Ole Miss Defeats No. 4 Tennessee in a Night of Top-20 Men’s Basketball Upsets

Ole Miss delivered a stunning 78-76 upset over No. 4 Tennessee, marking their second win against a top-5 team this season. Jaemyn Brakefield’s dominant second-half performance, scoring all 19 of his points in the final 20 minutes, fueled the Rebels’ victory. A crucial rebound and putback in the closing seconds sealed the win, igniting a court-storming celebration in Oxford.

The Rebels’ second-half surge overcame a scoreless first half for Brakefield, highlighting their resilience. Key plays, including crucial layups and a pivotal assist from Sean Pedulla, helped Ole Miss maintain a narrow lead. Despite a late 3-pointer from Igor Miličić Jr. that tied the game, Brakefield’s clutch rebound and putback secured the victory. Ole Miss’s dominance on the boards, particularly offensive rebounds, and their strong inside game proved to be the difference-maker.

In other notable upsets, UConn triumphed over No. 20 Marquette 72-66 in a hard-fought Big East clash. Alex Karaban led the Huskies with 21 points, and Samson Johnson recorded his first career double-double. Marquette’s poor three-point shooting proved costly, despite strong performances from Kam Jones and David Joplin.

Meanwhile, Oklahoma stunned No. 15 Missouri 96-84, powered by Jeremiah Fears’ career-high 31 points. The Sooners’ hot shooting in the first half and near-perfect free-throw shooting in the second proved too much for Missouri, who struggled defensively. This win significantly boosts Oklahoma’s NCAA tournament hopes.