Ole Miss was labeled a “fraud’ by some analysts prior to the start of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. The program responded on Friday with a 71-64 victory over North Carolina.
The Rebels dominated the Tar Heels in the first half, jumping out to a 44-26 lead. Things got a bit dicey in the second half, but Sean Pedulla slammed the door shut on UNC’s comeback attempt by knocking down a 3-pointer with 52.8 seconds left. The senior guard finished Friday’s game with 22 points.
While the Ole Miss basketball team was sweating out North Carolina’s furious run in the second half, a cheerleader for the Rebels went viral on the sideline.
Delaney Bland caught people’s attention when the cameras panned over to the Ole Miss cheerleading squad. Interestingly enough, the junior from Tennessee had a large following before going viral.
Bland currently has over 3,400 followers on Instagram. She should expect to gain a few more before Ole Miss takes the court for the Round of 32.
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Earlier this year, Bland and the Ole Miss cheer team won a national championship in the Division IA Traditional All Girl category.
“TYJ for the amazing teammates & coaches around me that pushed me to be my best,” she wrote on Instagram. “There is truly no better feeling than winning a national championship with your best friends around you. I’m honored to be a part of history as OMAG won our 1st national title.”
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Depending on how the NCAA Tournament plays out, the Ole Miss cheerleading squad could find itself taking a trip to San Antonio for the Final Four.
Next up for Ole Miss is a showdown with Iowa State. That game will be televised on truTV at 7:45 p.m. ET.
As of right now, Iowa State is a considerable favorite over Ole Miss.
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