In a dramatic second-round showdown at the SEC Tournament, No. 8 seed Ole Miss edged ninth-seeded Arkansas 83-80 on Thursday, thanks to a clutch, deep three-pointer by Sean Pedulla with 1.3 seconds remaining. The Rebels’ victory came after a stunning turn of events in the final seconds, sending them to the quarterfinals to face top-seeded Auburn on Friday.
With just 7.4 seconds left, Arkansas forward Trevon Brazile had a chance to put the Razorbacks ahead at the free-throw line after being fouled while battling for an offensive rebound. However, he missed both attempts, allowing Ole Miss Dre Davis to grab the defensive board. Davis quickly passed the ball ahead to Pedulla, who raced up the court and launched a contested three-pointer from well beyond the arc. His shot found the bottom of the net, giving the Rebels an 83-80 lead with just over a second remaining.
Arkansas had one final chance, as Billy Richmond III heaved a midcourt shot at the buzzer, but it bounced off the backboard and rim, sealing the Rebels’ victory.
Pedulla’s game-winner was his only made three-pointer of the night, finishing just 1-of-7 from beyond the arc. Despite his shooting struggles, he stepped up when it mattered most, contributing 10 points on 4-of-12 shooting.
Malik Dia led Ole Miss with 19 points and eight rebounds, while Jaylen Murray added 17. The Rebels (22-10) showcased resilience throughout the game, overcoming a major second-half surge from Arkansas.
The Razorbacks (20-13) found themselves in a deep hole late in the first half, trailing 42-27 with just 1:25 left before halftime. However, they came storming back with a blistering 34-11 run to take a 61-53 lead with 9:35 remaining.
Jonas Aidoo was a force for Arkansas, posting 17 points and eight rebounds before fouling out with 4:44 left. Brazile recorded a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds but will be haunted by his missed free throws in the closing seconds. Richmond also scored 15 points, while Karter Knox added 14.
With Arkansas leading 78-77 in the final minute, Pedulla missed an open three-pointer, but Dia secured the offensive rebound to keep Ole Miss alive. Moments later, Pedulla had the ball stolen by Arkansas’ Johnell Davis, who quickly called timeout with 50.5 seconds remaining.
Out of the timeout, D.J. Wagner hit a tough fadeaway shot from the left side of the lane, giving Arkansas an 80-77 advantage with 29.6 seconds left. Ole Miss answered with Davis completing a three-point play with 20.7 seconds remaining to tie the game, setting up the final sequence that led to Pedulla’s game-winning three.
With the thrilling victory, Ole Miss advances to the quarterfinals, where they will face No. 1 seed Auburn on Friday. Meanwhile, Arkansas’ SEC Tournament hopes come to an end, as they now await their fate for a potential NCAA Tournament bid.
This game will be remembered for its wild swings, high-intensity moments, and, ultimately, Pedulla’s heroics in the clutch.
