After victory at Kentucky, Missouri Tigers take on struggling Ole Miss Saturday
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- Missouri opens SEC 2-0 after wins over No.22 Florida and historic Kentucky win
- Ole Miss enters 0-2 in SEC, 0-7 vs power conferences, Malik Dia leads offense
- Mark Mitchell averages 17 points and drives Mizzou leadership and scoring
The Missouri Tigers men’s basketball team is 2-0 to open Southeastern Conference play and looks to build on that hot start against Ole Miss on Saturday in Oxford, Mississippi.
The Tigers' season looked as if it had reached its tipping point. Mizzou suffered a demoralizing blowout defeat against Illinois on Dec. 22 in the Braggin' Rights game, failing to secure a true signature win in its non-conference slate.
But that loss is now in the rearview mirror following consecutive wins over No. 22 Florida and Kentucky to open league play.
Ole Miss (8-7, 0-2) has had an inverse beginning to its SEC slate. The Rebels have lost both games they've played in the conference so far. They opened league play with an uncompetitive 86-70 loss on the road to Oklahoma, and followed it with a 94-87 home defeat at the hands of No. 15 Arkansas on Wednesday night at home.
With these two losses Ole Miss stands at 0-7 against power conference opponents this season.
The Rebels have been led on offense by returning senior forward Malik Dia. He is averaging nearly 15 points and 7 rebounds per game so far this season. He has scored more than 10 points in seven consecutive games, including 16 and 17 against Arkansas and Oklahoma, respectively.
In last season's matchup, the Tigers handled the Rebels in a top-25 matchup at Mizzou Arena behind 26 points from then senior Tamar Bates. Dia led Ole Miss with 17 points and eight rebounds in the loss.
Mizzou's can attribute its hot SEC start to the efforts of senior forward Mark Mitchell. Mitchell continues to be a stalwart offensively for the Tigers. In a season where he is averaging 17 points, five rebounds and three assists, he has emerged as a clear leadership presence.
Mitchell scored 14 points in the win over Florida and added 21 more in MU’s historic first-ever win over Kentucky at Rupp Arena.
"I think when you start conference play it's a new slate, so I think all teams are contenders," Mitchell said after the UK win. "... I think obviously we're ascending, just trying to get better. I think we have a long way to go.
"Now, obviously these last two games are really good. But I'm just glad (about) the growth we've shown, and how much room we have to improve."
Mizzou takes on Ole Miss at 5 p.m. Saturday in Oxford, Mississippi.
Copyright 2026 Columbia Missourian
This story was originally published January 9, 2026 at 8:09 AM with the headline "After victory at Kentucky, Missouri Tigers take on struggling Ole Miss Saturday."