University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Eagles' First Scrimmage A Good One
10/19/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Eagles' First Scrimmage A Good One
Hattiesburg, Miss. - Southern Miss ended its first week of preseason basketball practice with a game-condition scrimmage today that left fans and coaches pleased with the scrimmage itself, and anxious for the 2002-03 season to start.
Head Coach James Green and his team started the day with an early-morning Commitment and Education Breakfast that drew a capacity crowd of players' parents, and fans. Green, his staff and other Southern Miss administrators, including President Dr. Shelby Thames and Director of Athletics Richard Giannini, used the occasion to discuss with players, parents, fans and others associated with the program, the current state of Golden Eagle basketball.
And, if Saturday's scrimmage was any indication, the current state should lead to a bright future. "I thought that, for a first scrimmage, we played well," Green said, following the scrimmage, complete with referees. "We had too many turnovers, and there still are a lot of things that we aren't doing as well as we'll have to do them once the season starts. But, we've been practicing for only a week, and I don't think there's any doubt that we're more athletic than we've been since I've been here, and I think we, as a coaching staff, are really optimistic about where we are as a team, as well as what we have the potential to accomplish."
For those who feel that scores are important, the Black squad defeated the White team 78-69, after the score was tied at 36 at the half. Both teams got balanced scoring, with a total of eight players scoring in double figures. Junior guard Clement Carter and junior forward Charles Gaines each had 21 points for the Black team, freshman Jason Forte added 14, junior center Geoff Brown had 12 and sophomore guard Dante Stiggers had 10. Freshman guard/forward Jasper Johnson, scoring inside and outside, led the White team with a game-high 26 points. Teammates Greg Johnson, a junior guard/forward, followed with 16, senior center Ben Lambert added 10 and sophomore guard James Pattman, Jr., added nine.
Lambert led all rebounders with 12, while Johnson added seven to go with his 26 points. Brown, Carter and Gaines all had seven rebounds for the winning team. Stiggers, who started most of last season as a true freshman, picked up 11 assists for the winning team, while Pattman led the White squad with four assists.
The team will go back to early-morning workouts next week as the Golden Eagles continue to prepare for a fast-approaching season that will start with a couple of exhibition games, starting with a 7 p.m., Nov. 4 game against Spirit Express.
Conference USA Men's and Women's Basketball Media Day also is scheduled for Nov. 3, in Chicago, Ill. The Eagles open the regular season Nov. 22, at home, against Alcorn State.
Tickets remain on sale at the Athletic Ticket Office located in the Ferlise Center, or by calling 601-266-5418 or 1-800-844-TICK.
