GAME NOTES: A couple of teams looking to rebound from losses will meet up in a Southeastern Conference tilt at Tad Smith Coliseum on Saturday evening, as the Ole Miss Rebels play host to the Gamecocks of South Carolina.

South Carolina lost its conference opener at home against Florida on Wednesday, 72-68. That outcome snapped the Gamecocks' seven-game winning streak, and it came just four days after they beat ninth-ranked Iowa State in Brooklyn.

Ole Miss gave top-ranked Kentucky its toughest test of the season Tuesday night, but the Rebels ultimately came up short in overtime, 89-86. Still, the Rebels effectively served notice to the rest of the SEC that they are a force to be reckoned with, due in no small part to their superb free-throw shooting.

The Rebels hold a 17-15 series lead and are 11-1 at home against South Carolina dating back to 1960. Ole Miss swept both meetings last season by a combined five points.

The Gamecocks dug themselves an early 17-6 hole on their homecourt against Florida. And while they eventually managed to overcome that deficit and take a three-point halftime lead, the Gamecocks could not make it stick as they managed only eight second-half field goals (.320). Tyrone Johnson was the lone player in double figures, as he finished with 20 points on the strength of a perfect 9-for-9 effort at the foul line. USC struggled with Florida's size in the paint, where the Gators held a 37-23 rebounding advantage for the game.

On the season, Johnson (10.2 ppg) is one of four Gamecocks averaging double figures in the scoring column, led by Duane Notice with 12.7 ppg. The Gamecocks hang their hats on the defensive end of the floor, limiting foes to 34.4-percent shooting and only 59.2 ppg for a +14.0 scoring margin.

The Rebels showed well in all facets against the No. 1 team in the nation earlier this week. Whereas other opponents have wilted when the Wildcats build a double-digit lead, Ole Miss shook off early deficits of 12-0 and 18-5 to take a 30-26 lead with seven minutes remaining in the first half. By game's end, there were eight lead changes and 13 ties, but the Rebels simply ran out of gas when leading scorer Stefan Moody (14.7 ppg) was forced to the bench with leg cramps in overtime.

Moody had scored 25 points and hit 5-of-7 3-point attempts before exiting. Jarvis Summers (14.0 ppg) finished with 23 points and four steals, while LaDarius White (12.6 ppg) scored 15 in the loss. The Rebels were once again successful at the charity stripe, where they converted 19-of-22 attempts (.864) for the game. On the season, they lead the country in free-throw percentage (.789).

It will be interesting to see how each team responds from its last outing. The Gamecocks were cruising along before falling to Florida, while the Rebels nearly pulled off the upset of the college basketball season to this point. The Rebels will certainly be tested here, but they have the homecourt advantage as well as the always-important ability to capitalize at the foul line.