Alabama
Ole Miss
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (02/05/2026) — In a back-and-forth Southeastern Conference thriller, the Alabama Crimson Tide edged the Ole Miss Rebels 64-63 at Coleman Coliseum on Thursday night, with the outcome decided in the final frantic seconds.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The contest was a nail-biter throughout, with neither team able to build a significant lead. Alabama jumped out to an 18-14 lead after the first quarter, but the Rebels battled back to tie the game heading into the final frame. The Crimson Tide's accuracy from beyond the arc proved to be a key differentiator, as they shot 42% from three-point range compared to Ole Miss's 22%. While the Rebels dominated the boards, pulling down 46 rebounds to Alabama's 37, their 14 turnovers proved costly. In front of an engaged crowd of 2,625, the game came down to execution in the final minutes, with both teams trading crucial baskets.
TURNING POINT
The final 30 seconds of the game were a whirlwind of action that ultimately decided the victor. After Jessica Timmons gave the Crimson Tide a brief lead, Ole Miss answered with two free throws to go ahead. With the game on the line, Alabama's Diana Collins drove to the basket and scored a go-ahead layup with just 18 seconds left on the clock. The Rebels had one last chance, but a critical offensive foul was called on their leading scorer, Cotie McMahon, with 10 seconds remaining, negating what would have been the go-ahead bucket. A last-second shot at the buzzer by Latasha Lattimore was off the mark, sealing the dramatic 64-63 victory for the Crimson Tide.
STAR OF THE GAME
Jessica Timmons was the offensive engine for the Alabama Crimson Tide, pouring in a game-high 23 points and grabbing seven rebounds. Timmons was instrumental down the stretch, scoring six consecutive points for Alabama in the final minutes to keep her team in the game. Karly Weathers also had a strong performance for the Crimson Tide, contributing 14 points and six rebounds.
For the Ole Miss Rebels, Cotie McMahon delivered an outstanding all-around performance with 22 points, five rebounds, and six assists. The Rebels also saw double-double efforts from Christeen Iwuala, who scored 11 points and pulled down a career-high 15 rebounds, and Latasha Lattimore, who tallied 10 points and 13 boards. Sira Thienou was another key contributor for Ole Miss with 13 points and seven rebounds.
WHAT IT MEANS
The victory improves Alabama's impressive home record and provides a significant boost to their standing within the highly competitive SEC. For the Ole Miss Rebels, the narrow loss on the road is a tough setback in a game that could have gone either way. The Rebels showed their strength on the glass but will look to tighten up their late-game execution as they continue their conference schedule.