aj storr delivered 19 points Thursday in Nashville, Tenn., as Mississippi advanced past Georgia 76-72 at the Southeastern Conference Tournament, setting up a quarterfinal meeting with Alabama on Friday (ET).
What Happens When Aj Storr and Ole Miss seize early control?
Mississippi, the No. 15 seed, built its win on a first-half surge that left Georgia chasing the game. aj storr ignited a key sequence before halftime by stealing a pass from Somto Cyril and finishing at the other end for a layup that sent the Rebels into intermission with a 34-20 lead.
The halftime margin reflected a rough opening 20 minutes for Georgia: 7-of-26 shooting (26%) from the field, 1-of-12 (8%) from 3-point range, and 10 turnovers in what was described as the Bulldogs’ lowest-scoring half of the season. Ole Miss’ defense and transition play turned those mistakes into separation, and the Rebels carried that control into a tense finish.
In addition to aj storr’s 19, Malik Dia added 17 for Mississippi. Travis Perry hit four 3-pointers and scored 16. James Scott contributed seven points, 13 rebounds, and three blocks, while Ilias Kamardine added eight points, four rebounds, four assists, and four steals.
What If Georgia’s second-half surge flips the script?
Georgia made the game volatile in the second half, putting together a 22-2 run sparked by a flurry of 3-pointers in an 84-second span. The rally culminated with a dunk by Dylan James that narrowed the deficit to a one-possession game with 7 1/2 minutes remaining.
The closing stretch became a test of execution for both teams. Perry responded with a 3-pointer at a critical moment, but Georgia continued to press: Jeremiah Wilkinson and Kanon Catchings followed with back-to-back layups to pull within 60-58. From there, aj storr provided the late scoring punch, tallying eight points down the stretch while Georgia went 3-of-12 shooting in the final minutes.
For Georgia, Catchings delivered a complete stat line with four 3-pointers, 19 points, six rebounds, and three steals. Ole Miss’ ability to absorb the run without losing composure ultimately decided a game that repeatedly tightened after halftime.
The second half also included a major personnel moment: Somto Cyril was ejected roughly two minutes into the half after a foul was upgraded to a Flagrant 2.
What Happens Next in the SEC bracket after this Ole Miss win?
The win moves Mississippi into the quarterfinals, where the Rebels will face Alabama on Friday (ET). Ole Miss entered the SEC tournament with a 14-19 record and has now won back-to-back games after losing 12 of 13 to close the regular season. In Nashville, the Rebels have not trailed in the tournament, following a first-round win over Texas (76-66) with the victory over Georgia.
Georgia, now 22-10, awaits a potential postseason invitation. Thursday’s defeat ended the Bulldogs’ SEC tournament run, despite a second-half push that turned a 14-point halftime deficit into a one-possession game late.
