Southern Head Coach Kevin Johnson

Q: Coach, you guys had that 12-0 run to close out. What do you think your team was doing defensively to slow down Mississippi State and give yourself a chance? 

KJ: “I think it was the zone. We don’t have the size to matchup with those guys man-to-man. Them having a guy like Jimmy Bell, it’s almost like six on five sometimes. I felt like it was a way to, at least somewhat, try to neutralize the game.” 

Q: Tai'Reon Joseph, what an incredible game by him. Never mind the points, he has the game winning rebound there at the end. Just tell us about his performance, and what made him so successful today? 

KJ: “Tai'Reon Joseph is a very good player. Not only that, he’s a competitor. You know a guy where we’re his fourth stop. But I’m a Louisiana guy, I watched him all through high school. He’s always been talented, and I’m just hoping him being at home gives him a chance to have a really good finish for his career. But there’s no question about his talent.” 

Q: How proud are you of your team even getting down by 12 and still compete like they did?

KJ: “I’m so proud of them. We preach to them all the time to stick with it. We go down to Arizona – stick with it. We go down at Illinois – stick with it. Lose in overtime to Western Illinois, don’t hang your head, be ready for the next opportunity. Lose a tough game to Valparaiso. I mean think about these guys, eight road games in a row, those guys never once quit. So, that’s how proud I’m of our players.” 

Q: What did it mean to have that moment in the locker room with them? 

KJ: Yeah, that’s one of the joys. You know 30 years in the game for me. That’s a feeling in the locker room with those players, it never gets old.”

HOW IT HAPPENED

Both teams were trading baskets back-and-forth battle until the end of the first half horn sounded. Southern found themselves trailing 31-28 at the break.

The Bulldogs constructing a 57-45 advantage with their largest lead being 12 points with 6:00 to play in the game, the Jaguars went on an 15-2 run that ended with a layup by Davis to give Southern the win. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

• Southern shot 42.9 percent (21-of-49) from the field, 28.6 percent (6-of-21) from the 3-point line and 63.2 percent (12-of-19) from the free-throw line
• Tai’Reon Joseph led the way offensively with a season-high 27 points, on 11-of-21 from the floor, 3-of-10 from 3-point line, season-high six rebounds and three steals
• Brandon Davis had 12 points on 3-of-7 field goals, 1-of-4 from 3-point range, four rebounds and hit the game winning layup with :23 seconds left
• Tidjiane Dioumassi finished with six rebounds, four assist and game winning block with :03 seconds left
• Southern finished with 26 points in the paint, 20 points off 17 Bulldogs turnovers, 13 second-chance points, 11 fast break points and six bench points
• Miss State went 21-of-52 (40.4 percent) from the floor, 7-of-26 (26.9) from the 3-point line and 10-of-16 (62.5 percent) from the charity stripe
• Josh Hubbard finished with a team-high 14 point. Cameron Matthews finished with 12 points and four rebounds
• Miss State finished with 28 points in the paint, 24 bench points, 13 points off 17 SU turnovers, nine fast break points and four second-chance points

UP NEXT 
Southern will take a couple days off to rest before they return to action in the friendly confines of the F.G. Clark Activity Center Saturday Dec. 9 when they host Southeastern Louisiana University. Tip-off against the Lions is set for 5:30 p.m. central time and the game will be streamed on https://jaguarsportsnetwork.com. 

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