Cinderella came floating to the ball: No.15 Ole Miss upsets No.2 Alabama

Written & Edited by: Charles James IV 3/14/26

Basketball has evolved into a run and gun game of statistics, threes and “efficient” scoring. Here’s a statistic: 120 minutes of Basketball without trailing once. Let’s delve into the Ole Miss Cinderella story as they topple Alabama.

No. 2 seed Alabama’s playstyle embodied the new age three point barrage style. Especially with two flamethrowers, Labaron Philon Jr and Aden Holloway, leading the way in their backcourt. However, this game would be won inside the arc.

Instead of solely contending in kind with this barrage, Ole Miss relied on an old-age playing style of pure hustle and mid-to-close range shot execution. It began with pressuring the ball to the paint to collapse the defense quickly out of the gate. Two poised threes from Malik Dia ensured fear of the long ball in the back of Alabama defenders heads. A pair of tough steals to set the tone against a warming Alabama team. The stage had been set. 

Teardrop floaters rained onto the court and flooded the box score with points for Ole Miss players. The mid range dominance was a pleasant surprise. The very spots statistics warned against were the very shots boosting Ole Miss throughout the game. Striking step backs at the free throw and quick decelerations into feather touches left the Alabama defense scrambling. 

A narrative that demanded more hustle was pervasive for Ole Miss coming into the tournament. The benching of star AJ Storr came as a shock. However, this has proved an excellent mentality test for the young scoring guard. Hustle wins games, not just scoring. A new beast was awakening off the bench. He was ready to expose mismatches in the mid range.

Storr would go on to harness the close-mid range area to his desires. Only three shot attempts in the first half came from outside the paint. He ended the half with 13 points and a block. Safe to say the effort was present.

Players executed a flurry of jab and drives to throw off the balance of close outs. Dia used his built body to muscle into post positions for fadeaways. Storr lowered shoulders into slicing stepbacks. A gang of blue jerseys swarmed every loose ball. The disparity of scores grew. However, Alabama was not just given the No. 2 seed. Leading into the second half proved they earned it.

A near steal against them turned to quick pinball passing and a slam for Alabama. Storr rose for a mid range deuce only to be answered with a deep rhythm three and followed soon with a tough layup to cap a 10-2 Alabama run. 

The second half seemed to repeat the formula. A quick toe-to-toe behind the arc. However, Alabama began to leverage their guards’ driving ability to pressure for paint opportunities. In the blink of an eye, Alabama was in striking distance with a trade of threes and free throws. A little over six minutes remained.

The mid range magic returned for Ole Miss, yet Alabama was determined. Neck and neck they battled. The game seemed secured toward a finish as Ilias Kamardine splashed another three for Ole Miss with under four minutes to play.

Halloway swooped in for a layup and Aiden Sherell unleashed a thunderous dunk to bring the score to 78-75. Ole Miss’s Kamardine and Alabama’s Taylor Bol Bowen traded twos. 80-77. Philon stood at the line with the weight of the crimson tide on his shoulders. Calm and collected, he cashed in both freethrows. 80-79.

Alabama’s scoring down the stretch was impressive. Scoring did not win this game. It was hustle. Alabama stormed the ball into the paint. Ole Miss’s defense scrambled to catch their speedy ball movement. Sherrell power dribbles toward the rim. Two defenders in blue swarmed towards to assist in coverage. The clock ticked to its final second. Sherell rose through contact. The mighty hand of fate brought his attempt to a halt. This hand came in the form of Ole Miss’s James Scott who powered through to send the shot into the photography line. That was game. Alabama fouled and heaved its last hope from half court to no avail.

Hustle, poise and mid range performance.  This is how Ole Miss became the second double digit seeded team to win three games in the SEC tournament. Their Cinderella story continues.