University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Eagles Lose To Arkansas State, 64-48
12/14/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Eagles Lose To Arkansas State, 64-48
HATTIESBURG, Miss. ? The Southern Miss basketball team lost for the second straight time Saturday night, dropping a 64-48 decision to visiting Arkansas State, in Green Coliseum.
Odie Williams produced 18 points, on 5-of-11 shooting from the field, 6-of-7 from the line, with 2-of-3 from three-point land, to lead Arkansas State (4-3). Tony Brown recorded 12 points (4-of-8 FGs, 4-of-4 FTs), and Tevoris Thompson added 10.
Charles Gaines led the Golden Eagles with 12 points and nine rebounds. Clement Carter ended with 10. Southern Miss (5-2) did lead in rebounding, 41-30, but USM committed 26 turnovers and shot a season-low .354 (17-48) field-goal percentage, and Arkansas State capitalized on those Eagle miscues with 15 steals.
The Indians? lead never dipped under nine points in the second half. ASU used an 11-1 run over a five-minute span to gain a 46-30 lead at 9:15. Defense was a factor for Arkansas State, as the Indians forced the Eagles into 14 turnovers in the second half while collecting seven steals in the period.
Arkansas State held a 29-20 halftime advantage, with Thompson leading the Indians with nine points. Southern Miss led out of the gate, holding a 7-2 lead at 15:43, but ASU went on a 9-3 run over a 4:15 span to gain control at 11-10, and never relinquished the lead.
The Golden Eagles committed 12 turnovers in the opening period, and ASU collected eight steals. Brown and Paris London contributed eight points each in the first half, as Brown connected on 4-of-5 field goals and London produced two three-pointers.
Southern Miss goes on the road to face Western Kentucky on Wednesday, Dec. 18, at 7 p.m., and then returns home for the final pre-Christmas game of the season, Dec. 21, against Arkansas-Little Rock.