University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Golden Eagles Snap Three-Game Losing Streak
12/21/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Golden Eagles Snap Three-Game Losing Streak
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- Southern Mississippi had three players in double figures and picked up its first win in four games with a 70-54 victory over Arkansas-Little Rock on Saturday.
The victory pushed Southern Miss' record to 6-3, and dropped the visitors to 7-4.
Charles Gaines had 11 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Golden Eagles (6-3). Greg Johnson and Jasper Johnson both had 10 points.
Nick Zachery had a game-high 17 points to lead the Trojans (7-4).
?We kept making plays when we needed to, and that is something we did not do in the last three games,? Golden Eagle Head Coach James Green said. ?This was a great win for us tonight, especially heading into the holidays. Everybody gave a great effort in this win.?
After holding a 9-point lead at the half, Southern Miss picked up its defensive effort, and in turn, increased the offensive production.
The Golden Eagles limited Arkansas-Little Rock to just 37 percent shooting, while shooting 43.4 percent themselves.
Southern Miss led by as much as 22 points in the game, as Geoffrey Brown made the front end of a one-and-one to give the Golden Eagles the 62-40 advantage with 6:53 remaining.
?We went back to guarding and rebounding the basketball,? Green said. ?When we do that, we are better. If you guard, the offense will take care of itself.?
The Golden Eagles jumped out to a 35-26 lead at the half, paced by Clement Carter?s seven points. Zachery scored 13 of his 17 points in the first half.
Following Gaines, Brown had nine rebounds to go with seven points. Dante Stiggers had a game-high four assists, and Gaines' double-double was his fifth of the still-young season.
Following tonight's game, Southern Miss players will take a short break, return to the campus Christmas Day evening, practice through Sunday and depart that day for the final game of 2002, Dec. 30, at Auburn.
Nick Jones had 11 points for the Trojans. Jake Yancey led the team with five rebounds.