March 11, 2008

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Southern Miss freshman R.L. Horton was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman Team in a vote by the league's 12 coaches and various media, announced today by the league office in Irving, Texas.

It is the third straight season the Golden Eagles placed a member on the team. Courtney Beasley earned the honor in 2006-07, while Jeremy Wise and Sai'Quon Stone were named to the squad last year.

Horton placed second on the team, and 18th in the league, with 11.8 points, as well as 15th in free throw percentage (.741). He is currently third on the Southern Miss freshman scoring list with 353 points.

The Jackson, Miss. native has started in the last 28 games after coming off the bench in the first two, and has scored in double-figures in 16 of 30 games. He has also scored 20-plus points in five games, including a season-high 25 against Spring Hill on December 8.

Horton is joined on the all-freshman team by Tirrell Baines of Marshall, UTEP's Randy Culpepper, Papa Dia of SMU and Memphis' Derrick Rose, who was also named the Freshman of the Year.

Culpepper was also named the Sixth Man of the Year, while Memphis' Joey Dorsey was named the Defensive Player of the Year and UAB's Robert Vaden was named the Newcomer of the Year.

Joining Dorsey on the All-Defensive Team was teammate Antonio Anderson, Marshall's Mark Dorris, Tulsa's Jerome Jordan and UCF's Dave Noel.

Southern Miss, which earned the fifth seed, opens play at the Conference USA Tournament Wednesday night at 8:30 p.m. The Golden Eagles will face 12th-seeded Rice. The game can be heard on the Southern Miss/ISP network.