Ole Miss basketball dominated Kentucky on Tuesday night, beating the Wildcats 98-84. The Rebels used a 23-point halftime lead to down the Wildcats, as Kentucky was never able to close the gap in the second half.

Ole Miss basketball almost accomplished something coach Chris Beard has chased his entire career. Assists and turnovers powered the Rebels vs Kentucky

Ole Miss finished just 7-11 in SEC play last season, had no wins over a ranked conference opponent, and lost both matchups with Auburn by 14 and 23 points, respectively. Auburn is an even stronger team this season, so for Beard and the Rebels to cut that deficit to only 10 points while keeping it close the majority of the game is impressive.

What Ole Miss basketball coach Chris Beard saw in the practice facility a few days ago backed his belief in Davon Barnes' ability to seal the game.

Here's where Chris Beard's Ole Miss basketball team stands in the latest NCAA tournament bracket predictions after a loss to No. 1 Auburn

It felt like every time the Rebels pushed the Tigers, Auburn had an answer from one of its sharp shooting guards as they were almost automatic from behind the arc. Still, Ole Miss coach Chris Beard believes his team was in position to win the game at various points on Saturday.