University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Eagles Play In Iowa Tournament
12/4/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Eagles Play In Iowa Tournament
Hattiesburg, Miss. - Southern Miss faces the rigors of the road for the first time this season when the Eagles play in the Gazette Hawkeye Challenge Dec. 6-7, in Iowa City, where they will meet Jacksonville in first round action at 5:45 p.m., Dec. 6.
Host Iowa and Montana State play the second game and Southern Miss then meets one of those teams the following night, in either the championship or consolation game.
Jacksonville currently is 3-3, after losing at UNO, 90-57, Monday night in New Orleans. Southern Miss takes its 4-0 record into the tournament.
The Eagles and Dolphins have played only five times previous to tonight's game, with Jacksonville holding a 3-2 edge, after winning the last three times the two have met, including, most recently, an 80-76 victory in 1988.
Through six games, the Dolphins have two players in double figures, with Kevin Sheppard leading the way at 19.0 points a game. Jacksonville is averaging 67.3 points a game, and 36.0 rebounds a game.
In four games at home, Southern Miss shows five players averaging in double figures, led by Charles Gaines' 24.8 points and team-best 12.5 rebounds a game. The Eagles are averaging 81.0 points a game, while holding the combined opposition to 70.0 points a game.
Southern Miss also is shooting .490 (99-202) from the floor along with a solid .747 (115-154) from the line.
Following the tournament visit, the Golden Eagles will host Arkansas State Dec. 14, play at Western Kentucky four days later and end the year with Arkansas State at home (Dec. 21) and at Auburn, Dec. 30).
Following Friday's game, the Eagles play in either the championship or consolation game of the Gazette Hawkeye Challenge, meeting either host Iowa or Montana State, the two teams that played the other first-round game.