University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Eagles Play Final Non-Conference Game, Against Murray State
1/2/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Eagles Play Final Non-Conference Game, Against Murray State
Hattiesburg, Miss. - The Golden Eagles try to bounce back from a disappointing Dec. 30 loss at Auburn, when Murray State visits Green Coliseum for a 2 p.m., Saturday game that will mark the final non-conference game of the season.
Southern Miss goes into the game with a 6-4 record, after a 92-46 Dec. 30 loss at Auburn. Murray State brings a 7-3 record to Hattiesburg, after a 76-64 New Year's Day victory over Middle Tennessee. The Racers own victories over West Florida, SIU-Edwardsville, Western Kentucky, Middle Tennessee (twice), Indiana State, and Evansville. The three losses have come at the hands of Southern Illinois, Auburn, and Memphis.
In games involving a pair of common opponents, Murray State has beaten Western Kentucky and lost to Auburn, while Southern Miss lost to both.
The visitors are averaging 74.4 points a game through 10 games, while giving up an average of 65.3. The Racers also hold a healthy lead in the rebounding category, 36.7-to-31.9, and are shooting .461 from the floor while holding the combined opposition to .430 shooting. Four Murray State players are averaging in double figures, led by Chris Shumate, at 13.5 points a game. James Singleton tops the Racer rebounders at 10.5 a game.
Junior forward Charles Gaines continues to lead the Golden Eagles in scoring, at 15.7 points a game, even after getting just two points in the Auburn loss. He did lead Golden Eagle rebounders with eight in that game, and continues to lead Southern Miss, at 9.2 grabs a game. The only other USM player in double figures is Greg Johnson, at 12.5 points a game.
Following the Auburn loss, Southern Miss now is being outscored, 68.0-to-66.7, by the combined opposition, though Head Coach James Green's Eagles do continue to hold a healthy lead in the rebounding category, leading 38.4-to-33.5.
Following the Murray State game, Green's team quickly jumps into Conference USA play with a Jan. 8, home game against TCU, the first of 16 league games that will determine which teams will play in the C-USA postseason tournament, as well as tourney seeds.
