Preview: South Carolina State at Mississippi UNIVERSITY, Miss. (Interstat) — The Mississippi Rebels, riding high at 9-1, look to continue their dominant non-conference play when they host the struggling South Carolina State Bulldogs on Sunday at The Pavilion at Ole Miss. The matchup presents a stark contrast in trajectories. Mississippi, whose only blemish is a narrow 60-61 road loss to Kansas State on Dec. 7, is coming off an 86-52 rout of Wofford on Saturday. The Rebels have showcased a potent offense, scoring 80 or more points in four games this season. South Carolina State (3-9) seeks to halt a two-game skid after falling 53-59 at Alabama State on Friday. The Bulldogs have found wins hard to come by, with their last victory a 69-62 decision over West Georgia on Dec. 7. A key matchup will feature each team’s top scorer. Mississippi is powered by Cotie McMahon, who has averaged 19.5 points over her last six games, including a 22-point performance in the win over Notre Dame. Her athleticism presents a major challenge for the Bulldogs’ defense. South Carolina State will rely on guard Shaunice Reed, who leads her team in scoring. Reed is coming off a 14-point effort at Alabama State and has shown high-volume capability, scoring 17 or more points in four games this season, including a 22-point outing at South Carolina Upstate. For the Bulldogs to compete, they must improve offensive efficiency after being held under 60 points in eight of their nine losses. Mississippi’s defense has been stifling, holding opponents to an average of 56.2 points per game during its current 9-1 stretch. This game serves as a final tune-up for Mississippi before Southeastern Conference play begins in January. South Carolina State continues a difficult road stretch before opening Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference action in early January. Tip-off is set for Sunday afternoon.