University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss
Faulkner University (Exh.)
Basketball Battles Back To Top Faulkner, 60-56
11/14/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 14, 2005
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Down by seven at the half, the Southern Miss Golden Eagles put together a 41-point second half to defeat visiting Faulkner University, 60-56, in the final exhibition game of the preseason.
Jarekus Singleton had a team-high 15 points -- all in the second half -- and Kyle Lamonte chipped in with 13 points and five assists to lead Southern Miss in the win.
The Golden Eagles jumped out to a fast lead in the opening period, leading by as many as six, 11-5, with 12:06 left in the half. But the visiting Eagles steadily chipped away at the deficit, going on an 8-2 run to tie the game at 13-13 five minutes later. The Golden Eagles pulled away and built a four-point advantage, before the game was tied once again, 17-17, with a little more than five minutes left in the half.
Faulkner, the 2001 NAIA National Champion and No. 9-ranked team in NAIA this season, took its first lead of the game at the 4:36 mark on a pair of free throws by Jon Uriarte, and the visitors built on that lead, taking the 26-19 score into halftime.
In the second half, Faulkner picked up where it left off, building a 10-point lead, 34-24, at the 15:44 mark. That would be the biggest advantage though, as it was Southern Miss' turn to chip away at the deficit. Over the next five minutes, the Golden Eagles went on a 12-2 run to tie the score once more, 36-36.
The game remained much of a see-saw battle in the scoring column, with the final tie of the game coming with 3:08 remaining, with the score knotted at 48 all. The lead changed hands twice more, until Singleton's jumper with :48 remaining gave Southern Miss the lead for good. In the final minute, Lamonte sealed the victory with four free throws.
Jason Forte added eight points for Southern Miss, and Kendaris Pelton led the team with a game-high seven rebounds.
For Faulkner, Richarde McCray had a game-high 17 points, while Uriarte added 10.
Southern Miss now takes to the road, traveling to Fairbanks, Alaska, to compete in the season-opening BP Top of the World Classic, Nov. 18-20. The team opens the season with a Nov. 18 contest against Lamar.
