Coming off a big victory over South Carolina last Saturday, Ole Miss hoped to continue their momentum Wednesday night when they played LSU. However, that would not be the case. The Rebels lost 71-75, in a hard fought game that was in the balance till the final minute.
Ole Miss guard Stephan Moody wanted to register another big game, but only ended up with 14 points, shooting 5 for 18. All of Ole Miss’ guards shot poorly, Jarvis Summers, Ladarius “Snoop” White, and Moody registered 35 of Ole Miss’ 71 points, but did so shooting 14 for 45.
“Our big three go 14 for 45, you’re just not going to have a lot of success,” said Coach Andy Kennedy.” Because they are our primary shot makers and our primary shot getters.”
The past two games had given Rebel fans hope that the team had turned the corner, however, tonight they looked like the exact same team that lost to Charleston Southern. The biggest factor was the overall lack of energy early to go along with shooting an unacceptable 34% from the floor.
“I thought we looked lethargic, how can you be lethargic! It boggles my mind,” said Coach Kennedy. “I just did not like our fight. In our four home losses there is a pretty common theme. Probably, accumulative, we are shooting 30% at home.”
Ole Miss struggled to shoot mainly because they were out sized. LSU has four players 6’10″ or taller including two seven footers. To compare, Ole Miss has one player who is 6’10″, Australian native John Crnogorac, who is a freshman and has not played a single minute this season.
“I thought they (LSU) were long and certainly athletic,” Kennedy said. “Jordan Mickey leads the SEC in shot blocks and had six of their (LSU) nine blocks.”
The game was close to the very finish. It was a two point game with eleven seconds remaining, however, it seemed every time Ole Miss got some momentum, LSU would come back with a three or there would be a costly mistake by the Rebels.
This was not the way Ole Miss wanted to start their road trip as they travel to Fayetteville to play Arkansas on Saturday then travel to Athens the following Tuesday to play Georgia, before returning home to host Florida on January 24th. This is a crucial three game stretch.
Ole Miss needs to win two of these three to have any hope of making the NCAA tournament come March. 
