Saturday, January 4
Norfolk, VA
3 PM
Southern Miss
6-9,1-2Sun Belt
71
at
74
Old Dominion
6-9,2-1Sun Belt
1
2
F
Southern Miss.
38
33
71
Old Dominion
38
36
74
Men's Basketball Drops Thriller at Old Dominion
1/4/2025 6:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball
NORFOLK, Va. – Southern Miss (6-9, 1-2 Sun Belt) dropped a hard-fought game at Old Dominion (6-9, 2-1 Sun Belt) on Saturday night as the Golden Eagles fell, 74-41. Four Southern Miss starters scored 10-plus points, while freshman Brewer Carruth became the first true freshman in over three seasons to start.
Curbelo led the offensive charge again with 19 points on a career-high three three-pointers. DeAntoni Gordon finished with 17 points, producing his best game since scoring 20 points at UAB early in the season. Regarded as an elite offensive rebounding team, Southern Miss held Old Dominion to only two offensive boards in the first half. Gordon largely helped with that as he finished with a team-high eight rebounds.
Cobie Montgomery added 11 points on three-for-three shooting from deep, while Alfred Worrell Jr. came off the bench and scored eight points. Watson finished his night with 16 points – it was the most he's scored since dropping 19 at Montana State.
The Golden Eagles made 10 three-pointers for the first time since their win over Milwaukee eight games ago. Southern Miss also outrebounded Old Dominion, 34-32.
How it Happened
Southern Miss got off to a hot start as it knocked down five of its first six shot attempts. Four of those makes were three-pointers that helped the Golden Eagles open a 16-9 lead. Southern Miss' zone defense caused fits for Old Dominion for much of the first half and helped the road team lead nearly 14 of the first 20 minutes.
The Monarchs managed to climb back into the game thanks to a 10-3 run that gave them a two-point lead with five minutes left in the opening half. Cobie Montgomery knocked down his third three-pointer of the half with six seconds left to give Southern Miss a two-point advantage heading into the half – so it thought, though. Christian Reid was whistled four his fourth foul with one second on the clock and Sean Durugordon cashed in on two freebies.
Old Dominion went 10-for-14 from the charity stripe in the first half, while the Golden Eagles were limited to only five makes on six attempts. Andre Curbelo reached the 10-point mark in the first half and the Golden Eagles also got offensive help from Christian Watson and DeAntoni Gordon – both had eight first half points.
The fireworks continued in the second half as Southern Miss and Old Dominion traded lead changes six times in the final 20 minutes. Both teams led by as many as five, but the Monarchs got off to the quicker start in the half. Old Dominion went on a 5-0 run to take a four-point lead 58 seconds into the half.
Curbelo, Gordon and Alfred Worrell Jr. each answered to give Southern Miss the lead on three separate occasion – Worrell's came on a 5-0 run by himself to give the Golden Eagles 55-50 lead with 12:05 to play. The Monarchs, though, answered with their biggest run of the game.
Old Dominion rattled off an 8-0 run – on two field goals and four free throws – to take the lead. Gordon answered again, scoring a clutch and-one to tie the game. Christian Watson then nailed a top-of-the-key three-pointer to give the Golden Eagles another lead with a hair over four minutes remaining. Leading by two, Watson went to the line with the Golden Eagles trailing by two. The Lanham, Md. native connected on both, but Old Dominion had the final punch with a 6-0 run to take command in the eventual win.
Deep Dive into the Numbers
- Southern Miss shot 45.1 percent from the floor. It was the fifth-straight game shooting above 40 percent
- The Golden Eagles shot 65.2 percent from the free throw line and 52.6 percent from deep. It was their best three-point percentage since going 9-for-16 against Abilene Christian
- It was the seventh time this season Southern Miss has made at least 15 free throws in a game
- Old Dominion was the first team this season not to record a single block against the Golden Eagles
- Southern Miss has had at least eight steals in two of its last three games. Its season high was 13 against Loyola New Orleans
- Southern Miss limited Old Dominion to two three-pointers, well below its average of 6.4 per game
- The Monarchs were averaging 39.8 rebounds per game and only had 32 against the Golden Eagles
Nuggets and Notes
- Southern Miss starters against Old Dominion: #1 DeAntoni Gordon, #2 Brewer Carruth, #7 Christian Watson, #10 Cobie Montgomery, #11 Andre Curbelo
- Old Dominion now leads 12-4 in the all-time series and 9-1 in Norfolk
- Christian Reid was the first Golden Eagle off the bench at 16:16 in the first half
- The Golden Eagles made seven three-pointers in the first half, shooting 58.3 percent from deep
- Five of Southern Miss' first six made field goals were from three-point land
- Curbelo scored 10+ points for the fourth time this season and for the second-straight game. He has 44 games of 10+ points in his career
- True freshman Brewer Carruth became the first freshman to start a game for Southern Miss since Rashad Bolden during the 2021-22 season
- Cobie Montgomery made at least three three-pointers for the sixth time this season
- Christian Watson finished with 17 points to put him in double figures for the ninth time this season
- Watson made a career-high three three-pointers. He has made at least one three-pointer in each of his last four games
- DeAntoni Gordon reached double figures for the first time since scoring 14 against Lamar on Dec. 17. It was the sixth time this season and 52nd time in his career he's reached double figures
- Alfred Worrell Jr. finished with eight points, his most since scoring nine at Montana State on Nov. 24. It was his most points in Sun Belt action this season
Curbelo led the offensive charge again with 19 points on a career-high three three-pointers. DeAntoni Gordon finished with 17 points, producing his best game since scoring 20 points at UAB early in the season. Regarded as an elite offensive rebounding team, Southern Miss held Old Dominion to only two offensive boards in the first half. Gordon largely helped with that as he finished with a team-high eight rebounds.
Cobie Montgomery added 11 points on three-for-three shooting from deep, while Alfred Worrell Jr. came off the bench and scored eight points. Watson finished his night with 16 points – it was the most he's scored since dropping 19 at Montana State.
The Golden Eagles made 10 three-pointers for the first time since their win over Milwaukee eight games ago. Southern Miss also outrebounded Old Dominion, 34-32.
How it Happened
Southern Miss got off to a hot start as it knocked down five of its first six shot attempts. Four of those makes were three-pointers that helped the Golden Eagles open a 16-9 lead. Southern Miss' zone defense caused fits for Old Dominion for much of the first half and helped the road team lead nearly 14 of the first 20 minutes.
The Monarchs managed to climb back into the game thanks to a 10-3 run that gave them a two-point lead with five minutes left in the opening half. Cobie Montgomery knocked down his third three-pointer of the half with six seconds left to give Southern Miss a two-point advantage heading into the half – so it thought, though. Christian Reid was whistled four his fourth foul with one second on the clock and Sean Durugordon cashed in on two freebies.
Old Dominion went 10-for-14 from the charity stripe in the first half, while the Golden Eagles were limited to only five makes on six attempts. Andre Curbelo reached the 10-point mark in the first half and the Golden Eagles also got offensive help from Christian Watson and DeAntoni Gordon – both had eight first half points.
The fireworks continued in the second half as Southern Miss and Old Dominion traded lead changes six times in the final 20 minutes. Both teams led by as many as five, but the Monarchs got off to the quicker start in the half. Old Dominion went on a 5-0 run to take a four-point lead 58 seconds into the half.
Curbelo, Gordon and Alfred Worrell Jr. each answered to give Southern Miss the lead on three separate occasion – Worrell's came on a 5-0 run by himself to give the Golden Eagles 55-50 lead with 12:05 to play. The Monarchs, though, answered with their biggest run of the game.
Old Dominion rattled off an 8-0 run – on two field goals and four free throws – to take the lead. Gordon answered again, scoring a clutch and-one to tie the game. Christian Watson then nailed a top-of-the-key three-pointer to give the Golden Eagles another lead with a hair over four minutes remaining. Leading by two, Watson went to the line with the Golden Eagles trailing by two. The Lanham, Md. native connected on both, but Old Dominion had the final punch with a 6-0 run to take command in the eventual win.
Deep Dive into the Numbers
- Southern Miss shot 45.1 percent from the floor. It was the fifth-straight game shooting above 40 percent
- The Golden Eagles shot 65.2 percent from the free throw line and 52.6 percent from deep. It was their best three-point percentage since going 9-for-16 against Abilene Christian
- It was the seventh time this season Southern Miss has made at least 15 free throws in a game
- Old Dominion was the first team this season not to record a single block against the Golden Eagles
- Southern Miss has had at least eight steals in two of its last three games. Its season high was 13 against Loyola New Orleans
- Southern Miss limited Old Dominion to two three-pointers, well below its average of 6.4 per game
- The Monarchs were averaging 39.8 rebounds per game and only had 32 against the Golden Eagles
Nuggets and Notes
- Southern Miss starters against Old Dominion: #1 DeAntoni Gordon, #2 Brewer Carruth, #7 Christian Watson, #10 Cobie Montgomery, #11 Andre Curbelo
- Old Dominion now leads 12-4 in the all-time series and 9-1 in Norfolk
- Christian Reid was the first Golden Eagle off the bench at 16:16 in the first half
- The Golden Eagles made seven three-pointers in the first half, shooting 58.3 percent from deep
- Five of Southern Miss' first six made field goals were from three-point land
- Curbelo scored 10+ points for the fourth time this season and for the second-straight game. He has 44 games of 10+ points in his career
- True freshman Brewer Carruth became the first freshman to start a game for Southern Miss since Rashad Bolden during the 2021-22 season
- Cobie Montgomery made at least three three-pointers for the sixth time this season
- Christian Watson finished with 17 points to put him in double figures for the ninth time this season
- Watson made a career-high three three-pointers. He has made at least one three-pointer in each of his last four games
- DeAntoni Gordon reached double figures for the first time since scoring 14 against Lamar on Dec. 17. It was the sixth time this season and 52nd time in his career he's reached double figures
- Alfred Worrell Jr. finished with eight points, his most since scoring nine at Montana State on Nov. 24. It was his most points in Sun Belt action this season
Team Stats
USM
ODU
FG%
.451
.463
3FG%
.526
.118
FT%
.652
.759
RB
34
32
TO
16
12
STL
8
9
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
19
FGM
7
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
17
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
16
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
5
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
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