Mississippi showed a little of the muscle it will need when the Southeastern Conference season starts in a couple weeks.

Chris Warren scored 17 points; Eniel Polynice was an assist shy of a triple-double; and Ole Miss (No. 24 ESPN/USA Today, No. 22 AP) got physical in a 78-58 win over Southern Miss that set the Rebels' school record for consecutive wins to start the season.

"This is probably the most physical game we've played all year," Polynice said. "This is a learning experience. Hopefully we can learn from this and get ready to go to the SEC and get better."

Warren got things started with 13 points in the first half, and Polynice and Dwayne Curtis scored the bulk of their points as Ole Miss held Southern Miss (8-5) scoreless over the final 6 1/2 minutes.

The Rebels, ranked for the first time since the final Associated Press poll of the 2000-01 season, went on a 23-7 run to end the game and finally put away the pesky Golden Eagles, who matched Ole Miss run for run in an entertaining game that was close until late.