Southern Miss springs a college basketball upset, knocking off No. 19 James Madison
Victor Hart scored 16 points and Andre Curbelo dished out nine assists to spur Southern Miss’ home upset win over previously undefeated and 19th-ranked James Madison, 81-71, on Saturday at Reed Green Coliseum in a contest USM led for over 38 minutes.
Golden Eagles guard, and leading scorer, Austin Crowley had 11 points in the first seven minutes before leaving the game with two fouls and not returning until the second half, and finishing with 15.
The Golden Eagles got a lift from Hart, who also had seven rebounds, three steals and two blocks and was one of four double-digit scorers in black and gold.
“I thought our preparation was good, our approach to the game was good,” USM coach Jay Ladner said after the game. “They battled and played the way you’re supposed to play and played with great effort, intensity and teamwork. They did the things they have to do to beat a great team like James Madison.”
Curbelo followed up Thursday’s performance against Georgia State — in which he recorded the program’s first triple-double — with 15 points, and the two-time transfer’s 14th career game with double-digit points and at least six assists.
Crowley scored USM’s first six points and gave the Eagles a lead with just inside 16 minutes to go in the first half that would never be relinquished.
“If you didn’t get your $10 worth, or however little bit of money we charge to get in, from that game then I don’t know what else to tell you,” Ladner said. “That was a heck of a game against a heck of an opponent.”
James Madison was led by Terrence Edwards Jr.’s 15 points and T.J. Bickerstaff’s 14.
The Dukes entered as the Sun Belt’s top scoring offense and second in three-point shooting and were held 20 points under their scoring average and to just 2-17 shooting from 3.
An 11-0 run by JMU in the second half eventually led to a four-point contest with around six minutes left to play. Southern Miss responded with a 9-0 run anchored by a deep ball from Hart to close out the upset.
“I thought we competed hard,” JMU coach Mark Byington said. “Look, this thing’s not easy. We missed some shots, we missed some plays. Our defense wasn’t sharp in the first half... We came in and played a team that’s talented. They had a great environment in here. It was very chaotic. It’s kind of a Helter Skelter environment in here. I don’t think that got to us, but I think it energized them.”
James Madison was the first nationally ranked team to visit USM since UCF arrived in Hattiesburg in January, 2011 as the AP No. 22-ranked team. The Golden Eagles won that contest, 86-69.
The big picture
James Madison: The Dukes had won seven consecutive true road games dating to last season. It was their first double-digit loss since falling 83-70 to the Golden Eagles in the same building a year ago.
Southern Miss: The Eagles had 17 fast-break points, compared to eight for James Madison.
Up next
James Madison: Hosts South Alabama on Thursday night.
Southern Miss: Visits ULM on Thursday night.
JAMES MADISON (14-0): Bickerstaff 6-11 2-3 14, Wooden 3-7 1-2 7, Freidel 4-12 4-6 13, Green 1-9 0-0 2, Edwards 5-18 5-7 15, Horton 3-4 0-0 6, Brown 0-4 0-0 0, Carey 5-5 1-1 12, Randleman 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 28-71 13-19 71.
SOUTHERN MISS. (7-7): Hart 5-11 5-6 16, Iwuakor 4-4 1-4 9, Crowley 3-8 9-9 15, Curbelo 5-15 5-8 15, Ivory 2-5 0-0 4, Arnold 3-6 2-2 9, Montgomery 4-4 2-2 12, Hall 0-0 1-2 1, Izay 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-53 25-33 81.
Halftime_Southern Miss. 44-35. 3-Point Goals_James Madison 2-17 (Carey 1-1, Freidel 1-5, Wooden 0-1, Edwards 0-2, Brown 0-3, Green 0-5), Southern Miss. 4-15 (Montgomery 2-2, Arnold 1-3, Hart 1-3, Ivory 0-1, Crowley 0-3, Curbelo 0-3). Rebounds_James Madison 38 (Bickerstaff 16), Southern Miss. 32 (Crowley 8). Assists_James Madison 10 (Edwards, Brown 3), Southern Miss. 13 (Curbelo 9). Total Fouls_James Madison 22, Southern Miss. 19.
