It’s a non-conference matchup on the hardwood as the opening week of the college basketball season rolls on as a member of the Sun Belt takes on one from the SEC in the Volunteer State. The Southern Miss Golden Eagles are on the road as they travel to face the Vanderbilt Commodores Friday night. Southern Miss comes in off a season-opening 75-42 win over William Carey Monday night to start the season on a positive note. Vanderbilt comes in off a 76-67 home defeat at the hands of Memphis in their season opener Monday night. These teams have met just twice previously with each team recording a victory. In the most recent matchup, it was the Commodores rolling to an 82-46 home win back on January 2, 2010.
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Southern Miss opened the season on a positive note as they took care of an overmatched William Carey program at home Monday night. The Golden Eagles now have to head out on the road and face a Power Five conference foe, so there is an upgrade in competition level here. Southern Miss was a brutal team on the road last season for coach Jay Ladner, posting a miserable 1-14 record with their lone victory coming by a single point, 74-73, over UTSA on January 6. Meanwhile, 11 of their 14 road defeats came by double figures so there certainly is room for improvement in that department.
Against William Carey, Southern Miss struggled early, trailing 8-2 less than three minutes into the game. The Golden Eagles rallied to lead by five at the half: after the Crusaders scored the first five second half points to tie the game, Southern Miss took control of the game for good with an 8-0 run to go up 35-27. William Carey climbed within six before Southern Miss reeled off a 23-0 run to go up 61-32 and cruised the rest of the way. The Golden Eagles shot 47% from the floor despite going three of 15 from beyond the arc, controlled the glass 41-32 and forced 30 turnovers to help offset that they were 10 of 21 at the charity stripe. Austin Crowley led Southern Miss with 15 points plus four steals in the win. Denijay Harris, who had 14 points off the bench, was the only other player in double figures. All told, 12 of the 15 players to see action for Southern Miss found themselves on the scoresheet at the final buzzer.