University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss Begins Five-Game Road Trip at Denver
11/16/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 16, 2011
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Southern Miss men's basketball team takes the road for the first time when it begins a five-game road trip this Thursday, November 17, at Denver. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. CT.
Southern Miss and Denver will meet for just the third time ever. The Golden Eagles are looking for their first victory in the series. The teams last met in the second round of the 2005 BP Top of the World Classic, with the Pioneers taking a 44-30 decision.
Southern Miss comes into Thursday night's game with a 1-0 record, having defeated Spring Hill in its season-opener.
Maurice Bolden led the charge for the Golden Eagles with a game-high 15 points while pulling down eight rebounds. Rashard McGill and Jonathan Mills each scored 13 points, while McGill added a game-high nine boards. Angelo Johnson scored 11 points on three three-pointers, and Torye Pelham added 10 points on five-of-five shooting, and seven rebounds.
Southern Miss shot 47.5% (28-of-59) from the floor, while holding the Badgers to 35.9% (14-of-39). USM was 9-of-25 (36.0%) from behind the arc. The Black and Gold outrebounded Spring Hill, 40-18, and held a big advantage in second chance points, 24-2.
Head coach Larry Eustachy is in his eighth season at the helm of the Southern Miss men's basketball program. He has compiled a 118-104 (.532) record during his time as head coach. In 21 years, Eustachy has an overall record of 378-249 (.603).
Denver enters Thursday night's game with a 2-0 record. The Poineers are coming off a 65-58 victory in its road opener at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
DU was led by senior guard Brian Stafford with a game-high 25 points and a team-high five rebounds. Sophomore forward Chris Udofia scored 12 points and had six blocks.
Stafford is leading the Pioneers with 28.5 points per game. He is connecting on 60.0% of his shots, 50.0% from behind the arc and 92.3% from the free throw line.
Udofia is the only other player scoring in double-figures, as he is averaging 13.5 ppg. Junior guard Chase Hallum is leading the team on the boards with 5.0 rebounds per game.
As a team, Denver is connecting on 47.5% from the field while holding the opposition to just 40.0%. From three-point distance, DU is connecting on 38.4%, while keeping its opponents to just 25.0%. However, the Pioneers are being outrebounded by ten boards per game, 36.5-to-26.5.
Head coach Joe Scott is in his fifth season at the helm of the Denver men's basketball program. He has compiled a 60-65 (.480) record during his tenure as head coach. In 12 years, Scott holds a 153-173 (.469) overall record.
