Golden Eagles Ride Stevenson, Fast Start to 80-53 Victory

Wednesday, December 2

Reed Green Coliseum

7 p.m.

Southern Miss

-11,00 CUSA

William Carey

0-1

William Carey

Southern Miss.

Golden Eagles Ride Stevenson, Fast Start to 80-53 Victory

12/2/2020 10:07:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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HATTIESBURG, Miss.-- Saturday's first-game jitters were in the rearview mirror as the Golden Eagles stormed out to an 80-53 win over crosstown neighbor William Carey on Wednesday in the home opener.

Tyler Stevenson matched a career-high 27 points on 11-for-13 shooting, with Artur Konontsuk (13), Tae Hardy and Tyler Morman each adding 10 apiece. Southern Miss only trailed in the opening minute and led 39-24 at the break.

"We have great respect for William Carey," head coach Jay Ladner said. "On our side, I thought we were improved from the Jacksonville game. Of course, I wish we could play them again, but we will hold that till next year. I thought we were just better tonight, particularly in our intensity. We were able to play some new guys significant minutes, and they gave a good account of themselves, from Jeffery Armstrong to Denijay Harris.

"Jay Malone did some good things out there and Tyler Morman added 10 points. Artur Konontsuk also had one of the better games he's had at Southern Miss."

Southern Miss (1-1) also scored 10-straight points to lead 68-44 with 5:08 to play to help seal the deal.

The Golden Eagles made their biggest impact in points off turnovers (35-8) and in the paint (48-18).

Earlier in the evening it became official that both Southern Miss and Southern Illinois had mutually agreed to postpone their Saturday game to the 2021-22 season. The Golden Eagles' next game is now Wednesday at Tulane.

NOTABLE
-Denijay Harris earned his first-career start, and Jay Malone's nod as well made for the seventh Southern Miss starters in the first two games.
-Harris' 10 rebounds came in his second game as a Golden Eagle and are the most by an individual on the year.
-The lineup also featured four players that are native Mississippians and another, Tae Hardy, who played at Pearl River CC.
-Tyler Stevenson (27 points, 11-of-13 shooting) surpassed 20 for the fourth time in his career. The others were against Southern Illinois, North Florida and Rice last year.
-LaDavius Draine's trio of three-pointers gave him 181 for his career. He is 14 away from tying Casey Fisher (1984-88) for second in program history.
-Southern Miss forced 22 turnovers. It surpassed 20 twice last year (Delta State, Middle Tennessee).