Jan. 29, 2008

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Southern Miss looks to win back-to-back games for the first time in over a month when they travel to UTEP this Wednesday in an 8:05 p.m. (CT) contest at the Don Haskins Center.

This will be the tenth meeting between the two schools in a series that dates back to 1950. The Miners lead the series, 6-3. In games played in El Paso, UTEP holds a 4-1 advantage. Last year, the teams split the two games series. The Miners won the opening game, 68-50, in El Paso. Two weeks later, Southern Miss won, 87-78, in Hattiesburg. It was the first victory for the Golden Eagles in seven attempts.

Southern Miss is led by guard Jeremy Wise. The sophomore leads the team in scoring with 18.2 points per game. Right behind him is freshman R.L. Horton with 12.2, junior Courtney Beasley with 11.1 and sophomore Sai'Quon Stone at 8.3. Gjio Bain leads Southern Miss on the boards, pulling down 6.6 rebounds a game.

Southern Miss is coming off a 71-53 victory over Rice last Saturday. The win snapped a two-game losing streak. Four players scored double-digits for the Golden Eagles, led by Jeremy Wise and Sai'Quon Stone with 17 apiece. R. L. Horton added 17 points and Courtney Beasley chipped in 10. Craig Craft led the Golden Eagles on the boards, pulling down nine rebounds. Southern Miss was 20-of-45 (44.4%) from the floor, while Rice hit 46.8% (22-of-47). The Golden Eagles were also 29-of-38 (76.3%) from the line.

UTEP enters today's game with a 12-6 record, 3-2 in conference play. The Miners are led by guard Stefon Jackson. The junior currently leads the team with 23.5 points per game while grabbing 5.3 rebounds. Senior guard Marvin Kilgore is averaging 12.7 points while leading the team with 5.1 assists. Senior forward Victor Ramalho leads the team with 5.6 rebounds.

UTEP is coming off a 65-61 victory over Tulsa, snapping a two-game losing streak. Jackson led the way with 29. The Miners also got 11 points from Kilgore and ten from Claude Britten.

Southern Miss returns home for a two-game homestand. The Golden Eagles will begin the homestand this Saturday, February 2, when they host East Carolina at 4:00 p.m. It will be the opening game of a men's/women's doubleheader.