Beating Sam Houston State won’t help Ole Miss play deep into March, but losing wouldn’t either. The good guys jumped out to a 17-point lead early in the first half and though the Bearkats closed it to six at the half, the Rebs jogged to a 82-69 win. This was the first of a five-game homestead, and the Rebels will need to win them all heading into 2018.
Christopher Galbreathe Jr. kept Sam Houston in the game with his 22 points and nine rebounds, but things were never in doubt in the second half. This was a get-well game for Ole Miss after they dropped their last three games.