Southern Miss Travels to Akron for MAC-SBC Challenge Friday Night

HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- A pair of heavyweights will go toe-to-toe Friday night as Southern Miss travels to Akron for the MAC-SBC Challenge. Tip-off inside James A. Rhodes Arena is slated for 6 p.m. CT and can be watched on ESPN+.

Game 2: Southern Miss (1-0, 0-0 SBC) at Akron (1-0, 0-0 MAC)
Friday, November 10 at 6 p.m. CT
TV: ESPN+ | Radio: Southern Miss Radio Network
James A. Rhodes Arena (5,500) - Akron, Ohio

Friday's game is the first of two MAC-SBC Challenge games this season for Southern Miss. Matchups were determined based on NET final net rankings from last season. The second contest will take place on Feb. 10, with matchups set based on real-time NET rankings and announced in January. All Sun Belt schools are on the road for the first round and at home for the second round.

The game will feature Michael Reghi and Jeff Phelps on the ESPN+ call. Fans can listen on the Southern Miss Radio Network, Southern Miss Game Day App, or their local Southern Miss Network affiliate to hear John Cox on the call.

KEY GOLDEN EAGLE STORYLINES
- Southern Miss is coming off a 64-42 season-opening win against William Carey on Monday night
- The 42 points allowed were the fewest under Jay Ladner and marked the 48^th time Southern Miss has held an opponent under 50 points since joining the Division I ranks
- Austin Crowley (19), Donovan Ivory (13) and Victor Hart (12) all scored in double figures, while Crowley added 10 boards to pick up the first double-double of his career
- Luke Ladner, Bryson Hall and Cobie Montgomery all scored their first Division I points in Monday's win
- Last season, Southern Miss racked up 25 wins for the fourth time in program history
- Crowley's breakout junior season included Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year, First Team All-Sun Belt, First Team All-NABC District 23, Lou Henson All-American, Lou Henson Player of the Year Finalist, and Howell Trophy Finalist
- The Golden Eagles lost Felipe Haase, Marcelo Perez, Tyler Morman, DeAndre Pinckney and Nico Aguirre to graduation. Denijay Harris (Arkansas) and GianFranco Grafals (Nova Southeastern) opted for the transfer portal
- Haase, Perez, Morman, Pinckney and Aguirre all signed professional contracts, while Haase signed the largest European rookie contract of any undrafted player
- Southern Miss hit big in the portal for the second consecutive season after landing Victor Iwuakor (UNLV/Oklahoma), Andre Curbelo (St. John's/Illinois), Ladner (Loyola New Orleans), Hall (Wallace State/Delta State), Lieb Yat (Seminole State College), Jose Benitez (Francis Marion) and Tegra Izay (Harcum/La Salle)
- Izay and Yat are the first 7-footers to don the Black and Gold since 7-foot-1 big man Gustavo Lino played for Southern Miss in 2009
- Juan Cardona was promoted to Associate Head Coach over the summer after producing one of the top defenses in college basketball
- Southern Miss' 18-win turnaround from the 2021-22 to 2022-23 was the second-best in NCAA Division I history. Iowa State owns the top spot at +22 in 2021-22

BREAKING DOWN AKRON
- Akron picked up an 81-75 win over South Dakota State in Monday's season opener
- Senior forward Enrique Freeman was one of 20 players named to the 2024 Karl Malone Award watchlist
- Freeman grabbed 14 rebounds and scored 13 points in the win over the Jackrabbits
- Mikal Dawson (19), Sammy Hunter (16), Freeman (13), Greg Tribble (11) and Nate Johnson (10) all scored in double figures -- Dawson and Hunter each connected on four 3-pointers
- The Zips have made at least one 3-pointer for the last 738 games dating back to the 2000-01 season
- The Zips are 85-35 overall under head coach John Groce in the last four seasons
- Groce stands at 299 career wins between stops at Ohio, Illinois and Akron

SERIES HISTORY
- First meeting between the two schools

Follow @SouthernMissMBB on Facebook, Instagram and X for updates. Season tickets are available for the 2023-24 season -- Fans can purchase tickets at SouthernMissTickets.com, by calling 1-800-844-TICK (8425) or visit the Pat Ferlise Ticket Office on campus weekdays during normal business hours.

Southern Miss Travels to Akron for MAC-SBC Challenge Friday Night

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Players Mentioned

Nico Aguirre

Jose Benitez

Austin Crowley

Andre Curbelo

GianFranco Grafals

Felipe Haase

Bryson Hall

Denijay Harris

Victor Hart

Donovan Ivory

Victor Iwuakor

Tegra Izay

Luke Ladner

Cobie Montgomery

Tyler Morman

Marcelo Perez

DeAndre Pinckney

Lieb Yat