MBB: Golden Eagles Open Season Monday Night at Reed Green Coliseum

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Miss opens the 2024-25 campaign on Monday against Bowling Green at Reed Green Coliseum. The game will tip at 7 p.m. CT and will be streamed on ESPN+. The season opener will also signify the official start of the 60th season of basketball at the Coliseum.

Game 1: Southern Miss (0-0, 0-0 Sun Belt) vs. Bowling Green (0-0, 0-0 MAC)
Monday, November 4 at 7 p.m. CT
TV: ESPN+ | Radio: Southern Miss Radio Network
Reed Green Coliseum (8,095)

Former Southern Miss standouts Lee Roberts and Larry Boyd will deliver the call on ESPN+. Fans can also 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.

The Opening Tip
- Denijay Harris averaged 27.5 points and 14 rebounds per game over Southern Miss' two exhibitions against New Orleans and Jackson State. Meanwhile, Andre Curbele averaged 26.5 points per contest and led the team in assists with 14
- Southern Miss returns six players that saw action last season, while only Cobie Montgomery and Tegra Izay saw limited starts
- Neftali Alvarez — sat out last season due to injury — and Harris are both back in the Black & Gold this season. Harris suited up for Arkansas last season after playing a key role in the '22-23 Sun Belt regular season title
- Eight players will suit up for the Golden Eagles this season that ever never donned the Golden Eagle logo. That list included Alfred Worrell Jr., DeAntoni Gordon, Brewer Carruth, Jett Montgomery, Christian Watson, John Wade III, Christian Reid, and Lieb Yat

About the Falcons
- Bowling Green welcomed 10 new players to its roster during the offseason, while eight of them were collegiate transfers. Three transfers started their careers at the Power 5 level
- Trey Thomas leads the returning Falcons in scoring at 11.5 points per game a season ago, while Sam Towns added 6.2 points per game last season
- Thomas suited up for Vanderbilt when the Golden Eagles topped the Commodores during the 2022-23 season. Thomas was held to two points and coughed up the ball twice in that game as he came off the bench
- Bowling Green went 20-14 in Todd Simon's first season last year and made the Falcons one of 10 teams in the nation to go from 20 losses to 20 wins. Similarly, Ladner did the same at Southern Miss during the '22-23 season
- The Falcons have won their last three season openers

History Between the Two
- Monday is the first meeting between the Golden Eagles and Falcons

Dipping into the Portal
- The Golden Eagles once again loaded up on veteran talent in the transfer portal after adding four players with Division I experience
- The four additions are DeAntoni Gordon (Little Rock), Christian Watson (Miami), John Wade III (Stanislaus State) and Denijay Harris (Arkansas)
- Gordon brings the beefiest resume after earning All-OVC honors at Little Rock while leading the Trojans in nearly every category at some point during his three-year career. Gordon played his first season of college basketball at Wichita State
- Watson and Harris have both played on the biggest stages during their careers at Miami (Fla.) and Arkansas, respectively. Watson was a member of the Hurricanes' 2022-23 Final Four team and logged minutes in NCAA Tournament
- Wade III had a stop at Cal State Northridge during the 2022-23 season but played at Stanislaus State last season. While at CSUN, Wade III played in only 10 games
- Ladner added Alfred Worrell Jr. comes to Southern Miss after playing JUCO ball at John A. Logan college

The Youngsters are Back
- Brewer Carruth, Jett Montgomery, and Christian Reid are the first freshman Ladner has signed since the 2021-22 season
- Current senior Trey Alfonso was the last freshman Southern Miss had
- Carruth prepped at Parklane Academy in McComb, while Reid played at Mater Lakes Academy. Montgomery enjoyed a standout career at Independence High School, but is no stranger to Southern Miss has his father, Mark, was a standout wide receiver for the Golden Eagles

Season Openers
- Since the 2000-01 season, Southern Miss has won 19 season openers
- The Golden Eagles are 4-1 in season openers under Ladner and have won their last three: William Carey (2x) and Vanderbilt
- A win would put Southern Miss at four-straight season-opening wins

Preseason Accolades
- Redshirt senior Andre Curbelo was tabbed Preseason Third Team All-Sun Belt by the league's coaches
- Curbelo appeared in 12 games last season while waiting for a NCAA waiver and later battling injuries
- He recorded the second triple-double in program history when he had 12 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds against Georgia State last season
- Southern Miss was picked to finish fifth in the preseason league poll

60 Years at Reed Green Coliseum
- The 2024-25 season marks the 60th season of Golden Eagle basketball at Reed Green Coliseum
- Southern Miss officially moved into The Greenhouse ahead of the 1965-66 season and played Alabama on Dec. 11 in the arena's dedication game
- The Golde Eagles are 522-239 on their home court and have had three undefeated seasons at Reed Green Coliseum

Single game and season tickets are available via SouthernMissTickets.com, calling 1-800-844-TICK or visiting the Pat Ferlise Ticket Office during normal business hours.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE SINGLE GAME TICKETS
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE SEASON TICKETS

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MBB: Golden Eagles Open Season Monday Night at Reed Green Coliseum

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Players Mentioned

Trey Alfonso

Neftali Alvarez

Brewer Carruth

Andre Curbelo

DeAntoni Gordon

Denijay Harris

Tegra Izay

Cobie Montgomery

Jett Montgomery

Christian Reid

John Wade III

Christian Watson

Alfred Worrell Jr.

Lieb Yat

University of Southern Mississippi Athletics