Ole Miss Basketball Returns to the Pavilion Tonight

By Adam Brown
Sports Editor
adam.brown@hottytoddy.com

Kermit Davis arrives in Oxford as the new men’s basketball coach of the Ole Miss Rebels. Photo by Joshua McCoy/Ole Miss Athletics.

The Ole Miss men’s basketball season begins this evening as they play host to Fayetteville State in an exhibition game at the Pavilion. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. on the SEC Network +.

This evening begins a new era as Kermit Davis takes the reins as head coach, replacing Andy Kennedy after twelve seasons. Davis comes to Oxford after coaching the last 16 seasons at Middle Tennessee State University.

Ole Miss has three double-digit scorers returning to the court this season: Terence Davis (13.8 ppg), Breein Tyree (10.8 ppg) and Bruce Stevens (10.8 ppg).

In August the Rebels traveled to Canada to play in four games on their Canadian tour. Davis’ squad came back with a 3-1 record and averaged 83.5 points per game.

Fayetteville State, a Division II institution in Fayetteville, North Carolina, is coming off an 8-21 record during the 2017-18 campaign. The Broncos posted a 4-12 mark in Central Collegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) play in Ken Spencer’s second season as head coach. FSU lost its top two scorers in Josh Bryant (15.1 ppg) and Willie Gilmore (14.0 ppg), but guard Denzell Hosch (11.8 ppg)is back for his junior season.

Tonight’s game will be the first meeting between the two squads. 

Ole Miss opens the regular season next Saturday, Nov. 10 as they host Western Michigan.