Tigers Upset Southern Miss.

January 4, 2008
SAVANNAH, Ga- Savannah State started the 2008 portion of their home slate by breaking a two-game losing streak with a 61-56 victory over Southern Mississippi in Tiger Arena before a crowd of 347.

The Tigers entered the contest losers of six of their last seven games saw all 10 players that entered the game score at least two points.

Chris Linton led SSU (8-12) with 12 points and seven rebounds while Lazarius Coleman added 11 points and nine boards. Starting guards Joseph Flegler, Patrick Hardy and Anthony Jones each chipped in nine points.

Savannah State, which led the entire way, scored the first seven points of the game. USM, who got on the scoreboard when Jeremy Wise hit two free throws at the 16:26 mark, did not get their first field goal until Andre Stephens dunked the ball with 10:43 remaining to make the score 16-4.

By the time half the period was over, the Tigers controlled the contest 23-4.

The Golden Eagles cut their deficit to 13 with 3:36 left but went into the half down 35-20.

The Tigers shot 57.7 percent from the floor in the opening 20 minutes while Southern Miss was only 8-for-23 and missed all three 3-point attempts.

In the second half, USM came out more focused as they started the half with a 15-4 run that cut Savannah State's lead to 39-35 after five minutes of play.

The Tigers were able to increase their lead to 50-41 but seven unanswered points by Southern Miss made the score 50-48 with 6:23 on the clock.

A layup by Coleman stopped the bleeding. Two free throws each from Jones and Linton gave SSU breathing room at the 1:21 mark and a 58-51 advantage.

Free throws by Wise pulled Southern Miss to within four but a free throw by Hardy with 15 seconds left sealed the win for SSU.

Wise led USM (8-6) with 13 points.

The Golden Eagles shot 44.4 percent from the field in the second period while SSU dipped to 6-of-15 shooting. The Tigers did hit 13-of-14 free throw attempts.