Southern Miss Rolls Past Tougaloo 82-35 in Season Opener

Southern Miss opened its 2026-27 men’s basketball season Monday with an 82-35 victory over Tougaloo at Reed Green Coliseum in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The Golden Eagles used a 22-point run early and held the Bulldogs to 20.9% shooting.

Tougaloo scored first, but Anthony Igiede answered, and Southern Miss turned an early 2-0 deficit into a 22-2 lead in less than five minutes. The Golden Eagles led 45-12 at halftime after holding Tougaloo to 14.3% shooting and 0-for-10 from 3-point range in the first half.

Isaac Taveras led Southern Miss with 12 points and nine rebounds. Cameron Wallace added 11 points and eight rebounds, while Brandon Weston scored nine. Igiede and Jalyke Gaines-Wyatt had eight points apiece; Gaines-Wyatt also recorded five assists.

Thirteen Golden Eagles scored, and Southern Miss’ bench contributed 45 points. The team outrebounded Tougaloo 57-43, including 17 offensive rebounds, and scored 26 points off 22 turnovers. Southern Miss also had 15 steals and five blocks. Tougaloo made 14 of 67 shots overall and two of 22 from beyond the arc.

The win extended Southern Miss’ home-opening streak to 11 seasons. Coach Jay Ladner is 8-0 in home openers with the Golden Eagles, who are 70-12 all time in those games. Southern Miss improved to 4-0 against Tougaloo, and the 47-point win was the largest margin in the series.

Southern Miss’ next scheduled game is Friday, Nov. 6, at Iowa State in Ames, Iowa. Tipoff is listed for 7 p.m. Central time.

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