University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Eagles Open Against Global
11/6/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Eagles Open Against Global
Hattiesburg, Miss. - The basketball Golden Eagles open their 2001-02 season, Nov. 7, at home with an exhibition game against a Global Sports team that has lost the first five games of its 13-game tour, but all were against quality opponents, and all were close.
Wednesday's game starts at 7 p.m., and will be the first of two exhibition games prior to a Nov. 17 regular-season opener against Jackson State. The second exhibition game is set for Nov. 14, at home, against Spirit Express.
Global opened with a 69-58 loss at Auburn, dropped a 77-61 decision at UAB, lost 68-60 at Ole Miss, saw Vanderbilt take a narrow 75-72 decision and LSU was a 78-71 winner over Global. The touring team was scheduled to play at South Alabama tonight and then play Tulane, North Carolina State, Charlotte, Iowa State and Creighton to end its tour.
Global has received balanced scoring through five games, with Jeff Greer (Rutgers) picking up three double-figure games in the five played. Kwame Evans (George Washington) had 22 against LSU, three other players have had at least two double-figure scoring games thus far.
Head Coach James Green says he and his staff would have liked more time to prepare for the season, but that he has seen progress throughout preseason workouts. "I don't know that we're ready to play, but we have made a lot of improvement," Green said. "I think we're better, that we've gained some ground, but I don't know if we're where we need to be to play this game.
"These exhibition games will be somewhat different from some in recent years. Instead of getting ready for these games, we've had to concentrate on getting ready for the Nov. 17 regular-season opener. We'll use these games more as practice sessions on how to play a game."
Green says Global will present a challenge and will have some advantages in the game. "We'll get something out of the game," he said. "We'll probably be in better shape physically, they'll probably be stronger mentally, craftier, understand better how to play the game.
"We'll be a little bit confused, and probably won't be as tough around the basket as we would like to be and will be as we get further into the season."
Look for the Eagles to go with Brad Richardson (6-1, 185, Sr.) at the point guard spot, Mario Myles (6-5, 190, Jr.) at the other guard spot, Clement Carter (6-5, 220, So.) and Elvin Mims (6-5, 205, Sr.) at the forwards, and Brandon Gay (6-8, 210, So.) in the middle.
Mims is the Eagles' leading returning scorer and rebounder after averaging 10 points and 5.4 rebounds a game last season. He played in 30 games and started six. Miles started 29-of-31 games while averaging 6.1 points and 3.9 rebounds a game. Richardson, playing behind veteran Mel Cauthen, saw action in all 31 games, averaging 5.1 points a game. Carter played in 30 games and averaged 2.7 points and 1.7 rebounds a game.
Gay, who sat out last season, will provide mobility, scoring, rebounding and shot-blocking around the basket in his first year with the Eagles. Look for Ben Lambert to add inside strength as well and for Dante Stiggers to provide quality backup at the point.
The Eagles will play without Kilavorus Thompson, who averaged 7.4 points a game last season but suffered a season-ending knee injury, while playing summer league ball. In addition, Jasper Johnson (6-7, 230, Fr.) had shoulder surgery last week and will miss the season as well.
Tickets to the exhibition games as well as season tickets and individual game tickets remain available through the athletic ticket office located in the Ferlise Center on the Southern Miss campus of by calling 601/266-548 or 1-800-844-TICK.