Ole Miss Looks to Stun No. 6 South Carolina in Final Home Game – All You Need To Know.

The Ole Miss Rebels are gearing up for a massive SEC showdown as they welcome the sixth-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks to the SJB Pavilion for their final regular-season home game.

With an 18-8 overall record and a 9-5 mark in SEC play, the Rebels are just two wins away from their fourth straight 20-win season and are seeking their tenth conference victory for the fourth consecutive year. Tipoff is set for 8:00 p.m. CT on ESPN.

Ole Miss vs. South Carolina: A History of Struggles

Thursday’s matchup marks the 49th meeting between the Rebels and Gamecocks, with South Carolina holding a commanding 31-17 series lead. The last time Ole Miss defeated South Carolina was in the 2010 SEC Tournament, and their last home win against the Gamecocks came back in 2008.

Despite the lopsided series history, the Rebels have seen standout performances in past matchups. Ole Miss legend Armintie Price went 4-1 against South Carolina in her career, recording a double-double in each contest and tying the program’s single-game steal record with eight against the Gamecocks in 2004-05. The Rebels’ most dominant victory over South Carolina came in 1995 with a 91-58 blowout.

Scouting South Carolina: A Bench-Fueled Juggernaut

Dawn Staley has built a powerhouse program at South Carolina, leading the Gamecocks to three NCAA titles, including two in the last three years. Now in her 17th season at the helm, Staley has guided her team to a 25-3 record this year and a 13-1 mark in SEC play.

South Carolina’s depth is its biggest weapon, as the team leads the nation in bench scoring with 42.6 points per game. Joyce Edwards, the team’s leading scorer despite starting just one game, averages over 13 points per contest and exploded for a 28-point performance against Florida.

Freshman MiLaysia Fulwiley has also been electric off the bench, contributing 12.1 points per game in just 18 minutes per outing. Meanwhile, starting guard Te-Hina Paopao is a seasoned playmaker with over 493 career assists and is the only Gamecock starter averaging double figures.

South Carolina’s defense has been suffocating all season, holding opponents to just 34.7% shooting—ranking fifth-best in the nation. Their elite defense fuels a high-powered offense that averages 80.8 points per game, leading to one of the best scoring margins in college basketball.

Rebels Riding High After Comeback Win

Ole Miss enters this matchup with momentum, having rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit to defeat Missouri 68-66 in its last game. The Rebels forced 23 turnovers and recorded 14 steals—Missouri’s worst turnover performance of the season.

Starr Jacobs led the charge with a 22-point outing on 9-of-13 shooting while adding four steals. The Rebels have now recorded 10 or more steals in 17 games this season.

Chasing History: 10 Wins & 20 Wins in Sight

The Rebels are one win away from their fourth consecutive 10-win SEC season, a milestone never before achieved in program history. A victory over South Carolina would not only secure that feat but also put them one step closer to their fourth straight 20-win season.

Ole Miss has already knocked off two ranked opponents this year—No. 23 Vanderbilt and No. 8 Kentucky. If they can upset the Gamecocks, it would mark their first time defeating two top-10 teams in a season since 2006-07.

Can Ole Miss End Its South Carolina Drought?

With a stingy defense, an opportunistic offense, and a home crowd behind them, the Rebels have a chance to pull off a statement win. They’ll need to find a way to slow down South Carolina’s deep roster and capitalize on turnovers if they want to take down the reigning national champs.

Tipoff is at 8:00 p.m. CT, and the Rebels will need their best performance of the season to secure the upset.