University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Men's Basketball Holds First Practice
10/15/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Oct. 15, 2010
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Southern Miss men's basketball team held its first practice Friday night at Jones County Junior College.
The Golden Eagles return seven letterwinners, including all five starters, from last year's team that went 20-14 and participated in the CollegeInsiders.com Tournament. Southern Miss will be led by senior forward Gary Flowers, who was named to the Preseason Conference USA First Team. Last year, Flowers led the Eagles with 15.0 points and 8.3 rebounds.
Junior guard Angelo Johnson was the only other player to average double-digit points, scoring 10.1 points per game. He was also the only player to start all 34 games. Other starters returning are junior guard Maurice Bolden, and senior guards R.L. Horton and Sai'Quon Stone. Also returning are senior forwards Josimar Ayarza and Torye Pelham. Both players saw action in 29 games, while Pelham started 12.
Newcomers joining the Black and Gold this year include junior transfer forward Ahyaro Phillips, sophomore transfers LaShay Page and Kayland Partee, and freshmen Trency Jackson, Cedric Jenkins, D.J. Newbill and Kody Williams.
"We're excited," said Southern Miss head coach Larry Eustachy. "We have the most talent that we've had since I've been here. We worked hard over the summer on strength and conditioning, although our conditioning isn't nearly where it's going to be. But we're excited about the potential of this team."
Southern Miss will play an exhibition game on Nov. 4 against cross-town rival William Carey, before opening the season Nov. 12 at USF. Season tickets are available by calling the Southern Miss ticket office at 1-800-844-TICK or by visiting SouthernMiss.com.
