MBB: Golden Eagles Head to UAB for Road Opener Against Old Rival

HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- Following its season-opening win over Bowling Green earlier this week, Southern Miss will travel to UAB for its first road game of the season on Thursday. Tip-off from Bartow Arena is set for 6:30 p.m. CT and will air on ESPN+.

Game 2: Southern Miss (1-0, 0-0 Sun Belt) at UAB (0-1, 0-0 American)
Thursday, November 7 at 6:30 p.m. CT
TV: ESPN+ | Radio: Southern Miss Radio Network
Bartow Arena (8,500)

Curt Bloom (PxP) and Mo Finley (Color) 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
- Thursday's game is the 58^th meeting all-time between Southern Miss and UAB. The old conference rivals have met 29 times in Birmingham with the Blazers leading that series, 22-7
- Five Golden Eagles score in double figures for Southern Miss in the season-opening win over Bowling Green. Christian Watson (17), Andre Curbelo (16), Neftali Alvarez (14), DeAntoni Gordon (13) and Denijay Harris (11) were the five in double figures for the 77-68 win
- 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 Blazers
- Yaxel Lendeborg headlines the UAB roster as the American Preseason Player of the Year. Lendeborg was tabbed to watch lists for the Naismith Trophy and Karl Malone Award. The forward scored 22 points and grabbed 15 rebounds against Vermont
- UAB dropped its season opener to Vermont, 67-62. The Catamounts jumped to a 14-point lead at halftime before the Blazers managed to play their way back into the game down the stretch
- The UAB roster features a large amount of returning production from last season's NCAA Tournament squad, including five players that started a game. The Blazers return 62.3% of its scoring from last season and 60.7% of its rebounding
- Andy Kennedy has led UAB to 101 wins since taking over the program five years ago — that's the 10th-most wins in college basketball during that time

History Between the Two
- Thursday marks the 58^th meeting between UAB and Southern Miss. The Blazers lead, 37-20
- The Blazers lead 22-7 in Birmingham
- Southern Miss' 85-82 win last season snapped a 10-game losing streak
- This is the third meeting since the old Conference USA rivals split to the AAC and Sun Belt

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 20 season openers
- The Golden Eagles are 5-1 in season openers under Ladner and have won their last four: Bowling Green, William Carey (2x) and Vanderbilt

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.

Follow @SouthernMissMBB on X, Instagram and Facebook to get the latest Golden Eagle news.

MBB: Golden Eagles Head to UAB for Road Opener Against Old Rival

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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