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Mississippi faces Tennessee in key SEC matchup

Jan 9, 2008 - 2:32 PM No. 15 Ole Miss (13-0) at No. 9 Tennessee (12-1) 8:00 pm EST

KNOXVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) - Mississippi has already set a record for consecutive victories. To continue the streak on Wednesday, the Rebels will have to win here for the first time since 1991.

The 15th-ranked Rebels face No. 9 Tennessee in the Southeastern Conference opener for both teams. Ole Miss is 0-8 in its last eight trips to Knoxville. The Rebels defeated the Volunteers at home last season, 83-69.

"I do think we're focused," Mississippi coach Andy Kennedy said of the team's record. "I know we're going to be excited. Whether we'll be able to get the job done remains to be seen."

The two teams are 4-4 in the last eight games of the series. The Rebels are 26-48 all-time in SEC openers.

Senior center Dwayne Curtis and freshman guard Chris Warren are each averaging 15.2 points for Ole Miss. Curtis averages 8.2 rebounds and Warren 5.7 assists. Sophomore guard Eniel Polynice averages 12.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.2 assists for the Rebels.

Tennessee has won seven consecutive games since its only defeat, a 97-78 loss to Texas on November 24. The Volunteers' 12-1 non-conference record is Tennessee's best since the 2000-01 team began 16-1.

Senior guard Chris Lofton is averaging 14.5 points for the Volunteers, just ahead of senior guard JaJuan Smith at 14.4 points per game. Sophomore forward Tyler Smith averages 12.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists for Tennessee. Sophomore J.P. Prince, a 6-foot-7 transfer from Arizona, is averaging 14 points in four games since returning from shoulder surgery.

The Volunteers have won seven of their last eight conference openers and are 2-0 under third-year coach Bruce Pearl.