Wednesday, November 27
Nassau, Bahamas
6 p.m. CT
Southern Miss
vs
Gonzaga
Southern Miss Opens Battle 4 Atlantis with No. 7 Gonzaga on Wednesday
11/26/2019 1:47:00 PM | Men's Basketball
PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas -- The stage is set for the Southern Miss men's basketball team in the Battle 4 Atlantis, one of college basketball's premier tournaments. The actions begins Wednesday at 6 p.m. CT when the Golden Eagles play No. 8 Gonzaga inside the Imperial Arena.
Fans can watch on ESPNU and the WatchESPN app with Kevin Brown and Chris Spatola on the call. John Cox will carry the game on the Southern Miss Learfield IMG Sports Network (Rock 104.5 in Hattiesburg/Laurel), as well as the Gameday app.
The Golden Eagles will play either No. 10 Oregon or No. 13 Seton Hall on Thursday. A win would make for a 3 p.m. start, while a loss would move it to 8 p.m. (both time Central) on ESPN or ESPN2.
Game Notes
– Southern Miss took care of business in its long-awaited return home Sunday, leading 25-10 early and holding throughout for an 83-64 win over its crosstown neighbor. It marked the fourth time out of five games this season that four Golden Eagles reached double-figure scoring. Leonard Harper-Baker also earned his second double-double of the season (sixth of his career) with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
– The Golden Eagles' campus-round edition of the Battle 4 Atlantis came in Ames on Nov. 19. They led 18-16 against the Cyclones after an 8-0 hole, but an 11-0 run ended the half at 33-20. Following a few early Iowa State scores to begin the second, Southern Miss went with a predominantly freshman-and-sophomore look (136 of the game's overall 200 minutes). It served as meaningful reps against stout competition, especially as the team enters the vaunted Battle 4 Atlantis. Out of this year's field, Southern Miss is the only team to have both two-or-fewer home games and more than one away/neutral (three true road contests).
– Boban Jacdonmi has scored in double-figures all five games this season (had 30 points in 23 games last year), while freshman Artur Konontsuk had 10-plus in his first three games. Tyler Stevenson, a walk-on last season, has emerged as arguably the team's most valuable sixth-man. Out of his 17 minutes per game, he is averaging 9.6 points and 4.8 rebounds on 52.4 percent shooting.
– Auston Leslie, Alabama's 3A Player of the Year and a seven-time state champ in track, made his debut in Ames and showcased relentless energy, collecting a steal, two offensive rebounds and a layup in his 15 minutes. He will likely continue his role throughout the tourney. Fellow freshman Hunter Dean (6-foot-10) missed the first two games due to injury, but has averaged 7.0 points over the last two to add valuable depth in the post.
– The Golden Eagles have out-rebounded their opponents by an average of 11.2 per game so far, led by seniors Harper-Baker (9.2) and Jacdonmi (7.6). Iowa State is the only team to win that battle this year (39-37), although the Golden Eagles held a 13-7 advantage on the offensive glass.
– While still searching for their groove on three-point shots, the squad has held its last three opponents to 27.3 percent shooting (24-for-88). Southern Miss, after logging its share of miles during its three-game road span, rebounded from a 33.3 percent shooting game against Iowa State with a 49.2 percent clip versus WCU.
– Southern Miss has been blessed with some top-notch travel in recent years. The team made preseason trips to the Bahamas in 2013 and 2017, as well as Hawaii's Diamond Head Classic in 2016 and the Cancun Challenge in 2018. It also made trips to Alaska and the British Virgin Islands within the decade, but few could top the 1988 trek to Tokyo.
– The point guard spot is switched between sophomores Gabe Watson and reserve Jay Malone. While the two have shared the floor at the same time, their added exposure against Division I competition has been bolstered by the early tests. Watson averaged 14 minutes per game as a true freshman, while Malone was at SW Mississippi CC. Malone earned his first starting nod Sunday and produced a game-high seven assists, while Watson came off the bench and had 10 points with a career-high eight boards.
– While USM and Gonzaga have never met on the hardwood, the two head coaches have. Ladner's first team at Southeastern Louisiana went to Spokane on Dec. 2, 2014 and led the No. 8 Bulldogs at the half before falling 76-57. Gonzaga guard Ryan Woolridge is a North Texas transfer who averaged 12.0 ppg against the Golden Eagles over the previous three seasons. Southern Miss went 3-1 in that stretch. A win over Gonzaga, Oregon, Seton Hall or North Carolina would be the highest ranked win in program history, topping Nov. 18, 2000 at No. 15 Arkansas (Golden Eagles won the C-USA regular-season title that year).
Fans can watch on ESPNU and the WatchESPN app with Kevin Brown and Chris Spatola on the call. John Cox will carry the game on the Southern Miss Learfield IMG Sports Network (Rock 104.5 in Hattiesburg/Laurel), as well as the Gameday app.
The Golden Eagles will play either No. 10 Oregon or No. 13 Seton Hall on Thursday. A win would make for a 3 p.m. start, while a loss would move it to 8 p.m. (both time Central) on ESPN or ESPN2.
Game Notes
– Southern Miss took care of business in its long-awaited return home Sunday, leading 25-10 early and holding throughout for an 83-64 win over its crosstown neighbor. It marked the fourth time out of five games this season that four Golden Eagles reached double-figure scoring. Leonard Harper-Baker also earned his second double-double of the season (sixth of his career) with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
– The Golden Eagles' campus-round edition of the Battle 4 Atlantis came in Ames on Nov. 19. They led 18-16 against the Cyclones after an 8-0 hole, but an 11-0 run ended the half at 33-20. Following a few early Iowa State scores to begin the second, Southern Miss went with a predominantly freshman-and-sophomore look (136 of the game's overall 200 minutes). It served as meaningful reps against stout competition, especially as the team enters the vaunted Battle 4 Atlantis. Out of this year's field, Southern Miss is the only team to have both two-or-fewer home games and more than one away/neutral (three true road contests).
– Boban Jacdonmi has scored in double-figures all five games this season (had 30 points in 23 games last year), while freshman Artur Konontsuk had 10-plus in his first three games. Tyler Stevenson, a walk-on last season, has emerged as arguably the team's most valuable sixth-man. Out of his 17 minutes per game, he is averaging 9.6 points and 4.8 rebounds on 52.4 percent shooting.
– Auston Leslie, Alabama's 3A Player of the Year and a seven-time state champ in track, made his debut in Ames and showcased relentless energy, collecting a steal, two offensive rebounds and a layup in his 15 minutes. He will likely continue his role throughout the tourney. Fellow freshman Hunter Dean (6-foot-10) missed the first two games due to injury, but has averaged 7.0 points over the last two to add valuable depth in the post.
– The Golden Eagles have out-rebounded their opponents by an average of 11.2 per game so far, led by seniors Harper-Baker (9.2) and Jacdonmi (7.6). Iowa State is the only team to win that battle this year (39-37), although the Golden Eagles held a 13-7 advantage on the offensive glass.
– While still searching for their groove on three-point shots, the squad has held its last three opponents to 27.3 percent shooting (24-for-88). Southern Miss, after logging its share of miles during its three-game road span, rebounded from a 33.3 percent shooting game against Iowa State with a 49.2 percent clip versus WCU.
– Southern Miss has been blessed with some top-notch travel in recent years. The team made preseason trips to the Bahamas in 2013 and 2017, as well as Hawaii's Diamond Head Classic in 2016 and the Cancun Challenge in 2018. It also made trips to Alaska and the British Virgin Islands within the decade, but few could top the 1988 trek to Tokyo.
– The point guard spot is switched between sophomores Gabe Watson and reserve Jay Malone. While the two have shared the floor at the same time, their added exposure against Division I competition has been bolstered by the early tests. Watson averaged 14 minutes per game as a true freshman, while Malone was at SW Mississippi CC. Malone earned his first starting nod Sunday and produced a game-high seven assists, while Watson came off the bench and had 10 points with a career-high eight boards.
– While USM and Gonzaga have never met on the hardwood, the two head coaches have. Ladner's first team at Southeastern Louisiana went to Spokane on Dec. 2, 2014 and led the No. 8 Bulldogs at the half before falling 76-57. Gonzaga guard Ryan Woolridge is a North Texas transfer who averaged 12.0 ppg against the Golden Eagles over the previous three seasons. Southern Miss went 3-1 in that stretch. A win over Gonzaga, Oregon, Seton Hall or North Carolina would be the highest ranked win in program history, topping Nov. 18, 2000 at No. 15 Arkansas (Golden Eagles won the C-USA regular-season title that year).
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