University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Eagles Lose At Arkansas State, Drop To 4-2
12/13/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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Final Game Statistics
Eagles Lose At Arkansas State, Drop To 4-2
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Southern Miss fell behind late in the first half against Arkansas State at the Convocation Center here Saturday afternoon, and though the Golden Eagles outscored the Indians 43-36 in the second half, that first half deficit proved to be too much to overcome as the Eagles suffered a 78-71 setback, and dropped to 4-2.
Arkansas State improved to 6-1, and Southern Miss fell to 2-2 on a four-game road trip that ended with today's game.
Down only three points, 21-18, with 6:53 left in the first half, and by just six points, 29-23, with 3:54 remaining, the Eagles saw the Indians reel off a 12-5 run to close the half, and extend their lead to 42-28 at intermission. Southern Miss shot a healthy .416 (12-29) in the first half, but saw ASU make 17-of-33 baskets (.511), and outrebound the visitors 21-13, with seven of those coming on the offensive end of the court. The Indians also made 6-of-13 three point baskets in the first half, including three in the final 2:42 of the half.
The ASU lead grew to as many as 15 points in the second half, at the 14:40 mark, before Southern Miss started to cut into that lead. The Eagles managed to get as close as six points, but that was with only :25 remaining in the game.
Southern Miss finished the game with a solid .509 (28-58) shooting percentage, but saw the Indians do even better, hitting 31-of-57 (.544) shots, while winning the rebounding battle 34-23. The Eagles got solid scoring performances from Charles Gaines (19), David Haywood (18) and Jasper Johnson (17), but saw the Indians put five players in double figures, led by J.J. Montgomery's 18 points.
Haywood collected his 18 points on six 3-point baskets, hitting six of the eight shots he took from beyond the arc. In addition, Gaines finished 8-of-11 from the field, was 1-of-1 from 3-point range and 2-of-2 from the line. He also led the Eagles in rebounding with six, while also adding an assist and three steals.
Following today's game, the Eagles return home for Dec. 17 and 22 games, against Georgia Southern and William Carey, respectively, and then will end 2003 play with a Dec. 30 game at Auburn.