GAME NOTES: The Ole Miss Rebels close out the non-conference portion of their schedule against Austin Peay on Saturday afternoon at Tad Smith Coliseum.

Austin Peay is winless on the road in six tries this season as the team opens a three-game road trip on Saturday. The Governors needed a late rally to take down North Florida at home on New Year's Eve, 65-60. This marks their final non-conference game before opening Ohio Valley Conference play at Jacksonville State on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Ole Miss is back in Oxford after falling on the road at Dayton Tuesday night, 78-74. The Rebels will begin SEC play at top-ranked Kentucky on Tuesday, and it will be tough to stop the bleeding should they lose again here.

Ole Miss was victorious in all four prior meetings all-time against APSU.

Senior forward Chris Freeman (11.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg) scored 15 of his career-high 23 points during a second-half charge against North Florida that saw his team overcome an eight-point deficit and outscore the Ospreys 19-7 down the stretch. Freeman also preserved a 61-60 lead when he blocked a dunk attempt with 1:08 remaining. Chris Horton (12.1 ppg, 10.1 rpg) recorded his seventh double-double of the season in the win with 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Khalil Davis (10.2 ppg, 6.0 rpg) also reached double figures with 11 points. The Govs held North Florida to 31-percent shooting and a 0-for-11 effort from 3-point range in the second half, after the Ospreys buried seven 3-pointers in the opening stanza.

On the other side of the floor, Ole Miss entered the week leading the nation in free-throw shooting (.785). In fact, the Rebels have hit 52 of their last 62 attempts from the line (.839). Junior guard Stefan Moody leads the way with 13.9 ppg, followed by senior guards LaDarius White and Jarvis Summers with 12.8 ppg apiece. The Rebels shot just 42 percent from the floor in their loss to Dayton, as the Flyers enjoyed a comfortable lead for most of the game. Ole Miss pulled to within 77-74 on a 3-pointer by LaDarius White with 15.5 seconds to play in regulation, but UD was eventually able to claim the win. Summers led the way with 20 points, White scored 14 off the bench, and M.J. Rhett finished with 12 points and nine boards.

Given the Rebels' propensity to capitalize on free-throw opportunities, along with the Governors' road struggles to this point, Ole Miss has the clear edge in this matchup.