Baton Rouge, LA (Sports Network) - The 22nd-ranked Ole Miss Rebels hope to move about the .500 mark in SEC play as they take on the LSU Tigers in Baton Rouge this afternoon.

Wins in two of the last three games have enabled Ole Miss to improve to 14-4 overall this season and 2-2 in league action. On Wednesday, the Rebels played strong defense at home in posting a 66-57 decision over South Carolina. Those 57 points allowed tied for the third fewest surrendered by Ole Miss in any game this season.

LSU has lost four consecutive outings and seven of the last eight, a stark contrast to the team's 8-2 start. The Tigers are 0-4 in conference and lost another close game on Wednesday by an 84-80 final to Auburn. On a positive note, nine of the team's 12 home games this season have resulted in victory.

The Tigers own a 116-80 series lead over Ole Miss, which includes three straight wins over the Rebels.

Strong defense, as mentioned, was the key to the Rebels' victory over South Carolina on Wednesday. Ole Miss limited the Gamecocks to 32.1 percent shooting from the floor while forcing 15 turnovers. That effort enabled the club to overcome a 16-7 deficit in points from the foul line. Chris Warren led Ole Miss with 17 points, while Murphy Holloway tallied 14 points and 12 rebounds. Terrico White contributed 11 points, and Eniel Polynice pitched in 10 points. The Rebels are generating 81.6 ppg through 18 outings, and they are permitting 68.8 ppg to foes. Warren is scoring 16.6 ppg, and he has dished out 63 assists while shooting 40 percent from three-point range. White adds 15.9 ppg, Zach Graham is scoring 10.7 ppg, and Holloway brings 10.3 ppg and 7.1 rpg to the floor.

Tasmin Mitchell was sensational for LSU on Wednesday, as he exploded for a season-high 38 points on 15-of-22 shooting from the floor. Mitchell also ripped down 10 rebounds for the Tigers, who got 17 points and 11 boards from Storm Warren. Bo Spencer scored 12 points for LSU, which earned a 39-30 rebounding advantage, including 16-10 on the offensive glass. Unfortunately, the squad enabled Auburn to shoot 52 percent from the floor. Mitchell is netting 18.1 ppg while pulling down 9.4 rpg thus far, and Spencer checks in with 14.9 ppg. As for Warren, he rounds out an impressive threesome with 13.7 points and 8.7 caroms per contest for the Tigers, but no other player on the roster is generating more than 4.4 ppg. Clearly, the lack of depth is problematic.