Ole Miss's SEC Tournament Hopes End in Heartbreak

Rebels suffer gritty loss to Texas in season-ending defeat

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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Oxford's SEC Tournament hopes were shattered on Saturday night as the Ole Miss Rebels fell to the Texas Longhorns by a score of 85-68 in a hard-fought heartbreaker. Despite a strong second-half effort, the Rebels were unable to overcome Texas's hot start and ultimately came up short in their bid to advance to the SEC Tournament.

Why it matters

This loss ends Ole Miss's season and dashes their hopes of making the SEC Tournament, a major disappointment for the program and its fans. The Rebels had been fighting to secure a spot in the conference tournament, making this defeat particularly tough to swallow.

The details

Texas came out firing on all cylinders, forcing nine Ole Miss turnovers in the first quarter alone to set the tone early. While the Rebels, led by Cotie McMahon, tried to keep pace, they trailed by 10 points at halftime. Ole Miss nearly flipped the script in the second half, but ultimately couldn't overcome the Longhorns' strong start and performance.

  • The game took place on Saturday, March 8, 2026.

The players

Cotie McMahon

A key player for the Ole Miss Rebels who tried to keep his team afloat in the first half.

Texas Longhorns

The opposing team that overpowered Ole Miss, forcing nine turnovers in the first quarter and ultimately winning the game 85-68.

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The takeaway

This heartbreaking loss ends Ole Miss's season and their hopes of making the SEC Tournament, a major disappointment for the program and its fans. The Rebels fought hard but ultimately couldn't overcome Texas's strong start and performance, leaving them with a gritty defeat to end their campaign.