Cinderella Rebels stun Alabama, advance to SEC semis

Ole Miss pulls off another upset, now two wins away from SEC title

Mar. 14, 2026 at 4:33pm

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The 15-seed Ole Miss Rebels basketball team has defied the odds by defeating 2-seed Alabama 80-79 in the SEC tournament, advancing to the semifinals. The Rebels, who had lost 12 of their final 13 games in the regular season, have now won three games in three days to reach the cusp of an SEC championship and NCAA Tournament berth.

Why it matters

Ole Miss' Cinderella run in the SEC tournament has captivated college basketball fans, as the team was given zero chance by anyone to even win one game, let alone three. Their upset of Alabama sets up a semifinal matchup with Arkansas, with the winner advancing to the SEC title game.

The details

AJ Storr scored 17 points and Ilias Kamardine added 16 to lead the Rebels' upset of Alabama, who got 28 points from Labaron Philon. Ole Miss has relied on fast starts and holding early leads to put pressure on the favorites. The key for them against Arkansas will be containing talented guard Darius Acuff, getting a big game from Storr, and continued production from the Dia/Kamardine duo.

  • The Rebels defeated Alabama on Friday, March 14, 2026.
  • Ole Miss will face Arkansas in the SEC semifinal on Saturday, March 15, 2026 at 2:30 p.m. CT.

The players

AJ Storr

A key player for the Ole Miss Rebels, scoring 17 points in their upset win over Alabama.

Ilias Kamardine

Scored 16 points to help fuel the Rebels' upset victory over the Crimson Tide.

Labaron Philon

The star player for Alabama, scoring 28 points in the losing effort against Ole Miss.

Darius Acuff

The talented Arkansas guard who scored 26 points against Ole Miss in their previous matchup, and will be a key focus for the Rebels' defense.

Chris Beard

The head coach of the Ole Miss Rebels, leading his team on their Cinderella run in the SEC tournament.

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What’s next

The winner of the Ole Miss vs. Arkansas semifinal game will advance to the SEC Championship game on Sunday, March 16, 2026.

The takeaway

Ole Miss' improbable run in the SEC tournament has captivated college basketball fans, as the 15-seed Rebels have defied the odds and now stand just one win away from an SEC title and NCAA Tournament berth. Their Cinderella story is a testament to the unpredictability and excitement of March Madness.