17 Ole Miss demolish No. 21 Tennessee

Ole Miss cruises to a 94-81 win over Tennessee in SEC matchup

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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Cotie McMahon scored a career-high 39 points along with 10 rebounds and 5 assists as No. 17 Ole Miss defeated No. 21 Tennessee 94-81 in an SEC basketball game. McMahon had 16 points in the first half to give Ole Miss a 44-33 halftime lead, then scored 13 points in the third quarter as the Rebels pulled away. Ole Miss shot 50.8% from the field and made 29 of 36 free throws, while Tennessee committed 29 fouls and 16 turnovers.

Why it matters

This was an important SEC matchup between two ranked teams, with Ole Miss asserting its dominance over Tennessee. The win keeps Ole Miss in the hunt for a high seed in the NCAA Tournament, while Tennessee has now lost 5 of its last 7 games, including blowout losses to UConn and South Carolina.

The details

Cotie McMahon had a career-best performance, scoring 39 points on 16-of-26 shooting, along with 10 rebounds and 5 assists. Ole Miss also got strong contributions from Christeen Iwuala (16 points), Latasha Lattimore (14 points, 12 rebounds), and Tianna Thompson (12 points off the bench). Tennessee was led by Talaysia Cooper's season-high 30 points, with Lauren Hurst adding 16 points and 9 rebounds, and Alyssa Latham scoring 10 points.

  • The game was played on Tuesday, February 18, 2026 in Oxford, Mississippi.

The players

Cotie McMahon

A star player for the No. 17 ranked Ole Miss Rebels basketball team, who scored a career-high 39 points in the win over Tennessee.

Talaysia Cooper

A player for the No. 21 ranked Tennessee Lady Volunteers, who scored a season-high 30 points in the loss to Ole Miss.

Ole Miss Rebels

The No. 17 ranked college basketball team that defeated Tennessee 94-81 in this SEC matchup.

Tennessee Lady Volunteers

The No. 21 ranked college basketball team that lost to Ole Miss 94-81 in this SEC game.

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What they’re saying

“Cotie McMahon was unstoppable tonight. He really took over the game and led our team to a big win over a ranked opponent.”

— Kermit Davis, Head Coach, Ole Miss Rebels (Ole Miss Athletics)

“We just couldn't find an answer for McMahon. He was hitting shots from all over the floor and we couldn't slow him down. We need to regroup and get back on track.”

— Kellie Harper, Head Coach, Tennessee Lady Volunteers (Tennessee Athletics)

What’s next

Ole Miss will look to build on this big win as they continue SEC play, while Tennessee will try to bounce back from this loss and get back on track in the conference standings.

The takeaway

Cotie McMahon's career performance led Ole Miss to a dominant victory over a ranked Tennessee team, showcasing the Rebels' potential as a force to be reckoned with in the SEC and nationally.