In Pensacola, Florida, Southern Miss emerged victorious in the opening round of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament, narrowly defeating Coastal Carolina 66-63. Alfred Worrell Jr. spearheaded the Golden Eagles’ performance, notching 22 points to lead his team to success. The decisive moment came when Deantoni Gordon sank a crucial jump shot with just 55 seconds remaining on the clock.
Worrell hit 5 out of 10 shots overall, including an impressive 4 for 9 from beyond the arc, and was nearly flawless at the free-throw line, making 8 of 9 attempts. His teammate, Gordon, contributed significantly to the score with 12 points, achieving a 50% success rate from the field with 6 of 12 shots made. Gordon also demonstrated his prowess on the boards by pulling down eight rebounds. Denijay Harris supported the team’s victory by adding another 12 points, shooting 5 of 13 from the field and making 2 of 4 free throw attempts. This win was a pivotal moment for the Golden Eagles as it halted their previous seven-game losing streak.
On the other side, the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers put up a formidable fight. Colin Granger stood out for his team by scoring 19 points and grabbing six rebounds. Jordan Battle offered additional support with 13 points and four assists for Coastal Carolina, which ultimately fell short despite their efforts.
