HATTIESBURG, Miss. — In their season opener on Monday night, Southern Miss emerged victorious against Bowling Green with a final score of 77-68.

Christian Watson was a standout player, contributing 17 points with an impressive shooting performance, making 8 of 13 attempts from the field, although he struggled a bit from beyond the arc, hitting only 1 of 5 three-point shots.

Andre Curbelo also played a pivotal role for the Golden Eagles, scoring 16 points. He shot 5 of 11 from the field and was particularly effective at the free-throw line, hitting 6 of his 8 attempts. In addition to his scoring, Curbelo recorded five rebounds, eight assists, and three steals.

Neftali Alvarez contributed as well with 14 points, shooting 5 of 10 from the field and adding 2 of 4 from three-point range.

On the opposing side, the Falcons saw Derrick Butler and Trey Thomas each notch 17 points to lead their team, while Marcus Johnson added another 14 points to the mix.

Southern Miss took control of the game with 16 minutes remaining in the first half and maintained that lead throughout. By halftime, the score stood at 43-33, with Watson having tallied nine points by that time.

Though Bowling Green managed to outscore Southern Miss by one point in the second half, Denijay Harris led the Falcons with eight points following halftime. The game ended with the Golden Eagles holding onto their lead and securing the win.