2011-12 Mens Basketball Guide

Valuable Player after scoring 28 points and grabbing a career-high

15 rebounds. Horton added 13 points and was named to the All-Tournament Team.

The Black and Gold opened the conference season at home for the third time in four years, taking on conference champion Houston. The teams battled throughout the first half, with the Cougars holding a slim 38-36 lead at the break. Flowers scored the team’s first 13 points of the second half as they led by as many as 15 points on their way to an 85-73 victory. It was the first conference opening victory since 2007. Flowers led all players with 27 points and 10 rebounds. Maurice Bolden scored a season-high 23 points, and Horton added 18.

For the second straight year, Southern Miss opened its road portion of the conference schedule at Marshall. The Thundering Herd hit their first six shots and never trailed, on their way to a 95-65 victory over the Eagles. The 95 points were the second most allowed by USM in a Conference USA game, and the most since giving up 95 to Houston in 2008. Flowers led the team with 20 points, and Horton added 11. Bolden grabbed a team-high 10 boards.

The Eagles then went to Rice. The Black and Gold grabbed an early nine-point lead. But, Rice scored the last 13 points of the half to lead 34-25. The Owls extended their lead to 13 early in the second half. But, Southern Miss battled back, eventually taking the lead before Rice sent the game into overtime. The Owls scored seven of the first nine points in overtime. However, Southern Miss scored 11 of the final 12 points to earn an 81-78 overtime victory. Flowers led all players with 24 points and eight rebounds. Page scored 15 points and Horton and Newbill added 11 apiece.

Southern Miss returned home for two
games, beginning with 22nd-ranked UCF.
The game began as a back-and-forth affair
with the teams trading leads throughout the
first half. UCF took a four-point lead in the
second half before the Golden Eagles went
on a 21-2 run on their way to an 86-69
win. It was just their seventh ever victory
over a ranked opponent, and the first since
2004. It was also just the second at Reed
Green Coliseum. Horton led the team with
18 points, and Newbill added 17 points and
Photo Credit; Bobbie McDuffie
for a game against Tulane. The
teams traded leads in the first
half, with USM closing on an
18-5 run to take a 34-22 lead into
the break. After pushing its lead
to 16, Tulane went on a 16-5
run to pull to within five points.
However, Southern Miss broke the
game open with a 16-1 run before
defeating the Green Wave, 67-54.
Flowers recorded a double-double
with 15 points and 13 rebounds.
Horton and Bolden added 12 and
11 points, respectively.

nine rebounds. Flowers and Bolden contributed 16 points apiece.

The Black and Gold then hosted Memphis. Southern Miss jumped out to a fast start, taking a 29-11 lead with 7: 49 to play in the first half, eventually taking a 40-29 lead into halftime. But, Memphis slowly chipped away at the lead in the second half, eventually going on an 18-4 run to take a five point lead with 2: 51 to play. Southern Miss retook the lead and had a change to ice the game late. But, Horton made one of two free throws with five seconds left, and Charles Carmouche hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to give Memphis a 76-75 win. Flowers led all scorers with 21 points. Horton scored 18 points and Ayarza added 13.

Southern Miss headed on a two-game road trip, beginning at SMU. Despite trailing the entire first half, the Eagles only trailed by three at halftime. USM took the lead early in the second half, but SMU’s hot shooting proved to be too much, as the Mustangs handed Southern Miss its second straight loss, 79-65. SMU shot 69.8-percent for the game, the second highest shooting percentage ever for a Southern Miss opponent. Johnson led the team with 16 points and Flowers added 12.

USM followed that with a game at East Carolina. ECU led for most of the first half, but two free throws by Newbill sent Southern Miss into halftime with a two-point lead. The teams traded leads to start the second half before the Eagles pulled away, earning a hard fought 84-77 victory. The Golden Eagles placed six players in double-figures, led by Flowers with 17 points. It was the first time USM had six players in double-figures since 2007.