Jan. 7, 2008

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Looking to snap a three-game losing streak, Southern Miss opens its 13th Conference USA season Tuesday night when it hosts UCF. Tip-off is set for 8:00 p.m. (CT) at Reed Green Coliseum. The game will also be broadcast on CSS.

This will be just the third meeting between the two schools. Southern Miss won the first meeting in 2006, in Hattiesburg. UCF returned the favor last year, earning a 59-56 victory in Orlando.

The Golden Eagles are 7-5 all-time in conference openers, and have won their last two. They are also 9-3 in home openers.

Southern Miss is led by guard Jeremy Wise. The sophomore leads the team in scoring with 18.9 points per game. Right behind him is freshman R.L. Horton with 13.6, junior Courtney Beasley with 10.5 and sophomore Sai'Quon Stone at 8.6. Gjio Bain leads Southern Miss on the boards, pulling down 7.8 rebounds a game.

Southern Miss is coming off a 61-56 loss Savannah State. The Golden Eagles were behind 35-20 at the half before battling back, pulling within two with six minutes to play. However, they would get no closer. Jeremy Wise led the Golden Eagles with 13 points, while R.L. Horton added 12 and Andre Stephens 11.

UCF enters conference play with a 7-7 record. The Golden Knights are led by guard Jermaine Taylor. The junior currently leads the team with 19.9 points per game while grabbing 4.4 rebounds. Senior guard Dave Noel is averaging 12.9 points and 4.4 boards. Mike O'Donnell is contributing 10.3 points, while Tony Davis leads the team with 6.6 rebounds.

The Golden Knights are coming off a 60-58 overtime loss at Sam Houston State. UCF got a game-high 22 points from Taylor, and Noel chipped in 13. Davis added 13 rebounds for the Golden Knights.

Southern Miss continues conference play when this Saturday. The Golden Eagles will host Tulane on January 12, at 4:00 p.m. at Reed Green Coliseum.