The Southern Miss Golden Eagles basketball program represents intercollegiate men's basketball at the University of Southern Mississippi. The school competes in the Sun Belt Conference in Division I of the NCAA and plays their home games at Reed Green Coliseum, which has a capacity of 8,095. The Golden Eagles have appeared three times in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, most recently in 2012.
History From its first season (1912–13), when Coach R. G. Slay led the team to a 3–0 record, the men's basketball team has enjoyed its share of success. Coach A. B. Dille took over coaching duties the following year. The Golden Eagles have appeared in the NAIA National Tournament four times in a row (1952, 1953, 1954 and 1955). Southern Miss had a 2–4 record in the NAIA Tournament.NAIA Championship History
Over the years, the Golden Eagles have had three NCAA tournament teams (1990, 1991, 2012). The program has also had an NIT Championship team with its run in the 1987 postseason tournament. In all the Eagles have earned ten NIT bids: 1981, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1994, 1995, 1998, 2001, 2013, 2014 and 2023.
They also earned a CIT bid in 2010 and a CBI bid in 2019.
The team has had six players drafted including Clarence Weatherspoon. Southern Miss has won three conference championships in basketball including the 2023 outright regular-season title.
Postseason
NCAA tournament results Southern Miss Golden Eagles have appeared in three NCAA tournaments. They have an overall 0–3 record in tournament games. Darrin Chancellor holds the Southern Miss single-tournament scoring record with 24 points in 1991.
1990 #13 Round of 64 #4 LaSalle L 63–79 1991 #11 Round of 64 #6 NC State L 85–114 2012 #9 Round of 64 #8 Kansas State L 64–70
NIT results The Golden Eagles have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) 11 times. Their combined record is 11–10 and they were NIT Champions in 1987.
1981 First Round Holy Cross L 54–58 1986 First Round Florida L 71–81 1987 First RoundSecond RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinals MississippiSaint LouisVanderbiltNebraskaLa Salle W 93–75W 83–78W 95–88W 82–75W 84–80 1988 First RoundSecond Round ClemsonVCU W 74–69L 89–93 1994 First Round Clemson L 85–96 1995 First Round St. Bonaventure L 70–75 1998 First Round Auburn L 62–77 2001 First Round Mississippi State L 68–75 2013 First RoundSecond RoundQuarterfinals Charleston SouthernLouisiana TechBYU W 78–71W 63–52L 62–79 2014 First RoundSecond RoundQuarterfinals ToledoMissouriMinnesota W 66–59W 71–63L 73–81 2023 First Round UAB L 60–88
CIT The Golden Eagles have appeared in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) one time. Their record is 0–1.
2010 First Round Louisiana Tech L 57–66
CBI The Golden Eagles have appeared in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) one time. Their record is 0–1
2019 First Round Longwood L 68–90
NAIA tournament results The Golden Eagles have appeared in the NAIA Tournament four times. Their combined record is 2–4.
1952 First Round New Mexico State L 70–86 1953 First RoundSecond RoundQuarterfinals River Falls StateLoyola (MD)Hamline W 106–72W 94–83L 92–102 1954 First Round Gustavus Adolphus L 64–104 1955 First Round Steubenville L 62–79
Notable alumni Joe Dawson '82 – former professional basketball player, 1992 Israeli Basketball Premier League MVP Randolph Keys '88 – former NBA basketball player, 1st Round draft pick (retired) Wendell Ladner '70 – former ABA player (deceased) Don Maestri '68 – men's basketball head coach Troy University Kelly McCarty '98 – former professional basketball player Elvin Mims '02 – PBL, USBL, NBL player, 6x champion Clarence Weatherspoon '92 – former NBA basketball player Glen Whisby '95 – former professional basketball player (deceased)
References
Remember the ABA – Wendell Ladner
External links