Golden Eagles to Host Mississippi State in Charity Game Benefiting Mississippi Tornado Victims

Golden Eagles to Host Mississippi State in Charity Game Benefiting Mississippi Tornado Victims

10/4/2023 12:52:00 PM | Men's Basketball

HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- The Southern Miss and Mississippi State men's basketball programs will come together in a charity exhibition game on Oct. 29 at Reed Green Coliseum at 2 p.m. All proceeds raised from the game will be donated to CitiIMPACT, providing financial support to tornado victims in the Mississippi Delta.

"Mississippi State is coming to Hattiesburg for the first time since their Final Four season in 1995," said Southern Miss head coach Jay Ladner. "Come help raise much-needed funds for tornado victims in the Mississippi Delta.

"Thanks to Coach Jans and the MSU administration for agreeing to make this happen. Playing a NCAA tournament team this early will help prepare us for a very challenging non-conference schedule and will only make us better"

TICKET INFO
Season ticket holders will have first priority to pick their seats against Mississippi State. Chairbacks will be $20 and bleachers will be $10. Proceeds from ticket sales will be donated towards tornado victims in the Mississippi Delta. Further ticket links will be distributed at a later date.

"CitiIMPACT is honored to be the recipient of this charity basketball game between two such remarkable Universities," said CitiIMPACT CEO JD Smith. "On behalf of those in Mississippi who were devastated by recent tornadoes, we extend our heartfelt appreciation for your willingness to help in such a meaningful way. These donations will help provide new homes for those who have lost everything. It will be vital in restoring and transforming communities that were destroyed. We are excited to see you in Hattiesburg and know that regardless of which team wins this match-up, Mississippi wins."

Southern Miss is coming off a 25-8 campaign where it was crowned Sun Belt Regular Season Champions. Ladner, who enters his fifth season, took the Golden Eagles to a postseason for the first time under his tutelage before being ousted by UAB in the National Invitational Tournament. Mississippi State and head coach Chris Jans are coming off a 21-13 mark in his first with the Bulldogs. They advanced to the NCAA Tournament before losing in the opening round.

Southern Miss returns a pair of starters in Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year Austin Crowley and Picayune native Mo Arnold. Crowley's breakout campaign saw the West Point native earn Lou Henson All-America, NABC All-District 23 and First Team All-Sun Belt honors. The then-junior led all Golden Eagles in scoring at 16.0 points per game and finished with 63 steals. Arnold started 30 ball games last season and averaged 4.6 points per game to go along with 97 assists.

The Golden Eagles return Neftali Alvarez (Catano, Puerto Rico), Donovan Ivory (Kaukauna, Wisc.), Victor Hart (Miami, Fla.), Jeffery Armstrong (Rainsville, Ala.), Trey Alfonso (Chalmette, La.) and Tate Ryder (Oak Grove, Miss.). Seven newcomers grace the men's basketball roster: Victor Iwuakor (Abuja, Nigeria), Luke Ladner (Kiln, Miss.), Andre Curbelo (Vega Baja, Puerto Rico), Tegra Izay (Montreal, Canada), Jose Benitez (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic), Bryson Hall (Northport, Ala.) and Lieb Yat (Melbourne, Australia).