OXFORD, Miss. (Interstat) — The Mississippi Rebels used a dominant first-half offensive explosion to cruise past the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks 86 to 65 in a non-conference men’s basketball game Friday night at The Pavilion at Ole Miss.

A raucous home crowd of 8,212 watched the Rebels improve to 2 wins and 0 losses on the young season, while the Warhawks fell to 0 wins and 2 losses.

Mississippi seized control of the contest from the opening tip, building a commanding 19-point lead by halftime. The Rebels’ offensive firepower was on full display in the first period, as they racked up 47 points against a struggling Warhawks defense. Louisiana-Monroe, meanwhile, managed just 28 points in the half, a deficit from which they would never recover.

The Rebels’ backcourt duo of AJ Storr and Ilias Kamardine proved too much for the visiting Warhawks to handle. Storr, a dynamic scorer, led all players with 19 points, efficiently amassing his total in just 22 minutes of action. He also chipped in 3 rebounds and 2 assists, providing a constant scoring threat that stretched the Louisiana-Monroe defense.

Kamardine, a 6-foot-4 guard from Marseille, France, orchestrated the offense with precision. In 24 minutes, he scored 15 points and dished out a game-high 7 assists, consistently breaking down the Warhawks’ defense and creating high-percentage shots for his teammates. His facilitation was a key component in Mississippi’s efficient offensive night.

While the Rebels’ guards shone, their frontcourt provided the muscle and defensive presence to complete the victory. Corey Chest, a 6-foot-8 forward from New Orleans, was a force on the glass, pulling down 9 rebounds to go with 2 assists and 2 blocked shots in a productive 15-minute stint. Malik Dia, a 6-foot-9, 250-pound post player from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, provided a strong interior presence off the bench, scoring 11 points and grabbing 4 rebounds.

The Rebels also received meaningful contributions from their international contingent. Eduardo Klafke, a 6-foot-5 guard from Sao Paulo, Brazil, stuffed the stat sheet with 6 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists. Augusto Cassia added 6 points in just 9 minutes of play, highlighting the depth of the Mississippi roster.

For Louisiana-Monroe, the loss continued a difficult start to the season, following a 20-point road loss to Northern Illinois earlier in the week. The Warhawks showed more fight in the second half, outscoring the Rebels 37 to 39 after the break, but the first-half hole was far too deep to climb out of.

Krystian Lewis, a 6-foot-3 guard from Monroe, Louisiana, led the Warhawks with 17 points in a team-high 35 minutes. He also contributed 3 rebounds and 3 assists in the losing effort. MJ Russell provided secondary scoring, finishing with 15 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists.

Renars Sondors, a 6-foot-9 forward from Riga, Latvia, was a bright spot in the paint for ULM, scoring 11 points and collecting 3 rebounds. Alex Molofeev, a 6-foot-5 wing from Moscow, Russia, added 7 points and 4 rebounds.

The game’s outcome was largely expected, as the Interstat’s ELO system had projected Mississippi with a 99.50 percent probability to win. The Rebels lived up to that billing with a comprehensive performance that showcased their offensive versatility and defensive intensity.

Mississippi will look to continue its winning ways when it hosts a tough Memphis team on Tuesday, November 11. The game promises to be a significant early-season test for the undefeated Rebels.

Louisiana-Monroe, still in search of its first victory, will hit the road again for its next contest, traveling to face Houston Christian on Thursday, November 13. The Warhawks will then return home for a matchup against Lamar on Monday, November 17, as they continue a challenging non-conference slate.