Cancun Governor’s Cup, Poliforum Benito Juarez, Cancun, Mexico
Southern Miss Golden Eagles vs Colorado St Rams
Friday, December 24, 2010, 9:30 pm Eastern, TV: ESPN2
Opening Line: Southern Miss -5 1/2
Current Line: Southern Miss -4
Opening Total: 145
Current Total: 144
Money Line: USM -180 / CSU +160
Christmas Eve is usually one the slowest sports days of the year, as it should be. The NBA and NHL are always off on Christmas Eve and usually there are no NFL games unless Christmas Eve happens to fall on a Saturday, Sunday or Monday. In fact recently the only sporting event has been college football’s Hawaii Bowl. However, this year ESPN scheduled a basketball tournament in Cancun to end on Christmas Eve. The field for this event is a little weak compared to other holiday tournaments, due to Cancun being so far away and the tournament ending on Christmas Eve. The 9-1 Southern Miss Eagles take on the 7-3 Colorado St Rams in the Championship game. Though both have gaudy records but they haven’t played the most demanding schedules so far this season. These teams are projected to be middle of the pack teams in tough mid-major conferences Conference USA (USM) and the Mountain West (CSU). In this tournament Southern Miss has narrow wins over East Tennessee St 64-60 and Saint Louis 74-67. They have won four straight games after an 86-81 loss at in-state rival Ole Miss 86-81. Colorado St has losses to Sam Houston St, Colorado, and Kansas. They have won three straight since losing to Kansas in Kansas City. The three game winning streak includes an 82-79 victory over Appalachian St and a 68-61 victory over Ole Miss in the semifinals of this tournament.
In Southern Miss’s victory over Saint Louis, four Golden Eagles scored in double figures in the 7 point victory. The Eagles were led by guard Angelo Johnson who had 21 points, and 5 rebounds. Guard Sai’Quon Stone contributed 15 points, 5 rebounds and 3 steals off the bench. Forward Gary Flowers had ten points and 6 rebounds. He is normally the leading scorer for the Eagles with 20.1 points a game. He also averages 6.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks a game. Southern Miss is outscoring opponents 65-60 on the season. Southern Miss shoots 46.2% from the field and 38.2% from 3 point range. USM makes 72.9% of their free throws. Southern Miss averages 37.8 rebounds a game and has a rebounding margin of +8.0. Flowers and Devonte Newbill are tied for the team lead in rebounds with 6.8 a game. Southern Miss averages 13 assists and 13 turnovers a game. Johnson leads the team in assists with 5 a game. He also averages 5 rebounds and 8.2 points a game. Southern Miss averages 6 steals and 5 blocks a game.
Colorado St held Ole Miss to 36.8% shooting from the field including 4 for 25 from 3 point range. The Rams were led in scoring by small forward Travis Franklin with 21 points. Power forward Andy Ogide had a double double with 17 points, 10 boards, and 4 steals. Ogide is the teams leading scorer (16.8 ppg) and rebounder (8.1 rpg). Franklin averages 16.5 points a game and leads the team in steals with 1.8 a game. Colorado St is outscoring their opponents 77-72. They are shooting 48.5% from the field and 37.4% from three point range. The rams make 68% of their free throws. They average 33.2 rebounds a game and have a rebounding margin of -0.5. They average 13.2 assists and 13.6 turnovers. Jesse Carr leads the team in assists with 2.5 a game. The Rams average 7.8 steals and 2.2 blocks a game.
You would think with such a dominant front court that Colorado St would be good at rebounding. However, Franklin is only 6’7″ and Ogide is 6’9″. Southern Miss is better at rebounding. Colorado St would rather play this game in the 70’s while Southern Miss would be happy playing in the 60’s or maybe even the 50’s. Colorado St just beat a Mississippi team that gave Southern Miss their only loss of the season. Southern Miss should win a close game, and get the cover.
Our college basketball handicappers are red hot this season. Don’t miss out on any more winners this year!
