University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Saturday, February 8
Bowling Green, KY
6:30 p.m. CT
Southern Miss
at
Western Kentucky
Southern Miss Set for Saturday Night Clash at WKU
2/7/2020 1:35:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- The Southern Miss men's basketball team will continue its road trip through the Ohio Valley with a Saturday night battle at WKU. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. CT.
Chris Hassel, Tim Scarborough and Kristen Balboni will have the call on Stadium (Facebook). John Cox will carry the game on the Southern Miss Learfield IMG Sports Network (Rock 104.5 in Hattiesburg/Laurel) and Gameday app.
Game Notes
– This game serves as a homecoming for video coordinator Anthony Winchester, who was inducted into the WKU Hall of Fame this fall. The four-year letterwinner (2002-06) was the Sun Belt Freshman of the Year who finished his storied career as the 2006 Sun Belt Player of the Year and AP Honorable Mention All-American. He later served on staff from 2008-10 while rehabbing from an injury in his pro years. Graduate assistant Bryce Garris is also a WKU grad, class of 2018.
– Southern Miss suffered a tough, 72-58 defeat to Marshall on Thursday. Despite trailing 26-12 in the first half, the Golden Eagles stormed back in the second. Leonard Harper-Baker produced 10-straight points to help the squad to a 52-45 lead at 11:45, but Marshall hit three consecutive triples and ultimately finished the game on a 16-2 run.
– Harper-Baker over the last three games has averaged 12 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists over 38.7 minutes, including 18 points and 14 boards on Thursday at Marshall. Last Saturday's win over Charlotte saw him record inconceivable tallies of 16 rebounds and 10 assists to become the ninth player in the last 10 years (nationally) to produce such numbers, and he was two points away from the first Southern Miss triple-double since 1980. In the first of three meetings with WKU last year (Jan. 24), he put together 18 points and 15 boards that led to C-USA Player of the Week honors. He is sixth in league play with 7.5 rpg.
– The two teams were evenly-matched each of last year's three meetings, but WKU got the bounce when needed most each time. The largest separation was the 70-59 decision in the C-USA semifinals, when the Hilltoppers went on a late 14-3 run that included two of their four three-pointers for the game.
– Stevenson, a walk-on last year, ranks second and 10th in C-USA play for rebounding (8.3 pg) and field-goal percentage (53.3), respectively. The UTEP game was his only league game in which he was held to single-digit scoring. While Jay Ladner has emphasized getting to the free-throw line, Stevenson has proved his reputation as one of the most coachable guys on the team with a team-best 76 tries, making 72.4 percent of them.
– Southern Miss, in league play, leads C-USA with an 82.6 free-throw percentage (133-for-161). It was at 68.6 percent in non-conference action. The 75.4-percent clip for the year would be a program record, besting the 2011-12 NCAA Tourney squad (73.6). Several notable improvements have been made with four of the six returners. LaDavius Draine is up 8.1 percent, Gabe Watson 13.7, Stevenson 25.0 and Boban Jacdonmi 44.2 (was 4-for-12, now 31-for-40).
– Watson has been the team's top performer away from home, leading in scoring (15.4 ppg), free-throws (22-for-25 / 88 percent) and minutes (34.8 mpg). The sophomore has been thrust back into the point-guard role with Jay Malone being inactive, and all four of his 20-point games this season have come on the road (best was 27 at UAB). He has sat only four combined minutes the last five games, while Draine is at eight for that span. As a freshman reserve, Watson scored in double-figures four times, and three were away (SMU, FIU, Longwood). He played 20-plus minutes six times, maxing with 29 at SMU.
– Draine has 160 three-pointers in his career, which ranks fourth in school history. Next up is Neil Watson at 164 from 2011-14. He had five treys versus ODU (four in the second half) on a career-high 11 tries, marking the third time this season (fifth of career) in which he's made five. Draine has also made his last 22 foul shots, all in league play, and it leads C-USA as well (missed his final attempt in Tougaloo game). It's the fifth-longest streak in school history, tying Kourtlin Jackson (22) in late 2016.
– If not for clearing the bench in the final minute Thursday, the Golden Eagles would have gone three consecutive games with just seven players. The squad's last reserve points were three against ODU. Out of the last five games, including OT, Watson has sat for only four minutes (hit to the jaw at Middle Tennessee, then final minute at Marshall). Freshman Artur Konontsuk, who returned to the starting lineup for the UAB game, has averaged 33 minutes in that span (21.4 all year prior).
– The Hilltoppers have won five in a row at home, most recently defeating LA Tech. While Southern Miss leads C-USA in free-throw percentage, WKU has been rewarded a league-best 244 attempts in C-USA action.
Chris Hassel, Tim Scarborough and Kristen Balboni will have the call on Stadium (Facebook). John Cox will carry the game on the Southern Miss Learfield IMG Sports Network (Rock 104.5 in Hattiesburg/Laurel) and Gameday app.
Game Notes
– This game serves as a homecoming for video coordinator Anthony Winchester, who was inducted into the WKU Hall of Fame this fall. The four-year letterwinner (2002-06) was the Sun Belt Freshman of the Year who finished his storied career as the 2006 Sun Belt Player of the Year and AP Honorable Mention All-American. He later served on staff from 2008-10 while rehabbing from an injury in his pro years. Graduate assistant Bryce Garris is also a WKU grad, class of 2018.
– Southern Miss suffered a tough, 72-58 defeat to Marshall on Thursday. Despite trailing 26-12 in the first half, the Golden Eagles stormed back in the second. Leonard Harper-Baker produced 10-straight points to help the squad to a 52-45 lead at 11:45, but Marshall hit three consecutive triples and ultimately finished the game on a 16-2 run.
– Harper-Baker over the last three games has averaged 12 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists over 38.7 minutes, including 18 points and 14 boards on Thursday at Marshall. Last Saturday's win over Charlotte saw him record inconceivable tallies of 16 rebounds and 10 assists to become the ninth player in the last 10 years (nationally) to produce such numbers, and he was two points away from the first Southern Miss triple-double since 1980. In the first of three meetings with WKU last year (Jan. 24), he put together 18 points and 15 boards that led to C-USA Player of the Week honors. He is sixth in league play with 7.5 rpg.
– The two teams were evenly-matched each of last year's three meetings, but WKU got the bounce when needed most each time. The largest separation was the 70-59 decision in the C-USA semifinals, when the Hilltoppers went on a late 14-3 run that included two of their four three-pointers for the game.
– Stevenson, a walk-on last year, ranks second and 10th in C-USA play for rebounding (8.3 pg) and field-goal percentage (53.3), respectively. The UTEP game was his only league game in which he was held to single-digit scoring. While Jay Ladner has emphasized getting to the free-throw line, Stevenson has proved his reputation as one of the most coachable guys on the team with a team-best 76 tries, making 72.4 percent of them.
– Southern Miss, in league play, leads C-USA with an 82.6 free-throw percentage (133-for-161). It was at 68.6 percent in non-conference action. The 75.4-percent clip for the year would be a program record, besting the 2011-12 NCAA Tourney squad (73.6). Several notable improvements have been made with four of the six returners. LaDavius Draine is up 8.1 percent, Gabe Watson 13.7, Stevenson 25.0 and Boban Jacdonmi 44.2 (was 4-for-12, now 31-for-40).
– Watson has been the team's top performer away from home, leading in scoring (15.4 ppg), free-throws (22-for-25 / 88 percent) and minutes (34.8 mpg). The sophomore has been thrust back into the point-guard role with Jay Malone being inactive, and all four of his 20-point games this season have come on the road (best was 27 at UAB). He has sat only four combined minutes the last five games, while Draine is at eight for that span. As a freshman reserve, Watson scored in double-figures four times, and three were away (SMU, FIU, Longwood). He played 20-plus minutes six times, maxing with 29 at SMU.
– Draine has 160 three-pointers in his career, which ranks fourth in school history. Next up is Neil Watson at 164 from 2011-14. He had five treys versus ODU (four in the second half) on a career-high 11 tries, marking the third time this season (fifth of career) in which he's made five. Draine has also made his last 22 foul shots, all in league play, and it leads C-USA as well (missed his final attempt in Tougaloo game). It's the fifth-longest streak in school history, tying Kourtlin Jackson (22) in late 2016.
– If not for clearing the bench in the final minute Thursday, the Golden Eagles would have gone three consecutive games with just seven players. The squad's last reserve points were three against ODU. Out of the last five games, including OT, Watson has sat for only four minutes (hit to the jaw at Middle Tennessee, then final minute at Marshall). Freshman Artur Konontsuk, who returned to the starting lineup for the UAB game, has averaged 33 minutes in that span (21.4 all year prior).
– The Hilltoppers have won five in a row at home, most recently defeating LA Tech. While Southern Miss leads C-USA in free-throw percentage, WKU has been rewarded a league-best 244 attempts in C-USA action.
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