University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Basketball Opens Seven-Game Homestand Saturday Against South Alabama
12/9/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 9, 2005
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - After playing five of the first seven regular-season games on the road, the Southern Miss Golden Eagles open a seven-game homestand, Saturday, hosting South Alabama at Reed Green Coliseum. Tip-off for the game is set for 4 p.m.
Saturday's game will be broadcast over the Southern Miss ISP Sports Network, with the "Voice of the Golden Eagles" John Cox and legendary coach M.K. Turk calling the action. Air time begins at 3:30 p.m., CT, with the Golden Eagle Courtside Show.
The Golden Eagles, under the direction of second-year Head Coach Larry Eustachy, enter the game with a 2-5 overall record following Wednesday's 61-57 loss on the road at Sam Houston State. In their last home outing, Southern Miss outlasted visiting New Orleans in a four-overtime thriller, 83-78, marking the first-ever four-overtime game in school and Conference USA history.
Shaun Simpson currently leads the team in scoring with 10.3 points per game, while Courtney Beasley and Jarekus Singleton each follow with 7.9 points a night. Simpson also leads the team in rebounding with 5.4 rebounds per game, while Kyle Lamonte leads all players with 21 assists on the year.
South Alabama comes into the game with a 4-1 overall record, with its last victory coming over Samford, 55-52, last week. The Jaguars, under the direction of fourth-year head coach John Pelphrey, opened the season with a victory over Spring Hill and then suffered their only loss to the season at Purdue. The team then rounded out the month of November with victories over Alabama State and on the road at Loyola Marymount, before opening December with the win over Samford.
Richard Law currently leads the team with 12.0 points per game, while Mario Jointer and transfer Chey Christie follow with averages of 11.4 and 10.6 points, respectively. Christie leads all players with 7.6 rebounds per game, and guard Carlos Smith has a team-best 20 assists on the year.
The game marks the 32nd overall meeting between Southern Miss and South Alabama, with the Golden Eagles holding a 19-12 advantage in series play. The teams have played 16 previous times in Hattiesburg, with Southern Miss winning 11 of those games.
Following the game, Southern Miss continues its seven-game homestand against William Carey on Thursday, Dec. 15, at 7:30 p.m.
