In a thrilling encounter at the Rady Children's Invitational tournament in San Diego, BYU basketball's perfect season record came to an abrupt end as they fell to No. 23 Ole Miss with a score of 96-85 in overtime. The Cougars, who were riding high on their unbeaten streak, will look to bounce back against NC State on Friday at 1:30 p.m. MST.

3 Critical Takeaways from the Game:

1. Overtime Challenges

BYU's performance in overtime left much to be desired. The Cougars shot a dismal 2-for-11 from the field during the extra period, struggling to maintain their composure and offensive rhythm. In stark contrast, Ole Miss capitalized on their opportunities, converting all 13 of their free throw attempts in overtime. Controversial officiating calls certainly played a role, raising concerns about fairness that left BYU fans fuming.

2. Defensive Woes

One glaring issue for BYU was their inability to defend against Ole Miss effectively. The Rebels easily penetrated the Cougars' defense, scoring a staggering 40 points in the paint. Jaylen Murray was a standout for Ole Miss, torching BYU with a career-high 28 points on an impressive 10-of-14 shooting. This glaring weakness in defense must be addressed if BYU hopes to secure victory in their upcoming matchups.

3. Looking Ahead

Despite the setback, BYU has an opportunity to quickly regroup and focus on their upcoming game against NC State. The Cougars must sharpen their defensive strategies and improve their shooting efficiency under pressure if they want to avoid falling into a losing streak. Coach Mark Pope will undoubtedly emphasize the need for resilience and adaptation in practice, as the team aims to rebound from this disappointing loss.

The Cougars now face a critical juncture in their season. Can they reclaim their momentum and turn the tide against NC State? Only time will tell as they look to prove that this loss was merely a bump in the road on their journey through the season.