ATHENS, Ga. (Interstat) — A surging Georgia squad looks to continue its standout season when it hosts a struggling Mississippi team in a Southeastern Conference men’s basketball matchup Wednesday at Stegeman Coliseum.

The Bulldogs (14-2, 2-1 SEC) have emerged as one of the nation’s early surprises, with their only losses coming in overtime to Clemson and on the road at Florida. They are powered by a formidable interior presence in sophomore Somto Cyril. The big man is coming off an 18-point, 3-block performance in a win at South Carolina and has recorded multiple blocks in eight games this season, including a 5-block outing in an overtime win over Auburn.

Mississippi (9-7, 1-2) seeks consistency after alternating wins and losses over its past six games. The Rebels are led by guard AJ Storr, who scored 26 points in their 76-69 home win over Missouri last Saturday. Storr’s scoring has been volatile, however, with outputs of 26, 12, 8, 2, 1, and 14 points in his last six contests.

Georgia’s offense has been explosive, topping 100 points three times this season, including a 123-point outburst against Tennessee Tech. Their defense, anchored by Cyril, will test a Mississippi team that has struggled on the road, with losses at Oklahoma, North Carolina State, Saint John’s, and Iowa.

The Bulldogs have dominated recent non-conference play at home, winning their last four in Athens by an average of 32 points. Mississippi will need a major road performance to counter Georgia’s momentum and depth.

Wednesday’s contest is the first of a challenging two-game stretch for Georgia, which hosts Arkansas on Saturday. Mississippi continues its road swing at rival Mississippi State on Saturday.