LSU 90 vs. Ole Miss 81 FINAL

WHEN: 8:00 PM CT, Wednesday, January 13, 2016
WHERE: Pete Maravich Assembly Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

After opening its new $96 million arena with back-to-back victories, Ole Miss heads out on the road Wednesday to face LSU and freshman phenom Ben Simmons. The Tigers began SEC play with impressive wins over Vanderbilt and Kentucky before falling 68-62 at Florida on Saturday despite Simmons’ 28 points and 17 rebounds.

While Simmons has been as good as advertised, the Rebels boast their own star in point guard Stefan Moody, who leads the SEC and ranks sixth nationally in scoring at 23.9 points per game. The 5-10 senior scored with 3.8 seconds left to propel the Rebels past Georgia 72-71 last Saturday and has recorded 20-plus points in 10 consecutive games. Moody could be matched up at times Wednesday by the versatile Simmons, who ranks among the top five in the SEC in scoring (20.6 points), rebounds (13.1) assists (5.1). The 6-10, 240-pound Simmons, who often brings the ball up the court, helped LSU upset Kentucky last Tuesday and is shooting 63 percent from the field through three league games.

TV: 8:00 CT, ESPN2

OLE MISS (12-3, 2-1 SEC): The Rebels were picked to finish ninth in the SEC but have been one of the nation’s surprise teams thanks to the duo of Moody and forward Sebastian Saiz, who averages 12.5 points and a team-high 10.3 rebounds and posted back-to-back double-doubles in last week's victories over Alabama and Georgia. The Rebels have also received a spark from guard Rasheed Brooks, who is averaging 10.5 points over his last six games. Freshman forward Marcanvis Hymon made his fourth start of the season against the Bulldogs but was held to six points while battling foul trouble.

LSU (9-6, 2-1 SEC): Simmons is understandably the focus of every opponent’s game plan, but freshman guard Antonio Blakeney is also making an immediate impact on both ends of the floor while scoring 9.3 points per game. The Tigers could use a bounce-back effort from backcourt mate Tim Quarterman, who averages 11.5 points but was held to three points, three rebounds and three assists in 22 minutes against Florida. The Tigers were dominated by the Gators’ frontcourt and need an improved outing from forward Craig Victor II, who had 15 points and 12 rebounds in last week’s 85-67 win over Kentucky but failed to build on the performance against Florida.

LSU leads the overall series 119-87, including a 75-30 advantage in games played in Baton Rouge.

Ole Miss is 10-1 when outrebounding its opponent.

LSU is 27-5 when scoring at least 80 points under coach Johnny Jones.

PREDICTION: LSU 78, Ole Miss 75