Men's Basketball Set to End Five-Game Road Trip at Southern Illinois

HATTIESBURG, Miss. --The Southern Miss (4-4, 0-0 CUSA) men's basketball team will head to Southern Illinois (4-3, 1-0 MVC) on Saturday, Dec. 4, to play the final road game of its two-week absence from Reed Green Coliseum. The Golden Eagles and Salukis will tip at 8 p.m. Streaming is available on ESPN3.

Watch| Listen| Stats

The Need to Know
The Golden Eagles have won two-of-four games on their current five-game road trip, losing the last two to Montana and South Alabama. In Wednesday's loss at South Alabama, junior Tyler Stevensonbecame the 41^stplayer in program history to score in double figures in at least 50 games. The Columbus, Miss. native finished with a team-high 18 points and hauled in six rebounds. The Jaguars held Southern Miss scoreless for the first six minutes of the game and shot over 55 percent from the floor for the game. Walyn Napper caught fire in what was a tough night for Southern Miss, dropping a career-high 16 points and dishing out a career-high eight assists. The Dodge City product has led the Golden Eagles in assists in all but one game this season.

Junior St John's transfer Isaih Moore has been one of Jay Ladner's most productive players this season, scoring at least 10 points in all eight games. Moore went for 12 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the floor. The Golden Eagles are still without junior Tae Hardy after he got banged up against Montana the day after Thanksgiving. Ladner inserted DeAndre Pinckney and Jaron Pierre, Jr. back into the starting rotation at South Alabama, but neither were able to find the scoring column. Through eight games, Pinckney is averaging 5.9 points per game and Pierre is averaging 6.3.

Scouting the Salukis
The Salukis head into Saturday's contest riding a two-game winning streak after opening Missouri Valley Conference play on Wednesday with a 54-52 win over Evansville. Marcus Domask, who went for a team-high 22 points in the win, nailed a 12-footer with 0.6 seconds left to boost Southern Illinois over its conference rival. The 6-foot-6 forward is averaging 15.9 points per game. Lance Jones leads the club in scoring at 18.8 points per game, which includes four games with at least 20 points.

J.D. Muila, a 6-foot-8 forward, leads Southern Illinois at the rim with 4.6 rebounds per game. The Salukis average just over six three-pointers per game and allow just over four per game. Just before their two-game winning streak, Southern Illinois took Creighton to the wire before losing by two points. The Bluejays began the season receiving votes in the USA Today Coaches Poll.

Golden Eagle Notes
- Southern Miss wraps up its five-game road trip with Saturday's game at Southern Illinois. It had three games in Missoula, Mont. at the Zootown Classic and then made the short drive to South Alabama on Wednesday night.
- Head coach Jay Ladner utilized his fifth different starting lineup in Wednesday's game at South Alabama.
- Southern Miss' 17-point comeback victory against the Salukis in 2019 is the largest lead Southern Illinois has given up in the Mullins era.
- At South Alabama, junior Tyler Stevenson became the 41st player in Southern Miss history to score in double figures in at least 50 games.
- Junior Isaih Moore has scored in double figures in all eight games this season.
- Freshman Rashad Bolden was named the Conference USA Freshman of the Week on Monday, Nov. 29.
- Connor Wheeler, who serves as the Director of Operations and Player Development for Southern Illinois, was previously on staff at Southern Miss during the 2018-19 season.

Men's Basketball Set to End Five-Game Road Trip at Southern Illinois

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Rashad Bolden

Tae Hardy

Isaih Moore

Walyn Napper

Jaron Pierre, Jr.

DeAndre Pinckney

Tyler Stevenson