Hoops Travels to Sam Houston State for Progressive Legends Classic Sub-Regional

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Southern Miss men's basketball team travels to Huntsville, Texas for the Sub-Regional of the Progressive Legends Classic. The Golden Eagles will face host Sam Houston State on Monday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m., followed by UC-Irvine on Tuesday and Liberty on Wednesday. The final two games are both at 5 p.m.

Southern Miss and Sam Houston State will meet for just the third time. The Golden Eagles are looking for their second straight victory in the series, as the series is tied 1-1. Sam Houston State won the only other meeting in Huntsville, 60-57, in 2005.

Southern Miss comes into the Progressive Legends Classic Sub-Regional with a 2-0 record after defeating Georgia, 62-60, in overtime in its first game of the tournament.

Dwayne Davis recorded his first career double-double, scoring 14 points and pulling down a game-high 12 rebounds. Jerrold Brooks scored a game-high 17 points on 5-of-10 three-point shooting.

Brooks is leading the team with 15.0 points. Davis is scoring 12.5 points while pulling down a team-high 7.5 rebounds. Michael Craig is averaging 10.5 points and 6.0 rebound and Jonathan Mills is grabbing 6.5 boards a game.

Southern Miss is shooting 43.1-percent from the floor and while allowing its opponents to just 35.3-percent shooting. The Golden Eagles are connecting on just 28.1 from three-point range, but allowing just 26.8% from the same distance. Southern Miss is also outrebounding its opponents, 41.0-to-36.5.

Head coach Donnie Tyndall is in his first season at the helm of the Southern Miss men's basketball program. Tyndall is 2-0 (1.000) as head coach of the Golden Eagles. He has compiled a 116-85 (.577) record in seven years as a head coach.

Sam Houston State enters the Progressive Legends Classic Sub-Regional with a 1-2 record. The Bearkats fell to No. 1 Indiana, 99-45, Thursday night in its opening game of the tournament.

SHSU was led by freshman guard Paul Baxter with nine points while sophomore guard Marquel McKinney had eight points and a team-high four rebounds.

Senior guard Darius Gatson is the only Bearkat in double-figures, as he leads the team with 10.3 points and 4.5 assists. McKinney and junior forward James Thomas are second on the team with 9.3 points, while Thomas leads the team with 6.3 rebounds.

As a team, Sam Houston State is connecting on 40.7% from the field while holding the opposition to 41.5%. From three-point distance, the Bearkats are connecting on 34.2%, while keeping its opponents to just30.0. SHSU is also outrebounding its opponents, 35.7-to-34.3.

Head coach Jason Hooten is in his third season at the helm of the Sam Houston State men's basketball program, where he has compiled a 32-34 (.485) overall record.

UC-Irvine enters the Progressive Legends Classic Sub-Regional with a 2-1 record. The Anteaters are coming off a 116-47 victory over Pacifica on Thursday night.

UCI placed six players in double figures, led by freshman center Conor Clifford with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Junior guard Chris McNealy and freshman guard Alex Young both had 15 points and seven rebounds.

UC-Irvine has four players averaging double-figures, led by senior guard Daman Starring with 17.0 points. He also is leading the team with 8.5 rebounds. Senior guard Michael Wilder is averaging 15.7 points and 6.3 rebounds. Young is adding 11.3 points and sophomore forward Will Davis II is scoring 10.0 points to go along with 6.0 rebounds.

UCI is shooting 46.9-percent from the floor and while allowing its opponents to just 31.4-percent shooting. The Anteaters are also connecting on 43.1% from three-point range, but allowing just 20.4% from the same distance. UC-Irvine is also outrebounding its opponents, by 24.3 rebounds, 57.3-to-33.0.

Head coach Russell Turner is in his third season at the helm of the UC-Irvine men's basketball program, where he has compiled a 27-40 (.358) overall record.

Liberty enters the Progressive Legends Classic Sub-Regional with a 0-3 record. The Flames are coming off a 68-59 loss to Georgetown in their opening game of the tournament.

LU was led by junior guard Casey Roberts with 13 points. Junior guard Davon Marshall and senior guard Tavares Speaks added 12 points apiece and junior forward J.R. Coronado had a game-high 13 rebounds.

Marshall is the only player in double-figures for Liberty, averaging 12.0 points. Speaks is scoring 9.7 points and Roberts is adding 9.0. Coronado is pulling down a team-high 7.7 rebounds.

As a team, Liberty is connecting on just 36.3% from the field while the opposition is connecting on 49.0%. From three-point distance, the Bulldogs are connecting on 35.7%, while keeping its opponents to just 27.6%. However, the Flames are being outrebounded 36.7-to-30.3.

Head coach Dale Layer is in his fourth season at the helm of the Liberty men's basketball program, where he has compiled a 48-50 (.490) record. In his 20th year overall, Layer has compiled a 318-243 (.567) record.