HATTIESBURG, Ms – Southern Miss used a strong second half to beat ULM 76-67 to move to 14-0 at home. After Thursday’s win against Louisiana, it was a little expected that Southern Miss would come out in a quick turnaround game and be flat. That is indeed how head coach Jay Ladner predicted it to be.

“I’ve got to quit predicting these things.” Ladner said.

Ladner predicted the team would come out a little flat after the emotional highs from Thursday, and that is precisely what happened. Despite shooting over 65% in the first part of the first half. The Golden Eagles went ice cold from the floor, going almost seven minutes of game time without scoring. This allowed ULM to go on a 10-0 run over that period to push their lead to eight at the end of the first half.

“I was very concerned with the quick turnaround and being able to come today. But I thought our guys we got a mature group…. I didn’t think we were playing poorly in the first half. I think they were playing they played really well and they’re a good team.” Ladner said.

Felipe Hasse was held scoreless in the first half on Thursday against Louisiana, but very quickly, he ensured that was not going to happen in this game. With five points in the opening minute, he made his presence known.

“He’s the engine out there. Everything runs from and through him. You know he’s a 6–10-point guard.” Lander said. “Not a point guard in the sense that he brins the ball up…but in the sense that the ball is in his hands as much as we can put it in there.”

ULM led Southern Miss 33-31 at the end of the first half. DeAndre Pinckney led Southern Miss in scoring, including a dunk in the final seconds of the first half that woke Southern Miss up a bit. From then, it was all Golden Eagles.

“He [Ladner] told me the pressure. And then that’s what forced them to drive and their coach, was getting on to them because he didn’t want them to drive. But definitely the pressure from our guards is what caused the turnover.” Pinckney said.

Both teams were just 30% from the three-point line in the first half, and Southern Miss had seven turnovers, to which the Warhawks had five points off those turnovers. For Southern Miss to be down two points, with Austin Crowley only having two points, was a big plus for USM.

“We got the steal and then we were only down two, so it was even better. We didn’t need to worry about the first half at all. We knew don’t play many guys and with the pressure we apply we knew they were going to get tired, and we just knew when to attack them and it worked out.” Hasse said.

Southern Miss came out in the second half and took firm control. They went on a 20-8 run over the first six minutes of the second half. ULM only saw something close to the lead after that. USM has scored 40+ in the second half in four straight games with 45 points tonight.

This win also gives Southern Miss another victory at home, extending their streak to 14-0. They have one game left for a shot to be undefeated at home for the first time since 2014.

Hasse finished with 23 points, Pinckney had 17, and Denijay Harris had 12. Southern miss outshot ULM by 48% to 37%.

Southern Miss remains No. 1 in the Sun Belt right now and has a +16-win turnaround from last season. Inching them closer to the NCAA record, which is 19. At the beginning of the season, in the coach’s poll, Southern Miss was picked to finish last in the league. They are now on the verge of securing the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament.

“All the coaches picked us 14. They picked us last. None of the guys that came this year had anything to do with that, that’s all based off the past. It’s a bad feeling when you’re going into something new and everybody just expects you to fail. So, us knowing that they picked us last, every day we get into the media room, and we are like they picked us 14, before every game.” Pinckney said.

After being picked last, we are witnessing history in this turnaround, and everything is still in front of this squad. However, the coaches and players will tell you the next challenge is on Thursday against South Alabama at 7 PM in Mobile.