Southern Miss defeats Louisiana 62-54

Southern Miss Edges Louisiana in Thrilling Conference Matchup

In a tightly contested conference matchup, Southern Miss emerged victorious over visiting Louisiana at the Reed Green Coliseum, claiming an 8-point win with a final score of 62-54.

The home team took control from the outset, leading 24-17 at halftime. However, the away team refused to back down, using their shooting prowess to keep the contest alive in the second half. Despite trailing by as many as 12 points, Louisiana managed to narrow the gap to five with less than two minutes left on the clock.

However, Southern Miss's stifling defense proved too much for the visitors, holding them to just one field goal over the final minute and securing the win.

Israel Hart led the charge for Southern Miss, scoring 17 points on 3-4 three-point shooting. Djahi Binet chipped in with eight rebounds and seven points, while Dylan Brumfield contributed four assists and nine points off the bench.

For Louisiana, Dorian Finister was the standout performer, putting up 20 points despite struggling from behind the arc at just 1-2. His teammate Jaxon Olvera added 12 points, seven rebounds, and one assist in a well-rounded performance.

The win marked Southern Miss's first conference victory of the season, while Louisiana dropped to 0-2 in the league standings. The Rebels' strong team defense and balanced offense proved too much for the visitors to handle, as they improved their home record to 1-0 against non-conference foes.

Overall, it was a hard-fought win that showcased Southern Miss's ability to rise to the challenge when playing at home. With several key players stepping up in different ways, the team demonstrated its depth and resilience, setting the stage for future success in conference play.

Box Score

Southern Miss (HOME)

* Field Goals: 15/48 (31.0%)

* 2-Point FG: 9/30 (30.0%)

* 3-Point FG: 6/18 (33.0%)

* Free Throws: 26/39 (67.0%)

* Rebounds: 40 (Off: 7, Def: 33)

* Assists: 5

* Turnovers: 8

* Steals: 5

* Blocks: 5

* Total Fouls: 13

* Total Points: 62

Louisiana (AWAY)

* Field Goals: 20/57 (35.0%)

* 2-Point FG: 16/40 (40.0%)

* 3-Point FG: 4/17 (24.0%)

* Free Throws: 10/13 (77.0%)

* Rebounds: 38 (Off: 5, Def: 33)

* Assists: 4

* Turnovers: 10

* Steals: 7

* Blocks: 3

* Total Fouls: 24

* Total Points: 54