clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile
Changing the Culture of Ole Miss Athletics The original Air Kiffin shirt is available here

Filed under:

Ole Miss basketball opens The Pavilion with a 74-66 win over Alabama

The Rebs are undefeated in the new digs. And hot damn are they some nice digs.

By Jeff Gray
Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports

For a while there, it looked like Bama was going to spoil the housewarming party. But on the opening night of Ole Miss' new $96-million hoops arena, the Rebs overcame a first-half collapse to rally back for a 74-66 win.

The Pavilion, packed to its capacity of 9,500, was rocking from the opening tip, spurning the Rebs to a 25-15 lead with about nine minutes to go in the first half. But a perimeter barrage from Bama (their seven first-half threes equaled their per game average this season) and cold shooting from Andy Kennedy's club (which went about five minutes without a bucket at one point) gave the Tide an 8-point lead heading into the break.

Ole Miss came roaring into the second-half, though, recapturing the lead with nine minutes left in the game. Most of that work was done by Sebastian Saiz, who was absolutely dominant in his fifth double-double performance of the season. He piled up 21 points, 16 rebounds and a block to steady the Rebs under the basket while they worked their way back. We said before the season that Sebas needed to be an All-SEC-type performer if this team was going to compete and that's exactly what he's doing.

Stefan Moody wasn't too shabby himself, pouring in 21 and OH MY GOD TAKE COVER

Marshall did the first 'Are You Ready?'

And AK's daughter sang the first National Anthem.

The SEC commish was in the house...

... as was Hugh Freeze and Shep Smith.

Bjork was on the kiss cam.

The food was on point.