Southern Miss
Alabama State
Men's Basketball Dominates Alabama State, 80-43, Saturday Afternoon
11/18/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 18, 2006
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HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Freshman Jeremy Wise (Jackson, Miss.) led four Southern Miss players in double figures with 15 points as the Golden Eagles captured an 80-43 non-conference men's basketball victory over Alabama State here Saturday afternoon at Reed Green Coliseum.
The Golden Eagles improved to 3-0, marking the first time since 2002-03 that they had won their first three games to start a campaign. The Hornets dropped their season opener.
Freshman Jarvis Hill (Starkville, Miss.) added 13 points for the Golden Eagles, while sophomore Courtney Beasley (Huntsville, Ala.) poured in 11 and junior Gjio Bain (Nassau, Bahamas) added 10.
"When we play the right way, we are effective," said third-year Southern Miss coach Larry Eustachy. "There is a huge upside to this team as we have all kinds of different combinations that we can play."
Southern Miss shot a season-best 50.9 percent for the game, hitting 29-of-57 shots. That number included making 8-of-10 to start the game, while the visitors converted just 1-of-10 as the Golden Eagles jumped out to an early 13-2 advantage.
The Golden Eagles continued to build on that margin - on the strength of 60.9 percent shooting in the opening half (14-of-23) - to take a 39-18 lead into intermission.
Eustachy praised the play of the inside players for the Golden Eagles, that included eight rebounds each from Bain and freshman Andre Stephens (Heidelberg, Miss.) and seven from junior Demar Dotson (Alexandria, La.).
"They are the key to what we do," Eustachy added. "They have to get strong and physical from the inside. We can always put four perimeter guys out with a post, but we need those guys to step up. We need them to continue to make progress and they certainly have to this point."
In the game, Southern Miss outrebounded the Hornets 57-23 and the trio of Bain, Stephens and Dotson combined for 10 offensive rebounds of the 20 that the Golden Eagles collected in the game.
Dustin Richmond led the Hornets with 14 points, as ASU made just 24.1 percent of its shots (13-of-54).
The Golden Eagles continue their season-opening homestand Wednesday when they play host to Spring Hill at Green Coliseum. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
