Saturday, December 4
Carbondale, IL
8:00 PM
Southern Miss
-45,00 CUSA
41
at
66
Southern Illinois
5-3,1-0MVC
1
2
F
Southern Miss.
23
18
41
Southern Ill.
32
34
66
Men's Basketball Falls at Southern Illinois to Conclude Road Trip
12/4/2021 11:26:00 PM | Men's Basketball
CARBONDALE, Ill. --Â The Southern Miss men's basketball team dropped its third-straight contest on Saturday night at Southern Illinois, 66-41. Sophomore Walyn Napper led all Golden Eagles with 13 points and junior Tyler Stevenson hauled in a career-high 14 rebounds.
"I thought our execution was good to start the second half and I thought our guys responded well from the last game," said head coach Jay Ladner. "I thought that technical foul was a big turning point in the momentum, and we have to establish discipline.
"We got it down to a three-possession game, rebounding and defending really well. Then it just kind of took its toll on us. We struggled to score down the stretch there, but I was happy with the way our guys responded back early in the game."
Southern Miss traded blows with Southern Illinois for much of the first half with the Golden Eagles taking a 14-12 lead midway through the first half. Junior Isaih Moore was busy early for Southern Miss, scoring all seven of his points in the first half. The Salukis held the Golden Eagles scoreless for nearly six minutes until Napper drove to the hoop with 5:37 left in the half. From there, freshman Rashad Bolden got fouled attempting a three-pointer and made two free throws to make it a two-point game two minutes later. Southern Illinois responded by ripping off six-straight points to pull ahead by nine and then held a nine-point lead heading into the locker room after a DeAndre Pinckney jumper momentarily made it a six-point game.
The Golden Eagles shot 40.9 percent from the floor in the half and limited the Salukis to 33.3 percent from the floor. Southern Illinois drilled five first-half three-pointers on 20 attempts. Stevenson grabbed seven of his 14 rebounds in the first half.
Southern Illinois controlled much of the second half after Southern Miss pulled within nine points after freshman Jaron Pierre, Jr. hit a deep three and Napper followed a Saluki basket with another three-pointer. Southern Illinois went on a 15-4 run after that and built a 23-point lead over the seven-minute run. The Salukis ended the game shooting 41.9 percent from the floor and outscored the Golden Eagles by 16 points in the second half.
Southern Miss limited itself to four turnovers in the second half after turning the ball over 11 times during the first 20 minutes, The Golden Eagles finished the game shooting 34 percent from the floor and made six three-pointers en route to shooting 37.5 percent from deep. Stevenson finished with nine points and Pierre added six. The Golden Eagles finished with a season-high seven blocks and were led by Stevenson's three.
The Golden Eagles will have a week-long break before hosting Loyola New Orleans on Saturday, Dec. 11. Tip is set for 2 p.m. at Reed Green Coliseum.
Game Notes
- Tonight's starters were Walyn Napper, Rashad Bolden, Isaih Moore, Tyler Stevenson, and Jaron Pierre, Jr.It was Jay Ladner's sixth-different lineup combination.
- Southern Miss made at least six three-pointers for the first time since making seven against UNC Wilmington on Nov. 24.
- Southern Miss had a season-high seven blocks. Stevenson led all Golden Eagles with three.
- With 13 points, Walyn Napper has reached double figures in three of the last four games.
- Junior Tyler Stevenson pulled down a career-high 14 rebounds. His previous career-high was 12, which last came against Lamar on Nov. 21, 2021.
- Southern Miss' 41 points was its fewest since scoring 38 at Tulane on Dec. 9, 2020.
"I thought our execution was good to start the second half and I thought our guys responded well from the last game," said head coach Jay Ladner. "I thought that technical foul was a big turning point in the momentum, and we have to establish discipline.
"We got it down to a three-possession game, rebounding and defending really well. Then it just kind of took its toll on us. We struggled to score down the stretch there, but I was happy with the way our guys responded back early in the game."
Southern Miss traded blows with Southern Illinois for much of the first half with the Golden Eagles taking a 14-12 lead midway through the first half. Junior Isaih Moore was busy early for Southern Miss, scoring all seven of his points in the first half. The Salukis held the Golden Eagles scoreless for nearly six minutes until Napper drove to the hoop with 5:37 left in the half. From there, freshman Rashad Bolden got fouled attempting a three-pointer and made two free throws to make it a two-point game two minutes later. Southern Illinois responded by ripping off six-straight points to pull ahead by nine and then held a nine-point lead heading into the locker room after a DeAndre Pinckney jumper momentarily made it a six-point game.
The Golden Eagles shot 40.9 percent from the floor in the half and limited the Salukis to 33.3 percent from the floor. Southern Illinois drilled five first-half three-pointers on 20 attempts. Stevenson grabbed seven of his 14 rebounds in the first half.
Southern Illinois controlled much of the second half after Southern Miss pulled within nine points after freshman Jaron Pierre, Jr. hit a deep three and Napper followed a Saluki basket with another three-pointer. Southern Illinois went on a 15-4 run after that and built a 23-point lead over the seven-minute run. The Salukis ended the game shooting 41.9 percent from the floor and outscored the Golden Eagles by 16 points in the second half.
Southern Miss limited itself to four turnovers in the second half after turning the ball over 11 times during the first 20 minutes, The Golden Eagles finished the game shooting 34 percent from the floor and made six three-pointers en route to shooting 37.5 percent from deep. Stevenson finished with nine points and Pierre added six. The Golden Eagles finished with a season-high seven blocks and were led by Stevenson's three.
The Golden Eagles will have a week-long break before hosting Loyola New Orleans on Saturday, Dec. 11. Tip is set for 2 p.m. at Reed Green Coliseum.
Game Notes
- Tonight's starters were Walyn Napper, Rashad Bolden, Isaih Moore, Tyler Stevenson, and Jaron Pierre, Jr.It was Jay Ladner's sixth-different lineup combination.
- Southern Miss made at least six three-pointers for the first time since making seven against UNC Wilmington on Nov. 24.
- Southern Miss had a season-high seven blocks. Stevenson led all Golden Eagles with three.
- With 13 points, Walyn Napper has reached double figures in three of the last four games.
- Junior Tyler Stevenson pulled down a career-high 14 rebounds. His previous career-high was 12, which last came against Lamar on Nov. 21, 2021.
- Southern Miss' 41 points was its fewest since scoring 38 at Tulane on Dec. 9, 2020.
Team Stats
USM
SIU
FG%
.340
.419
3FG%
.375
.281
FT%
.600
.625
RB
28
42
TO
15
9
STL
3
11
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
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/ Men's BasketballSouthern Miss-Alabama State Highlights - 12/05/24
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