University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Eagles Lose, 74-69, In Overtime
2/15/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Eagles Lose, 74-69, In Overtime
Hattiesburg, Miss. -- DePaul hit 11-of-12 free throws in overtime and 23-of-27 in the game to down Southern Mississippi 74-69, in Conference USA action here Saturday. The game was so close that each team had 24 baskets, the Golden Eagles led in three-point baskets, 4-3, but made 17-of-23 free throws and that proved to be the difference in the game.
The Blue Demons improved to 13-8, 5-5 in C-USA, while Southern Miss fell to 10-12 overall and 3-8 in the conference.
Sam Hoskin led all players with 19 points and 12 rebounds for the visiting Blue Demons, while the Golden Eagles? Charles Gaines had a double-double as well with 18 points and 10 boards, his 11th double-double of the season.
Southern Miss had three more players in double figures as Jasper Johnson had 14, Mario Myles 13 and Greg Johnson 10. Quemont Greer followed with 14 points for the Blue Demons.
?I thought our guys gave us a great effort tonight,? Southern Miss head coach James Green said. ?There were a lot of times when these guys could have quit in the game, but they didn?t. It just didn?t work out for us.?
Down by 10 with 11:48 left in the second half, the Golden Eagles battled back with a 17-4 run to take a 54-52 lead. DePaul went back in front, 58-57, with :30 left in regulation on Drake Diener?s jumper. Southern Miss then tied it at 58 as Myles hit the second of two free throws with 9.9 seconds on the clock.
The Blue Demons had one final chance in regulation but Greer?s 3-pointer fell short as time expired. DePaul also led 31-28 at the half.
With 2:49 left in the overtime, and trailing 43-42, Southern Miss was at the line with four free throws, thanks to a technical foul called against DePaul. However, the Eagles converted only two, for a 64-63 lead, and DePaul quickly regained the lead on a Hoskin basket and maintained that lead for the duration of the extra period.
In addition to shooting .852 from the free throw line, the Blue Demons also earned a solid 45-31 advantage in rebounds ? 16 of which were off the offensive boards.
Southern Miss has little time to anguish over the loss or to prepare for the next game, since they depart Monday for a Tuesday night game at Houston.
