University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Thursday, January 5
Lafayette, LA
7 PM
Southern Miss
13-3,2-1Sun Belt
61
at
75
Louisiana
11-4,1-2Sun Belt
1
2
F
Southern Miss.
23
38
61
Louisiana
37
38
75
Southern Miss Falls Victim to Hot-Shooting Ragin' Cajuns
1/5/2023 10:06:00 PM | Men's Basketball
LAFAYETTE, La. – The Southern Miss men's basketball team dropped its first Sun Belt game to Louisiana (11-4, 1-2 SBC), falling 75-61 at the Cajundome on Thursday night. The Golden Eagles (13-3, 2-1 SBC) got another productive night from DeAndre Pinckney as the senior picked up his fourth double-double of the season.
Southern Miss' struggles in the first half were highlighted by its 26.9 shooting percentage from the floor, which was the lowest its recorded in the first half this season. The Golden Eagles connected on seven shots and Felipe Haase was the only player with more than one bucket.
Though the shooting woes plagued the Golden Eagles for much of the opening frame, they managed to cut the Ragin' Cajun lead to five four times over a six-minute stretch. However, for every Southern Miss basket, it seemed that Louisiana had an answer. That answer was Kentrell Garnett, who finished with 14 points in the first half.
Haase's seven first-half points paced the Golden Eagles as they went into the locker room trailing by 14 at the break. Austin Crowley, who was named the Sun Belt Player of the Week for his performances against Troy and App State, had four points in the first half.
The second half didn't start much better as Greg Williams, Jr. took a Southern Miss turnover to the hoop for a dunk that got the Ragin' Cajun crowd out of their seats. The Golden Eagles finally got the deficit to single digits when Pinckney drained a three-pointer with 14:09 left in the game.
The triple cut it to nine, but Garnett was there to answer right back. The Cajun guard finished with 20 points on 6-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc. With 5:19 left, another Pinckney triple cut it to nine again, then a pair of free throws from Crowley made it a seven-point game.
The Black and Gold cut it to seven one more time, but Louisiana was able to hold off each comeback attempt. Garnett iced the game with his final three-pointer to put the Ragin' Cajuns up 14 with less than two minutes to go.
When it was all said and done, Pinckney finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds – both were game highs. Crowley had 14, while Haase was limited to nine. Mo Arnold finished with a career-high five steals.
Southern Miss finished the game shooting 37.5 percent from the floor, while Louisiana shot 50 percent.
Up Next
Southern Miss will continue its Louisiana road swing with a Saturday matinee at ULM. Tipoff in Monroe at the Fant-Ewing Coliseum is at 2 p.m.
Game Notes
- DeAndre Pinckney finished with at least points for the six-straight game after going for 21 today
- Pinckney finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds to notch his fourth double-double of the season
- Mo Arnold finished with a career-high five steals
- Austin Crowley has scored at least 10 points in seven-straight games after going for 14 today
Southern Miss' struggles in the first half were highlighted by its 26.9 shooting percentage from the floor, which was the lowest its recorded in the first half this season. The Golden Eagles connected on seven shots and Felipe Haase was the only player with more than one bucket.
Though the shooting woes plagued the Golden Eagles for much of the opening frame, they managed to cut the Ragin' Cajun lead to five four times over a six-minute stretch. However, for every Southern Miss basket, it seemed that Louisiana had an answer. That answer was Kentrell Garnett, who finished with 14 points in the first half.
Haase's seven first-half points paced the Golden Eagles as they went into the locker room trailing by 14 at the break. Austin Crowley, who was named the Sun Belt Player of the Week for his performances against Troy and App State, had four points in the first half.
The second half didn't start much better as Greg Williams, Jr. took a Southern Miss turnover to the hoop for a dunk that got the Ragin' Cajun crowd out of their seats. The Golden Eagles finally got the deficit to single digits when Pinckney drained a three-pointer with 14:09 left in the game.
The triple cut it to nine, but Garnett was there to answer right back. The Cajun guard finished with 20 points on 6-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc. With 5:19 left, another Pinckney triple cut it to nine again, then a pair of free throws from Crowley made it a seven-point game.
The Black and Gold cut it to seven one more time, but Louisiana was able to hold off each comeback attempt. Garnett iced the game with his final three-pointer to put the Ragin' Cajuns up 14 with less than two minutes to go.
When it was all said and done, Pinckney finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds – both were game highs. Crowley had 14, while Haase was limited to nine. Mo Arnold finished with a career-high five steals.
Southern Miss finished the game shooting 37.5 percent from the floor, while Louisiana shot 50 percent.
Up Next
Southern Miss will continue its Louisiana road swing with a Saturday matinee at ULM. Tipoff in Monroe at the Fant-Ewing Coliseum is at 2 p.m.
Game Notes
- DeAndre Pinckney finished with at least points for the six-straight game after going for 21 today
- Pinckney finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds to notch his fourth double-double of the season
- Mo Arnold finished with a career-high five steals
- Austin Crowley has scored at least 10 points in seven-straight games after going for 14 today
Team Stats
USM
LA
FG%
.375
.500
3FG%
.444
.429
FT%
.917
.706
RB
30
36
TO
14
12
STL
8
10
Game Leaders
Pts
21
FGM
8
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
14
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballF
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