University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Wednesday, October 21
Hattiesburg, Miss.
6 PM
Southern Miss
72
vs
82
LSU New Orleans (Exhibition)
10/21/2026 8:44:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Preseason Sun Belt Player of the Year Isaac Taveras scored 21 points, but Southern Miss could not overcome LSU New Orleans' second-half surge in an 82-72 loss Wednesday night at Reed Green Coliseum in front of 2,459.
The game featured 14 lead changes and nine ties, underscoring how tightly contested it was before the Privateers' second-half push.
Southern Miss led 30-29 at halftime generating offense in transition and around the basket, scoring 22 first-half points in the paint, but LSU New Orleans seized control after the break.
The Privateers outscored Southern Miss 53-42 in the second half, shooting 16 of 31 from the field and 6 of 14 from beyond the arc. Southern Miss briefly built its largest lead at 37-33 on Taveras' 3-pointer with 17 minutes remaining, but LSU New Orleans answered with a sequence of transition baskets and second-chance opportunities.
Kedrick Osby scored 12 of his 18 points after halftime for LSU New Orleans, including a 3-pointer that gave the Privateers a 64-57 lead with 5:50 left. Kahlil Singleton added 13 points, while Nick Jones scored a game-high 19 points. Cham Okey had 10 points, nine rebounds and four assists.
Southern Miss cut the deficit to two when Brandon Weston converted a fast-break dunk with seven minutes left, making it 59-57, with seven minutes to play. But LSU New Orleans responded with an 8-0 run, capped by Osby's fast-break dunk and free throw, to restore a 10-point margin.
Taveras kept the Golden Eagles within reach, adding eight rebounds, five steals and two blocks. He made 8 of 11 free throws but shot 6 of 17 from the field. Weston scored 12 points, and Cameron Wallace added nine points in fewer than five minutes. Fallou Diagne finished with seven points and five rebounds off the bench.
LSU New Orleans led for more than 15 minutes and pulled away at the foul line late, finishing 23 of 32 on free throws. Southern Miss went 25 of 35 from the line but could not offset its perimeter shooting struggles.
The Golden Eagles return to action Wednesday, Oct. 28, with its final exhibition contest at Houston Christian. Game time is set for 6 p.m.
The game featured 14 lead changes and nine ties, underscoring how tightly contested it was before the Privateers' second-half push.
Southern Miss led 30-29 at halftime generating offense in transition and around the basket, scoring 22 first-half points in the paint, but LSU New Orleans seized control after the break.
The Privateers outscored Southern Miss 53-42 in the second half, shooting 16 of 31 from the field and 6 of 14 from beyond the arc. Southern Miss briefly built its largest lead at 37-33 on Taveras' 3-pointer with 17 minutes remaining, but LSU New Orleans answered with a sequence of transition baskets and second-chance opportunities.
Kedrick Osby scored 12 of his 18 points after halftime for LSU New Orleans, including a 3-pointer that gave the Privateers a 64-57 lead with 5:50 left. Kahlil Singleton added 13 points, while Nick Jones scored a game-high 19 points. Cham Okey had 10 points, nine rebounds and four assists.
Southern Miss cut the deficit to two when Brandon Weston converted a fast-break dunk with seven minutes left, making it 59-57, with seven minutes to play. But LSU New Orleans responded with an 8-0 run, capped by Osby's fast-break dunk and free throw, to restore a 10-point margin.
Taveras kept the Golden Eagles within reach, adding eight rebounds, five steals and two blocks. He made 8 of 11 free throws but shot 6 of 17 from the field. Weston scored 12 points, and Cameron Wallace added nine points in fewer than five minutes. Fallou Diagne finished with seven points and five rebounds off the bench.
LSU New Orleans led for more than 15 minutes and pulled away at the foul line late, finishing 23 of 32 on free throws. Southern Miss went 25 of 35 from the line but could not offset its perimeter shooting struggles.
The Golden Eagles return to action Wednesday, Oct. 28, with its final exhibition contest at Houston Christian. Game time is set for 6 p.m.
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Basketball
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