Eagles score needed win
By By Robby Atkinson / staff writer
Feb. 19, 2004
HATTIESBURG Southern Mississippi has needed a home win in the worst way in Conference USA action, and on Wednesday night, the Golden Eagles got that wish.
Southern Miss used late first half defense to go along with great perimeter shooting in the later stages of the second half to fly away with a 70-48 win at home at the Reed Green Coliseum.
The Cougars jumped out to a 10-3 lead with 15:03 left in the first half. Marcus Oliver hit a pair of three-point shots in the early spurt for Houston, but the Golden Eagles went on a run moments later to take their first lead of the night.
Southern Miss outscored the Cougars 12-2 to take a 15-12 lead with 9:58 left in the first. Jasper hit a pair of jump shots, and Clement Carter also contributed with four points in the run for USM.
Johnson also collected three offensive rebounds in the run which gave the Golden Eagles the second chance points they needed to achieve the lead. Southern Miss also forced six Houston turnovers in the process to make things even tougher for the Cougar offense.
Houston cut the lead to 16-15 with two baskets on the inside by Anwar Ferguson with 8:19 left in the first. Southern Miss added to its lead on four fast break baskets on careless passes by Houston to go along with great outside shots from Jarekus Singleton to make the score 27-19 with 3:57 left in the first.
Charles Gaines and Greg Johnson both had a dunk apiece on the fast breaks to give the Golden Eagles their largest lead of the first half. Southern Miss held on to a 31-23 lead at the end of the first half.
Houston opened the second half by cutting the Southern Miss lead to 35-30 with 17:27 left in the second half. Oliver scored two straight shots for the Cougars followed by a basket from Andre Owens to cut into the large Golden Eagle lead. USM extended the lead to 38-30 moments later on a long three-point shot from Singleton to give the Golden Eagles their first three-pointer of the night.
Southern Miss started to pull away with 7:39 left in the game, and the ingredient was the surprising three-point shooting that was missing for most of the game. David Haywood drained a pair of three-pointers and scored three free throws to give USM a comfortable 51-34 lead. Singleton also chipped in with a pair of jump shots to help pace the Golden Eagles to a 13-2 scoring run that led to the big lead.
Jasper Johnson tallied 16 points and five rebounds for USM. Singleton scored in double figures with 15 points and dished out a team-high five assists. Haywood scored 11 points.
Oliver led Houston with 15 points and Lanny Smith added 13 points in the tough conference road loss for the Cougars.
Southern Miss (12-10, 5-6 C-USA) will return to action at home Saturday against Charlotte.
