Ole Miss
South Carolina
OXFORD, Miss. (03/06/2026) — Meechie Johnson drilled a dramatic 32-foot three-pointer as the final buzzer sounded, lifting the South Carolina Gamecocks to a stunning 64-61 road victory over the Ole Miss Rebels on Friday night at The Sandy and John Black Pavilion.
In a hard-fought contest that featured two ties and two lead changes, Johnson's heroics provided the decisive blow, silencing the crowd of 7,543 and securing a crucial conference win for the Gamecocks.
How It Happened
South Carolina seized control early, building a double-digit lead in the first half behind sharp perimeter shooting. Nordin Kapic connected on a pair of three-pointers before the first media timeout, and a jumper from Grant Polk at the 9:14 mark extended the Gamecocks' advantage to 20-10. Ole Miss struggled to find its rhythm from deep, but interior scoring from Malik Dia, including a tip-in dunk, and James Scott kept the Rebels within striking distance. South Carolina carried a 34-28 lead into the halftime break after Johnson hit a floating jump shot with six seconds left on the clock.
The momentum shifted dramatically after intermission. Ole Miss stormed out of the locker room, engineering a 12-0 run that erased the deficit. The surge was capped by a driving layup from Dia with 15:28 remaining, giving the Rebels their first lead of the game at 38-37.
The final 15 minutes devolved into a tense, back-and-forth battle. A perfectly executed alley-oop from Johnson to Kobe Knox put South Carolina back in front, 41-40. The teams traded baskets, with Myles Stute and Elijah Strong hitting key three-pointers for the Gamecocks, while Dia and Scott answered with powerful dunks for the Rebels to keep the game tight.
Turning Point
With the game tied 61-61 in the closing seconds, the outcome rested on the final possession. With the clock winding down, Meechie Johnson took matters into his own hands. Pulling up from well beyond the arc, he launched a high-arcing shot that found nothing but the bottom of the net as time expired. The shot capped a game-high performance and delivered the victory for South Carolina in the most dramatic fashion possible, leaving the Rebels stunned on their home floor.
Star of the Game
Meechie Johnson was the undeniable star for the Gamecocks. Beyond his game-winning shot, he was South Carolina’s offensive engine all night, finishing with a team-high 17 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists. He consistently created opportunities for himself and his teammates, including hitting a crucial step-back three-pointer in the second half to halt Ole Miss's momentum. Kobe Knox and Nordin Kapic also provided critical scoring, each contributing 12 points.
For Ole Miss, Malik Dia was a force in the paint, leading all scorers with 22 points and adding 4 rebounds. AJ Storr chipped in 13 points, but the Rebels' inability to connect from distance proved fatal.
What It Means
This victory is a significant statement for South Carolina, showcasing the team's resilience and ability to win tough games on the road. The win improves their standing in a competitive SEC and provides a major confidence boost heading into the final stretch of the regular season.
For Ole Miss, the loss is a devastating blow. The Rebels battled back to take the lead but couldn't close out the game at home. Their abysmal 7% shooting from three-point range (making just 1 of 14 attempts) was a glaring weakness that ultimately cost them. Despite Dia's dominant effort, the lack of perimeter scoring was too much to overcome against a disciplined South Carolina squad.