Wednesday, November 24
Missoula, Mont.
6:00 PM
Southern Miss
-32,00 CUSA
80
vs
66
UNC Wilmington
3-3,0-0CAA
1
2
F
Southern Miss.
37
43
80
UNCW
23
43
66
Southern Miss Rides Bolden's Record Night as Golden Eagles Dump UNCW
11/24/2021 10:47:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MISSOULA, Mont. -- Rashad Bolden landed in the Southern Miss record books on Wednesday night as the Golden Eagles opened play at the Zootown Classic with an 80-66 win over UNC Wilmington. Bolden went 11-of-12 from the field as he exploded for 29 points, the most by a Southern Miss freshman since Jeremy Wise's 28 on Jan. 27, 2007. His .916 shooting clip ranks fourth all-time for a single-game shooting percentage.
"I keep telling folks that listen -- of course people had him as the No. 2 rated player in Mississippi -- that Rashad Bolden was the No. 1 player in the state," said head coach Jay Ladner. "We've seen him do that in practice and I thought he redefined the way he has played early this season. He went out and did what he does best, but he played a heck of a game."
Bolden knocked down his second basket 5:09 into the contest to cut the UNC Wilmington lead to one, and then drilled a pull-up jumper to give Southern Miss the lead one minute later. Isaih Moore drilled two free throws after another Bolden bucket to extend the lead to five before Walyn Napper swooshed a three-pointer to make it an eight-point game. Jaron Pierre, Jr. quickly transitioned up the floor after forcing a turnover to find Bolden on the wing for another three-pointer to give the Golden Eagles a 12-point lead. The Seahawks went scoreless for a five-minute stretch late in the first half that allowed the Golden Eagles to pull ahead by 16 points. After they broke the scoring drought, Napper made a nice drive to the hoop to extend the lead to 18 with 1:30 left in the half. UNC Wilmington would cut the deficit to 14 points heading into the half.
The Golden Eagles shot a scorching .565 in the opening frame and hit a trio of three-pointers. Moore added six points and five rebounds in the half to compliment Bolden's 14 points. Southern Miss held UNC Wilmington to 7-of-28 from the field in the first half and 4-of-19 from deep. Mike Okauru had a team-high seven points for the Seahawks in the first half.
Southern Miss found itself with a 21-point lead with 15:03 left in the game, but UNC Wilmington clawed back to make it a 10-point game with 12:18 left on the clock. The 17-3 run included two missed shots and flurry of turnovers from the Golden Eagles. UNC Wilmington got within five points, but the Golden Eagles responded with a DeAndre Pinckney basket and Tae Hardy layup to regain control and pull ahead by 10 points. Hardy dished a behind-the-back pass to Stevenson for an easy dunk with 3:55 left that made it a 12-point Southern Miss lead. Moore emphatically three down a dunk to put the Golden Eagles ahead by 19 with 47 seconds left and led to Ladner emptying his bench. The former Golden Eagle brought in Blake Roberts, Trey Alfonso, Tate Ryder, Mark Jaakson, and Jeff Armstrong. Alfonso's playing time was the first of his Southern Miss career.
Southern Miss' .625 shooting clip from the field was the highest since it recorded a .610 clip at FIU on Feb. 19, 2021. The Golden Eagles also knocked down seven three-pointers after knocking down eight against Lamar last Sunday. Moore finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds to earn his second double-double this season. Stevenson added 15 points and five rebounds in 32 minutes of playing time. Hardy finished with nine points off the bench. The Golden Eagles pulled down a single offensive rebound compared to the Seahawks 12. Overall, Southern Miss outrebounded UNC Wilmington, 32-20.
The Golden Eagles have a quick turnaround as they are set to face UC San Diego on Thanksgiving Day. Tip is set for 6 p.m. CT.
Game Notes
- Freshman Rashad Bolden scored a career-high 29 points. It was most by a freshman since Jeremy Wise's 28 at Memphis on Jan. 27, 2007.
- Bolden's 91.6 shooting percentage was the fourth-best single-game shooting percentage in program history.
- Redshirt sophomore Denijay Harris made his first start this season and ninth overall.
- Freshman Trey Alfonso checked in with 20 seconds left to see his first action as a Golden Eagle.
- Southern Miss. 62.5 shooting percentage was its highest since shooting 61.0 percent at FIU on Feb. 19, 2021.
- Junior Isaih Moore recorded his second double-double this season with 13 points and 11 rebounds.
- Southern Miss pulled down only one offensive rebound compared to UNC Wilmington's 12.
"I keep telling folks that listen -- of course people had him as the No. 2 rated player in Mississippi -- that Rashad Bolden was the No. 1 player in the state," said head coach Jay Ladner. "We've seen him do that in practice and I thought he redefined the way he has played early this season. He went out and did what he does best, but he played a heck of a game."
Bolden knocked down his second basket 5:09 into the contest to cut the UNC Wilmington lead to one, and then drilled a pull-up jumper to give Southern Miss the lead one minute later. Isaih Moore drilled two free throws after another Bolden bucket to extend the lead to five before Walyn Napper swooshed a three-pointer to make it an eight-point game. Jaron Pierre, Jr. quickly transitioned up the floor after forcing a turnover to find Bolden on the wing for another three-pointer to give the Golden Eagles a 12-point lead. The Seahawks went scoreless for a five-minute stretch late in the first half that allowed the Golden Eagles to pull ahead by 16 points. After they broke the scoring drought, Napper made a nice drive to the hoop to extend the lead to 18 with 1:30 left in the half. UNC Wilmington would cut the deficit to 14 points heading into the half.
The Golden Eagles shot a scorching .565 in the opening frame and hit a trio of three-pointers. Moore added six points and five rebounds in the half to compliment Bolden's 14 points. Southern Miss held UNC Wilmington to 7-of-28 from the field in the first half and 4-of-19 from deep. Mike Okauru had a team-high seven points for the Seahawks in the first half.
Southern Miss found itself with a 21-point lead with 15:03 left in the game, but UNC Wilmington clawed back to make it a 10-point game with 12:18 left on the clock. The 17-3 run included two missed shots and flurry of turnovers from the Golden Eagles. UNC Wilmington got within five points, but the Golden Eagles responded with a DeAndre Pinckney basket and Tae Hardy layup to regain control and pull ahead by 10 points. Hardy dished a behind-the-back pass to Stevenson for an easy dunk with 3:55 left that made it a 12-point Southern Miss lead. Moore emphatically three down a dunk to put the Golden Eagles ahead by 19 with 47 seconds left and led to Ladner emptying his bench. The former Golden Eagle brought in Blake Roberts, Trey Alfonso, Tate Ryder, Mark Jaakson, and Jeff Armstrong. Alfonso's playing time was the first of his Southern Miss career.
Southern Miss' .625 shooting clip from the field was the highest since it recorded a .610 clip at FIU on Feb. 19, 2021. The Golden Eagles also knocked down seven three-pointers after knocking down eight against Lamar last Sunday. Moore finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds to earn his second double-double this season. Stevenson added 15 points and five rebounds in 32 minutes of playing time. Hardy finished with nine points off the bench. The Golden Eagles pulled down a single offensive rebound compared to the Seahawks 12. Overall, Southern Miss outrebounded UNC Wilmington, 32-20.
The Golden Eagles have a quick turnaround as they are set to face UC San Diego on Thanksgiving Day. Tip is set for 6 p.m. CT.
Game Notes
- Freshman Rashad Bolden scored a career-high 29 points. It was most by a freshman since Jeremy Wise's 28 at Memphis on Jan. 27, 2007.
- Bolden's 91.6 shooting percentage was the fourth-best single-game shooting percentage in program history.
- Redshirt sophomore Denijay Harris made his first start this season and ninth overall.
- Freshman Trey Alfonso checked in with 20 seconds left to see his first action as a Golden Eagle.
- Southern Miss. 62.5 shooting percentage was its highest since shooting 61.0 percent at FIU on Feb. 19, 2021.
- Junior Isaih Moore recorded his second double-double this season with 13 points and 11 rebounds.
- Southern Miss pulled down only one offensive rebound compared to UNC Wilmington's 12.
Team Stats
USM
UNCW
FG%
.625
.344
3FG%
.467
.250
FT%
.867
.923
RB
32
30
TO
15
12
STL
5
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
29
FGM
11
3FGM
5
FTM
2
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
G
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