Dec. 28, 2006

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HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Jeremy Wise scored 18 of his game-high 20 points in the second half as Southern Miss pulled away to a 58-41 non-conference victory over McNeese State here Thursday night at Reed Green Coliseum.

The Golden Eagles (9-2) won their 10th straight contest at home and held their opponent to under 60 points for the seventh time in their home facility this season.

Joining Wise in double figures was freshman Jarvis Hill, who tallied 10 points, as eight of the nine Golden Eagles that played registered points.

For the third straight game, the Golden Eagles started three freshmen, a sophomore and a junior -- which includes four first-year players. The team, though, continues to mature for third-year coach Larry Eustachy.

"We have to be realistic with our team because we are very young," said Eustachy, whose team features 11 newcomers that dot the 15-player squad, including eight freshmen. "It's just going to be a learning process. We're still getting better, but we are still making mistakes that young teams make."

One of those freshmen, Wise, who had just six points with 12 minutes left, helped put the game out of reach. Up 38-26, the Jackson, Miss., native opened a 12-point advantage by hitting consecutive 3-pointers, as he scored the Golden Eagles next 11 points, to spark an 11-4 run and the Cowboys could not get any closer than 16 points down the stretch.

In the opening half, the Golden Eagles overcame a 30.4 percent shooting period (7-of-23), by hitting 9-of-15 free throws and Hill tallied eight points to give them a 25-17 advantage at the break.

The Golden Eagles outrebounded their opponent for the 10th time this season, outboarding the visitors 37-27, including team-highs of five from both Craig Craft and Andre Stephens.

Troy Aaron paced the Cowboys (5-8) with eight points.

The Golden Eagles play their final home non-conference game next Tuesday, Jan. 2, when they entertain Southeastern Conference-foe Auburn for a 6 p.m. contest. It will be the first Southeastern Conference opponent to play at Green Coliseum since the 1995-96 season.