Southern Miss
UTEP*
Basketball Falls in Double Overtime To UTEP, 77-72
2/11/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 11, 2006
Final Stats | Quotes | Box Score (PDF)
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Southern Miss dropped a heartbreaker to UTEP Saturday, falling 77-72 in double overtime, before 3,559 fans at Reed Green Coliseum.
The loss dropped the Golden Eagles to 8-16 on the season, 2-7 in Conference USA. UTEP, playing in its first season in C-USA play, improved to 15-6 and 8-1.
The Miners took advantage of a huge discrepancy at the free throw line, converting 33-of-48 attempts. Southern Miss made 8-of-14 from the line in the game.
While the two teams battled for 50 minutes, UTEP took advantage of a depleted Golden Eagle lineup in the second overtime, as three Southern Miss players were forced from the game by foul out.
Southern Miss had five players in double figures, led by Courtney Beasley's 17 points. David Cornwell had 16 and six rebounds, Craig Craft had 11 and Jarekus Singleton and Travis Hall each added 10. Beasley and Hall each had five assists, while Singleton shared the team's lead with six rebounds.
The Miners' John Tofi led all scorers and rebounders in the game with 30 points and 10 boards. Kevin Henderson and Edgar Moreno each had 11 points for UTEP, and Will Kimble added 10.
The Golden Eagles, who led for most of the second half, almost won the game in regulation. Trailing 60-58 but with the ball for the final possession, Singleton connected on a jump shot from the top of the key with his feet just inches over the three-point line. A review confirmed the officials' call of a two-point shot, and the game moved into overtime.
In the first extra period, the Golden Eagles scored four straight to lead 64-60, but could not score again in the frame. UTEP had a chance to end it, but Moreno's shot from three-point range was short and the game remained tied, 64-64.
In the second overtime, the Miners took advantage of a Southern Miss squad playing without Ambres, Cornwell and Craft, each of whom had fouled out.
Southern Miss led 34-28 at the half behind eight points each from the backcourt duo of Beasley and Hall.
The lead changed hands nine times until the Golden Eagles went on a late run to take momentum into the break. Southern Miss held UTEP to only six field goals before the intermission, but the Miners hit 15-of-17 free throws to keep it close.
The Golden Eagles then scored the first two buckets of the second half to grab a double-digit lead for the first time. Southern Miss pushed the advantage to as much as 12 on a Craft three-point shot seven minutes into the half.
Southern Miss returns to action Tuesday night at Memphis. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
