In the upcoming NCAA Tournament second-round matchup, the No. 6 seed Ole Miss Rebels (23-11) will face the No. 3 seed Iowa State Cyclones (25-9) on Sunday, March 23, at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Ole Miss advanced by defeating North Carolina 71-64, a game in which they built a 22-point lead but had to withstand a late comeback from the Tar Heels. Senior guard Sean Pedulla led the Rebels with 20 points, while Dre Davis contributed 15 points. The Rebels’ balanced offense features five players averaging double figures, with Pedulla leading at 15.0 points per game. However, their tendency to allow opponents back into games is a concern as they prepare to face a formidable Iowa State team.

Iowa State secured their spot in the second round with a commanding 82-55 victory over Lipscomb, shooting 58.3% from the field and dominating the paint with a 50-20 scoring advantage. Sophomore forward Milan Momcilovic led the Cyclones with 20 points, including 4-of-8 shooting from three-point range. Despite the absence of second-leading scorer Keshon Gilbert due to a groin injury, Iowa State’s offense remains potent, with guard Curtis Jones averaging 17.1 points per game. The Cyclones are favored by 5.5 points in this matchup, reflecting their strong season performance and balanced attack.