University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Eagles Host Longtime Rival Memphis
1/10/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Eagles Host Longtime Rival Memphis
Hattiesburg, Miss. - Southern Miss entertains one of its oldest rivals in Saturday's Conference USA game, the Memphis Tigers. The two teams first played during the 1937-38 season, and the Tigers lead the 66-game series 45-21. Game time is set for 4 p.m.
In the 23 games played since the 1990 season, Southern Miss leads 12-11, and, prior to losing two games last season, the Golden Eagles had won seven-of-eight games.
Memphis brings one of the hottest teams in the league to town, a team that has posted a 10-2 record, with victories over Villanova, Arkansas, No. 7 Illinois, Ole Miss, No. 11 Missouri and Syracuse.
The Tigers have five players averaging double figures, and two others at nine-plus points a game. That group is led by Chris Massie, who is at 19.6 points and a team-best 11.6 rebounds as well. In his most recent game, against Tulane, he had his best game of the season, with 34 points and 16 rebounds.
The Tigers shoot a respectable .430 (313-728) from the field, hold a commanding 41.9-to-35.2 edge in rebounding and are outscoring the combined opposition, 73.5-to-65.6
Coming off his sixth double-double of the season, Charles Gaines continues to lead Southern Miss, at 14.8 points a game. He also leads Golden Eagle rebounders, at an even 10.0 a game. Greg Johnson remains in double figures (11.2) and Jasper Johnson used a career-high 22 points in the TCU game to push his average to 10.3 points a game.
Following the Memphis game, the Golden Eagles play their first league road games, with stops at South Florida, Jan. 14, and UAB, Jan. 18.
