# SEC Men's Basketball: Ole Miss Rebels Defeats Georgia Bulldogs 76-72

**Published:** 2026-03-22 — **By:** Stacy Stanfield
**Category:** games — **Type:** game-recap
**Source:** https://secscouts.com/news/ole-miss-defeats-georgia-sec-tournament-recap-2026

**Teams:** [Georgia](https://secscouts.com/georgia/), [Ole Miss](https://secscouts.com/ole-miss/)


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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (03/11/2026) — The Ole Miss Rebels built a commanding first-half lead and withstood a furious second-half rally from the Georgia Bulldogs to secure a 76-72 victory Wednesday in the SEC Tournament at Bridgestone Arena.

Guard AJ Storr led a balanced Ole Miss attack with 19 points, supported by 17 from Malik Dia and 16 from Travis Perry. The Rebels shot a blistering 45% from three-point range to hold off a Georgia squad that fought back from a 17-point deficit to make it a one-possession game in the final minutes. Kanon Catchings paced the Bulldogs with a game-high-tying 19 points in the loss.

### How It Happened

Ole Miss seized control from the opening tip, never trailing in the contest. Malik Dia opened the scoring with a turnaround jumper just 33 seconds into the game, setting a tone of offensive efficiency. The Rebels methodically built their advantage through sharp outside shooting, with AJ Storr connecting on a 27-foot three-pointer to push the lead to 14-8 just over eight minutes into the half.

The long-range assault continued as Ilias Kamardine and Travis Perry drained back-to-back threes, extending the margin to 25-14 with 5:15 remaining in the period. The Rebels' defense stifled Georgia, holding the Bulldogs to just 20 first-half points on dismal shooting. A floating jump shot from Storr just before the halftime buzzer sent Ole Miss into the locker room with a commanding 34-20 lead.

The Rebels appeared to put the game away early in the second half. Perry opened the period with another three-pointer, and a subsequent three from Dia at the 17:44 mark ballooned the lead to 43-24. Ole Miss maintained a comfortable cushion, leading 57-41 after a James Scott dunk with 10:15 left to play.

From there, Georgia mounted a spectacular comeback. Sparked by a desperate defense and timely shooting, the Bulldogs ripped off a 13-0 run over the next three minutes. A three-pointer from Kanon Catchings cut the deficit to 57-52, and a powerful dunk from Dylan James at the 7:35 mark pulled the Bulldogs within a single score at 57-54, electrifying the Georgia faithful in attendance.

### Turning Point

With all momentum swinging toward the Bulldogs, Ole Miss guard Travis Perry delivered the game's decisive blow. As the Georgia defense scrambled, Perry calmly stepped into a deep 28-foot three-pointer with 7:16 on the clock. The shot snapped Georgia’s 13-0 run, pushed the lead back to six at 60-54, and crucially settled the Rebels' offense. The Bulldogs continued to fight, but Perry's clutch basket provided the necessary cushion for Ole Miss to hold on for the victory.

### Star of the Game

While Perry hit the game's biggest shot, **AJ Storr** was the most consistent offensive force for the Rebels. The guard finished with a team-high 19 points while adding two rebounds and two assists. Storr was a factor from the start, scoring inside and out and making key plays to build the initial lead, including the critical basket to end the first half that gave Ole Miss a 14-point advantage.

### What It Means

For the Ole Miss Rebels, the victory means survival and advancement in the SEC Tournament. By withstanding a significant comeback attempt from a conference rival, they demonstrated the poise needed for postseason basketball and kept their season alive. They will look to build on their hot three-point shooting (45%) in the next round.

The Georgia Bulldogs see their SEC Tournament run come to an end in heartbreaking fashion. Their second-half resilience, erasing a 17-point deficit to create a tense finish, showcased the team's fight. However, a poor shooting performance in the first half created a hole too deep to escape. The 19-point effort from Kanon Catchings provides a strong individual performance as the Bulldogs head into the offseason.

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*Original article: [SEC Men's Basketball: Ole Miss Rebels Defeats Georgia Bulldogs 76-72](https://secscouts.com/news/ole-miss-defeats-georgia-sec-tournament-recap-2026) — SEC Scouts*