University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Men's Basketball Hosts UTEP on Senior Day
2/27/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Southern Miss closes its home schedule this Saturday, February 28, when it hosts UTEP. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT.
It will be the final home game for senior Chip Armelin.
Southern Miss and UTEP will meet for the 23rd time with UTEP holding a 13-9 record. The Golden Eagles have won four of the last five meetings. In Hattiesburg, the Black and Gold lead 6-3 and have won the last three games. Earlier this year, Southern Miss had a four-game winning streak in the series, snapped, as it fell, 74-40, at UTEP. Head coach Doc Sadler is 0-1 against the Miners.
Southern Miss enters tonight's game with an 8-19 record, including 3-13 in Conference USA. The Black and Gold is looking for its second straight win after defeating UTSA, 70-66, on Thursday.
Armelin is fifth in Conference USA with 16.0 points. He is also second in the league in minutes played (35.1) and tied for fifth in three-pointers made (2.2), while grabbing 4.1 rebounds.
Forward Matt Bingaya is second on the team with 14.2 points while also pulling down a team-high 5.9 rebounds. Forward Norville Carey is averaging 10.6 points and 5.6 rebounds. He is eighth in the league in field goal percentage, hitting 55.1% from the floor.
The Golden Eagles are scoring just 59.9 points a game but are allowing 68.4. Southern Miss is connecting on 43.0% from the floor and 33.3% from three while allowing 45.7% from the field and 36.6% from beyond the arc. The Black and Gold is also being outrebounded, 34.0-to-29.5.
Southern Miss head coach Doc Sadler is in his first season at the helm of the Southern Miss men's basketball program. He has compiled a 157-126 (.555) record in nine years as a head coach.
UTEP enters tonight's game with a 19-8 record and is 11-4 in Conference USA. The Miners had their seven game winning streak snapped on Thursday at Louisiana Tech, falling 77-60.
Forward Vince Hunter is 10th in Conference USA with 15.1 points per game while leading the league in rebounding with 9.3 rebounds per game. He is also ninth in the league in blocks (1.0) and 10th in field goal percentage (.529).
Guard Earvin Morris is second on the team with 10.8 points per game. He is also fifth in C-USA in three-point field goal percentage (.411). Forward Cedrick Lang is averaging 10.2 points per game. He is third in the conference in field goal percentage (.591) and eighth in rebounding (6.8). Guard Julian Washburn is averaging 9.9 points per game.
UTEP is averaging 69.3 points per game while allowing just 63.4. The Miners are connecting on a league-best 46.6% from the floor and 35.5% from three, while allowing 41.5% from the field and 33.5% from beyond the arc. UTEP is pulling down 34.7 rebounds per game while allowing 34.0.
Promotions
Saturday vs. UTEP at 7 p.m.
• Senior Day - Senior Chip Armelin honored during pregame.
• 25th Anniversary of the 1989-90 Men's Basketball Team - first Southern Miss Men's Team to make the NCAA Tournament.
o First 1,990 Fans will receive a commemorative mini-poster of the team
o Members of the team will be recognized during a special halftime presentation
• Senior Citizen Discount - All Senior Citizens (Ages 65+) are able to purchase $5 Bleacher Tickets
• First 300 Students will receive a Southern Miss Basketball Rally Towel
• Chi Omega and Pi Kappa Phi will be recognized during the game
