University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss
Houston Christian (Exhibition)
10/27/2026 9:53:00 AM | Men's Basketball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Miss men's basketball gets one final dress rehearsal before the games begin to count Wednesday night, traveling to Houston Christian for a 6 p.m. exhibition at Sharp Gymnasium in Houston, Texas. The matchup closes a two-game exhibition slate for Coach Jay Ladner's Golden Eagles before the regular season tips off Monday night in Hattiesburg.
Game Details
Wednesday, Oct. 28 - 6 p.m. CT
Houston, Texas - Sharp Gymnasium
Radio - smttt.info/4jrgLnb
Southern Miss got its first look under game conditions last Wednesday against LSU New Orleans, playing through 14 lead changes and nine ties before the Privateers pulled away for an 82-72 decision. The Golden Eagles carried a 30-29 advantage into halftime and did much of their damage around the basket, scoring 22 points in the paint during the opening 20 minutes.
Isaac Taveras picked up where he left off last season, leading Southern Miss with 21 points while adding eight rebounds, five steals and two blocks. Brandon Weston finished with 12 points in his first exhibition action as a Golden Eagle, while Cameron Wallace added nine points in limited minutes and Fallou Diagne contributed seven points and five rebounds off the bench.
Wednesday gives Coach Ladner another opportunity to work through a roster that blends familiar pieces with a sizable group of newcomers. The opening exhibition showed flashes on both ends. With the season opener less than a week away, the trip to Houston provides one more live test before rotations and roles begin taking shape in games that count.
Houston Christian enters its third season under Coach Craig Doty after finishing 12-20 overall and 8-14 in Southland play last year. The Huskies return D'Aundre Samuels, who averaged 8.6 points across all 32 games last season, along with Mambourou Mara, who appeared in 31 contests and led HCU with 47 blocked shots. HCU has already played two exhibitions this fall, falling 74-67 to Texas A&M-Kingsville at home before a 71-61 setback at Tarleton State on Saturday.
There is also some recent familiarity between the programs. Houston Christian visited Reed Green Coliseum for Southern Miss' exhibition opener last October and came away with a 69-64 decision despite 23 points from Taveras. Wednesday flips the setting, sending the Golden Eagles to Sharp Gymnasium for the final tune-up of the preseason.
For Southern Miss, the trip is the last checkpoint before the schedule changes gears. Coach Ladner has been clear that the non-conference slate was built to prepare his group for Sun Belt play and ultimately March, and Wednesday offers one more opportunity to find answers before the results start appearing in the record book.
Up Next
Southern Miss officially opens the 2026-27 season Monday, Nov. 2, against Tougaloo at Reed Green Coliseum. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT.
For more information and to stay up to date with the Golden Eagles, visit SouthernMiss.com and follow Southern Miss men's basketball on X, Instagram and Facebook at @SouthernMissMBB.
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