2014 3 3

THE

S TUDENT PRINTZ SERVING SOUTHERN MISS SINCE 1927

Monday, March 3, 2014

Volume 98 Issue 40

ON CAMPUS

SGA violates own constitution Early problems plague officers-elect

Crystal Garner Printz Reporter

During interviews addressing the election process, finances and leadership, The University of Southern Mississippi’s Student Government Association (SGA) executive officers-elect left puzzles unsolved.

One of the missions of SGA is to promote students’ rights and responsibilities, according to the SGA constitution. Recent events bring into question whether or not students’ right to equal opportunities within SGA are being violated.

A few days after the SGA elections Feb. 22 - 24, Jeffrey George, president-elect; Kyle Stoner, vice president-elect; Wilton Jackson, attorney general; Katherine Brewer, Freshmen Associates director; Yolonda Cruz, senator; Ann Marie Chillcut, outgoing president and Gavin Snyder, Southern Miss Activities Council president attended

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Meredith Barefield

the Conference on Student Government Association (COSGA) which took place at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas.

George said only certain members of SGA were asked to attend. “The group that was selected to go, we were asked to attend about two months ago, before all of the elections,” he said. “We were asked by our advisor, Wynde Fitts.”

There was no application process open to all SGA members.

“I was not involved in the selection process, so I can’t really comment,” George said when asked more about being selected.

“We stayed at the hotel that was provided by Texas A&M University,” George said. “(Southern Miss) did cover the costs; it was something that was from the Student Government Association.”

George and the other USM attendees stayed at the College Station Hilton.

Rooms were $129 per night and registration for each student ranged from $275 to

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Kyle Stoner

NEWS Got milk?

Campaign slogan retired after 20 years.

We can’t just stop what we’re doing now and try to change it completely. We have to just keep going with it and change it as we go.

Kyle Stoner

Courtesy Photo

$325. In addition, students traveled via plane.

When asked about whether such a pricey experience should involve a more open selection process allowing an equal opportunity among SGA members, SGA treasurer Benjamin Brewer offered no comment.

Brewer, a junior accounting major, said he had no role

Jeffrey George

FEATURE ‘Burg Filmmakers Facebook page helps film industry in Hattiesburg.

5

within SGA before becoming the treasurer-elect.

“I don’t have previous history working directly with SGA, but I’ve worked with Senate members,” Brewer said.

According to the Constitution of the Student Government Association, Brewer was ineligible to run for candidacy due to his lack

Wilton Jackson

A&E ‘The Wind Rises’ Oscar-nominated movie fails to wow audience.

of experience within SGA. Section Two of the SGA Election Code states “all candidates for executive officers must have at least one semester of experience in a branch or auxiliary of Southern Miss Student Government prior to

See SGA, 3

8

Benjamin Brewer

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SPORTS Basketball Eagles tied for first place in C-USA.

THE S TUDENT PRINTZ

Page 2 | Monday, March 3, 2014

Editorial Staff Executive Editor Kathryn Miller kathryn.miller@eagles.usm.edu 850.565.0812

EVENTS Monday, March 3

Thursday, March 6

Men of Excellence Finding a Cure for Lupus 11:00 AM Union Lobby

Men’s Basketball Tulane 7:00 PM New Orleans, La.

Tuesday, March 4

Managing Editor Alan Rawls gregory.rawls@eagles.usm.edu

Men’s Tennis UAB 1:00 PM Birmingham, Ala.

Chief Copy Editor Chris Greene chris.greene@eagles.usm.edu

Gay Straight Alliance Meeting 5:00 PM TCC 210

Copy Editor Courtney McNichols courtney.mcnichols@eagles.usm.edu

Wednesday, March 5

News Editor Nikki Smith ashly.smith@eagles.usm.edu Sports Editor Joshua Campbell joshua.m.campbell@eagles.usm.edu Design Editor Joshua Byrd joshua.j.byrd@eagles.usm.edu Art Director Susan Broadbridge susan.broadbridge@eagles.usm.edu Webmaster Chris Greene chris.greene@eagles.usm.edu Graphic Designers Cody Bass cody.bass@eagles.usm.edu Parker Brewer parker.brewer@eagles.usm.edu News Content Adviser Chuck Cook 601.266.4288 chuck.cook@usm.edu Ad Graphic Designer Katherine Frye katherine.frye@eagles.usm.edu Advertising Manager Lesley Sanders-Wood 601.266.5188 lesley.sanders@usm.edu Advertising e-mail printzad@usm.edu Find us online at: www.studentprintz.com The Student Printz is published every Monday and Thursday during the fall and spring semesters. Signature Offset of Hattiesburg provides printing services.

The Southerner Yearbook Sales 11:00 AM TCC Atrium

Friday, March 7 Men’s Tennis Southern Illinois 2:00 PM Hattiesburg, Miss.

Women’s Tennis SIUE 2:00 PM Hattiesburg, Miss.

Saturday, March 8 Spring Break

Women’s Basketball North Texas 7:00 PM Denton, Texas

Sunday, March 9

Editorial Policy

Urban term of the week:

The views represented in The Student Printz’s columns and editorials do not necessarily represent those of the faculty, staff or administration of The University of Southern Mississippi. We welcome letters to the editor representing similar and contrasting opinions. To be eligilible for publication, all submissions must include name, class distinction, major, phone number and email address.

Submissions should be emailed to printzeditors@gmail.com by 5 p.m. Friday. Please limit them to 500 words or less.

The Student Printz reserves the right to refuse publication or edit any material on the basis of clarity, space or journalistic ethics.

Opinions Opinions expressed in The Student Printz are those of the writer and not necessarily those of The Student Printz, its publications manager, USM, the Board of Trustees of

Spring Break

Spring Break-Lagged (adj.): Similar to the effects of jet-lag, after 7-10 days of drinking until 4 a.m. and sleeping until 3 p.m., the intoxicated college student suffers from spring break-lag for 2-5 days.

Symptoms include: Missing 8 a.m.’s by 3 hours, eating at 3 a.m., having an urge to consume alcohol during the day, feeling as though 1 a.m. is 9 p.m., and experiencing vague memories from the previous week. These memories range from the best moment to those you wish happened after a few more drinks.

Example:

State Institutions of Higher Learning or the USM Board of Guy 1: Tryna drink and watch March Madness?

Student Publications.

SHOUTOUTS ARE BACK!

Guy 2: Yea, screw it I have class tonight but I’m so Spring Break-Lagged I’d take a beer over a water right now.

Visit The Student Printz Facebook page and submit source: Urbandictionary.com your shoutout to the new anonymous form!

Quote of the week: I believe that if life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade... And try to find somebody whose life has given them vodka and have a party.

-Ron White source: www.brainyquote.com

NEWS

SGA

continued from page 1

application for candidacy.”

Despite not meeting the requirements of the SGA Election code, Brewer successfully secured the treasurer position unopposed.

Brewer said his decision to apply last minute was complicated.

“Wynde (Fitts) had contacted a friend of mine, president of my fraternity, saying that the position was open and she’d like someone with experience to step in,” he said.

According to Vice President Stoner, no one had applied.

“For the treasury position, they had to call (Brewer) 20 minutes before applications were due because nobody had applied for treasurer,” Stoner said.

But in the event no one applies for the position, an entirely different approach is mandated by the SGA constitution.

“In the event that no candidacy application is received for a specific SGA office, position or title, the application deadline will be extended for a period of five days under the same guidelines set forth in this Election Code,” the SGA constitution states.

According to the

Monday, March 3, 2014 | Page 3 constitution, the presidentelect will appoint an officer if no applications are submitted by the extension date.

In regards to the voting process, Stoner said it is flawed, but it has worked in the past.

“We can’t just stop what we’re doing now and try to change it completely,” he said. “We have to just keep going with it and change it as we go.”

“Do you have any ideas of how it can be done better?” he asked.

Some are concerned that George and Stoner may have difficulty representing the entirety of the student body.

As white, male members of the Greek community, the pair only represent a minority of students at Southern Miss. About 80 percent of the student population is not affiliated with Greek life and 62 percent of the population is female, according to Forbes.

According to Stoner, 1,500 of the estimated 15,000 students enrolled at USM actually voted.

NATIONAL

‘Got Milk?’ retires Mary Beth Wolverton Printz Reporter

The 20-year-old campaign slogan “Got Milk?” and its accompanying milk-mustache posters have now officially been retired. The Milk Processor Education Program (MilkPEP) announced that it plans to implement a new tagline for its advertising campaign, signaling the end of an era.

The “Got Milk?” advertising campaign was first created for MilkPep in 1993, and emerged as printed ads in 1994. Over the campaign’s 20 years of existence, around 300 celebrities have been featured on “Got Milk?” posters, according to The New York Daily.

The first celebrity to be photographed with the mustache was Naomi Campbell, considered by many to be one of the five original supermodels. Over the years, the famous faces in the beloved ads have also included Rupert Grint, Beyoncé Knowles, Reggie Bush and Mike Myers as Austin Powers.

This campaign was successfully used across the globe. Children and adults were able to view these advertisements of celebrities sporting milk mustaches in school cafeterias, as magazine ads and even online. It appealed to people

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across various demographics, reaching out to music-lovers, fashionistas, sports fans and television viewers. The celebrities chosen represented different ages, ethnicities and political backgrounds.

Students have expressed varied opinions over the change in advertising. “I am outraged.

Those commercials and those posters were the sole reason I have strong bones,” said Ryan Cone, a freshman biology major.

Cone then grew more serious, noting the importance of the various vitamins and nutrients found in milk. “Adults know that kids need milk,” Cone said.

“Kids don’t always know this, and celebrities help kids realize the importance of milk.”

MilkPEP began a new advertising campaign on Monday, Feb. 24. The new campaign slogan, “Milk Life,” is aimed at showcasing the nutritional benefits of milk, as previous campaigns have done.

The images used in the campaign feature action shots of people and a spray of milk splashed across the page. One shot depicts a young girl jumping into a pool with wings of milk splayed out behind her. Another shows a break dancer with milk emanating from his turning legs.

Lakelyn Taylor, a freshman communications and Spanish double major, voiced her concern over the new ads.

“To me, the original was much more realistic because it showed real life people with a milk mustache showing that you can be successful just by drinking milk,” Taylor said. “I feel like the animation (in the new ads) makes it less realistic.”

For many students currently enrolled at The University of Southern Mississippi, these advertisements are old enough to be their classmates. The familiar mustached faces will be missed as the milk industry attempts to moo-ve in a new direction.

LOCAL

Annual Black History Month Parade

Hunt Mercier/Printz

Four men carry a replica of Martin Luther King Junior’s coffin in memory of the sacrifices that he made for equality among African-Americans. His famous “I Have a Dream” speech played throughout the Saving Our Teens’ 16th Annual Black History Month Parade on March 1 in Downtown Hattiesburg.

FEATURE

Page 4 | Monday, March 3, 2014

LOCAL

Hub City filmmaker creates Facebook page Kirstie Lowery Printz Reporter

Throughout the history of filmmaking, men and women have searched for new and different ways to not only market their work and talent, but also to network with each other. In an attempt to find others with similar career interests, local filmmaker Julian Benson turned to the popular social networking website, Facebook.

“This nation was built by a handful of guys that knew how to network,” Benson said.

“Networking is this beautiful pollination of ideas.”

In December 2013, Benson created the Facebook page Filmmakers of Hattiesburg.

He came up with the idea to create the account after posting a status on his personal Facebook page regarding the fact that he felt Hattiesburg needed more actors and actresses.

Benson received many

comments informing him that he was wrong, which resulted in his idea to create a Facebook page designed specifically for local filmmakers who are looking to meet others in the business. After the creation of Filmmakers of Hattiesburg, Benson quickly realized there are numerous individuals looking to break into the film industry.

Benson was surprised at the great amount of local talent that he discovered after the page was created. “This city could be a huge Cine Mecca if we could just get angry enough to change things, and I feel like we’re about to,” Benson said.

Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Radio and Television Actresses member Tamarah Murley was invited to become a part of the page by actress Vickie Hall, with whom she worked on the film “The Historian.”

Murley said networking over the Internet is an easier and more convenient way to

contact a large number of filmmakers from other areas.

“I think it’s good to grow the local film community, to build a stronger presence here in south Mississippi and to support each other whenever possible,” Murley said.

Hattiesburg resident Jessy Hughes said this Facebook page has not only united local film artists, but has also given them information about upcoming projects as well.

“I like that it keeps everyone informed of what’s going on around here,” Hughes said.

“There’s a lot of talent in and around Hattiesburg and it’s good to have something to point us in the right direction.”

Benson hopes his creation will help others advance in their careers by meeting people who are willing to help them. “It comes back to networking and finding out if anyone wants to help you out.

You can’t do this stuff alone,” Benson said.

Hunt Mercier/Printz

Julian Benson, the creator of the Filmmakers of Hattiesburg Facebook page.

ON CAMPUS

100 Collegiate Black Women to diversify campus Crystal Garner Printz Reporter

When determined AfricanAmerican women unite, the possibilities could be endless.

Keosha Holloway and Olivia Carter, both students at The University of Southern Mississippi, decided to harness the possibilities when they co-founded 100 Collegiate Black Women, an organization dedicated to developing female leaders with drive and ambition.

According to its Southern Miss founders, 100 Collegiate Black Women stems from 100 Black Men, Inc., and follows some of the same traditions and principles, but is not affiliated.

Other 100 Collegiate Black Women organizations are located at Texas Southern University, Southern University and A&M College. However, Holloway and Carter founded the only one of its kind in Mississippi.

The group is not affiliated with a national organization.

Holloway, president of the organization, said she hopes to shine light on issues and obstacles while

smashing the stereotypes of African-American women at predominantly white colleges.

“Changing the face of diversity on campus will take a movement of leaders who are diverse in every respect,” Holloway said. “The 100 Collegiate Black Women will be an organization (among) those leaders.”

Holloway said the group is filled with progressive leaders.

“Each member embraces the value of nurturing young women as they look toward brighter futures,” she said. “I want black female leaders to assist in the development of the social, emotional, educational and physical needs of young black females.”

Carter, the organization’s vice president, spoke on how the organization began.

“I wanted to start this organization at Southern Miss because I saw a need for an organization that focuses on the improvement, involvement and uplifting of young black women, not only on campus, but also in our community,” Carter said. “I wanted to create an

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atmosphere for young women to be comfortable and grow.”

Despite the organization’s name, Carter said they will not cap membership at 100 members and men are welcome to join.

“We want to expand and work with people from all different walks of life,” she said. “We want to involve families, men, women, children, students and faculty.”

Julia Brady, a senior kinesiotherapy major, said as a resident assistant and leader on campus, she understands the importance of supporting

young women of color.

“It’s good to keep young women engaged in the community,” Brady said. “I’ve watched black women tend to lean toward negative activities when they’re not involved in enough positivity.”

Brady, who is also a College of Health ambassador, stumbled upon the organization during the student involvement fair and said she supports their mission of diversity.

“It would be good for multiple faces to be utilized on campus,” she said. “You don’t want the

same gender and same race speaking for everything.”

The organization’s founders hope to create a neverending cycle of success among minorities.

“There are young AfricanAmerican girls who have no one positive to look up to and are in need of guidance,” Holloway said.

“I believe our organization will create a community of acceptance and celebration for our unique perspectives as African-American women who are not only black women but educated black women at The University of Southern Mississippi.”

The organization’s motto is “wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of a virtuous woman.”

For more information about the 100 Collegiate Black Women, visit the organization’s Facebook page.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Thursday, February 20, 2014 | Page 5

REVIEW

Miyazaki’s last film not breathtaking Bradley Presson Printz Reporter

Hayao Miyazaki has often been called the Japanese Walt Disney, and the comparison is quite fitting. His animation studio, Studio Ghibli, is one of the most successful animation studios in the world, and he is the writer and director of some of the most celebrated anime films of all time. This includes the only foreign film to ever win an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, “Spirited Away.”

Miyazaki recently announced that he was retiring from the film industry and that his last film would be “The Wind Rises.” Expectations for the film were high to say the least. Upon its initial limited release, the film appeared to meet those expectations as it was heralded with high praise and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.

“The Wind Rises” opened nationwide Feb. 28, and as I had yet to see a Miyazaki film, I

knew I had to see his swan song in theaters.

The film tells the fictionalized biography of Japanese plane designer Jiro Horikoshi, who designed many fighter planes for Japan that were used in World War II. The film follows Horikoshi from his days as a boy obsessed with all things aviation to the flight of his first successful aircraft.

Along the way, Horikoshi is guided through the design process by his hero, Italian plane engineer Caproni, who appears to Horikoshi in his dreams.

Throughout the movie, Horikoshi struggles to achieve balance as a man torn between work and love, forced to choose between working on his designs and spending time with his ailing wife. He also struggles to reconcile his dream of building planes and his knowledge of what they will be used for.

Unfortunately, just as Horikoshi struggles to find balance, so does his story.

Throughout “The Wind Rises” the viewer is catapulted through

time and space at the drop of a dime with little explanation as the story tries to encapsulate as much as possible of Horikoshi’s life.

Despite the two hour runtime, I felt there could have easily been another hour of material just to make the film feel coherent.

The large themes that Horikoshi struggles to come to terms with are presented with absolutely no subtlety whatsoever. Instead of showing how the characters are struggling with the fact that their hard work is being used for war, the characters just state that they dislike that their planes are being used to kill other people.

This internal conflict never seems to actually present the characters with any real problems. Instead it is just relegated to a few lines of throwaway dialogue.

The heavy-handedness does not end with the thematic elements. The romantic subplot is incredibly forced and unnatural.

Horikoshi meets his wife Naoko early in the film, and afterwards he has absolutely no contact with her.

Yet after just a short reunion the characters are madly in love.

This is compounded by the fact that Horikoshi spends almost no time with her, leading me to believe that the entire purpose of the romance was a failed attempt at making the very twodimensional Horikoshi have a little more life in him.

“The Wind Rises” was translated from Japanese and its English cast is star-studded.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt, John Krasinski, William H. Macy and Elijah Wood are just a few of the Hollywood heavyweights who lent their voices to “The Wind Rises.”

Unfortunately, all of their star power does not make them expert voice actors, as delivery is often flat and awkward. This is not helped by the fact that some of the translated dialogue is overly cheesy and awkward, especially during Horikoshi and Naoko’s brief romance.

However, despite its flaws, the film does have moments where it succeeds wonderfully. The film is a visual stunner, as one would expect from a Miyazaki film.

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The animation is gorgeous and smooth, and the locations look as if they were ripped from the work of a master painter.

The definite highlights of the film are Horikoshi’s dreams, where he and Caproni are free from the convoluted mess of the film’s reality to share their passion for flying.

Miyazaki’s film seems so focused on the large details that it loses sight of the important things like making a story flow naturally. It was an ambitious project to go out on, but for me, “The Wind Rises” spent too much time in the clouds of idealism, and as a result, the hurried story suffered.

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OPINION

Page 6 | Monday, March 3, 2014

LIFE

Students prep for spring break 2014 Destiny Reynolds Printz Reporter

Spring break is a time of food, friends and fun times.

While the break is warmly welcomed by students as a way to recharge for the second half of the semester, planning trips to make spring break memorable can be difficult, time-consuming and costly.

With the right planning, however, even the simplest of trips can turn into a lifetime of wonderful memories.

The most difficult part of planning any trip is deciding where to go and what to do. Many students already have plans, such as Adrian

Williams, who said she will be going to New Orleans for the first time.

Others have simpler plans for the break. “This year, I’m just going to spend my time on the coast soaking up the sun and exploring back rivers in my kayak,” Grace Fuller said. “I also am going to plant my annual sunflower garden.

Basically, I’m just going to enjoy the coast and no class.”

For those that do not have plans there are plenty of options available. Those that enjoy the traditional spring break scene might enjoy traveling to Destin, Fla. Those wanting to stay local may want to try canoeing at Okatoma Creek just north of

Hattiesburg or visiting Paul B. Johnson State Park just south of Hattiesburg.

For those that want to give back to society, Fox Business suggests taking a volunteer trip or volunteering at places in need of assistance within the city. No matter the route one chooses it is always important to consider cost factors.

As college students with loans, rent and various other bills to pay, cost is an important factor in any trip.

Between transportation, housing, food, drinks and extraneous activities, the cost of spring break can quickly add up.

There are several ways to cut down the cost without

cutting out the fun. First of all, always remember to keep your student ID nearby, as many places give student discounts. For trips out of state, carpooling is an effective money-saving technique, as it keeps the cost of transportation to a minimum.

Asking everyone in the group to pay for a portion of the gas is another way to keep the cost low and the expenses fair. Fox Business also suggests thinking locally, rather than planning extravagant trips out of the country, as well as buying a few nights of groceries to offset the cost of eating out.

According to dailyfinance.

com, other ways to save money include staying in hostels rather than hotels, using student travel sites such as STA Travel or Student Universe and renting a bike instead of taking taxis or using a personal vehicle.

Spring break is a welcome break from the stress of college life for many students, but if not handled properly it can cause undue emotional and financial stress. However, if spring breakers follow these simple guidelines and always remember that having a safe, fun time is the ultimate goal despite how it is accomplished, one can be assured that one will have a successful break.

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SPORTS

Monday, March 3, 2014 | Page 7

BASEBALL

Dramatic rubber match gives USM series win Joshua Campbell Sports Editor

After a hard fought win against Alabama on Wednesday night, Southern Miss was able to keep their momentum going as they took two of three from a talented Troy team over the weekend.

In Friday’s game, it was all about the dominating pitching performance from starter Conor Fisk for USM in the 3-1 victory. Fisk tossed seven innings of five hit ball, gave up one run, walked three and struck out a career-high 13 batters.

Center fielder and lead-off man Connor Barron carried the offense, going 2-4 with 2 RBIs. He had an RBI double in the second inning and an RBI single in the sixth frame.

Designated hitter Matt Durst drove in the other USM run in the first with an RBI single.

Relievers Jay Myrick and Bradley Roney each pitched scoreless innings to end the game. Roney picked up his third save of the young season.

The roles were reversed in Saturday’s game as Troy starter Shane McCain dominated the USM lineup for seven innings en route to a 5-0 victory for the Trojans.

McCain only allowed four hits, walked two and struck out six without allowing USM

to get on the board.

For the game, USM only mustered five hits, all singles. First basemen Tim Lynch accounted for two of those hits.

USM starter Cameron Giannini turned in a solid performance, but the Golden Eagles needed him to be perfect for them to have a chance. He pitched six innings, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out four batters to pick up his first loss of the season.

The Trojans used a small ball approach to put runs on the board as they consistently put pressure on the USM defense with three successful bunts, two sacrifice flies and two stolen bases. Carrying a 3-0 lead into the top of the ninth, Troy manufactured two more runs to effectively put the game away.

The rubber match Sunday was by far the most exciting game of the weekend as USM came back to win in dramatic fashion. After a less than stellar offensive performance on Saturday, the USM bats woke up early on Sunday as they scored four runs in the opening frame.

Facing a full count, Barron walked to lead off the game and Michael Sterling followed with getting hit by a pitch.

With runners then on first

and second, Mason Robbins singled home Barron while Sterling advanced to third.

Durst then stepped to the plate and delivered for the Golden Eagles. Down 0-1 in the count, Durst sent the second pitch of the at-bat over the left field fence for a three-run home run, his first of the season.

Freshman Dylan Burdeaux then singled up the middle before Troy starter Will Starling struck out three of the next four batters to get out of the inning. Starling only lasted two innings, allowing four runs on three hits and two walks.

Troy answered with four runs of their own in the third inning and chased USM starter Taylor Nunez out of the game. Down 4-2, Troy third basemen Nick Masonia homered to tie the game.

Nunez allowed four runs on five hits, two walks and hit two batters in just 2 2/3 innings or work.

USM took the lead back in the fourth when Sterling singled home Austin Roussel who led off the inning with a double. The next three innings flew by in large part to relievers Jake Winston of USM and Ted Bidwell of Troy.

Myrick entered the game in the seventh inning and struck out the last two batters he faced to get out of a big

Hunt Mercier/Printz

Sophomore Nick Dawson tags out a Troy base runner at second base in Saturday’s 5-0 loss at Pete Taylor Park.

Hunt Mercier/Printz

Junior Matt Durst tags a Troy base runner at home plate as he attempts to hurdle over Durst in game two of the series.

jam, but he struggled in the eight. Masonia led off the eighth with his second home run of the game before Troy manufactured another run to take the lead 6-5 entering the bottom of the frame.

Breck Kline, who was Wednesday night’s hero against Alabama, pinch hit for Lynch and delivered with another clutch single to get the rally started. Roney singled and Roussel walked to load the bases for Nick Dawson who hit a sacrifice fly to center field to knot the game up at six apiece.

Barron then reached on a fielder’s choice to second base that scored Roney and gave USM a 7-6 lead. Sterling walked to give USM runners

on first and second, but Robbins struck out looking to end the frame.

Roney moved over from third base to the pitcher’s mound with the chance of picking up his second save of the series. Roney delivered on the mound once again as he struck out the side to pick up the save, his fourth of the season.

“Winning this series was very big,” head coach Scott Berry said. “We had to be able to get in there and go toe-totoe, and I think that’s exactly what you saw. Both sides didn’t give in.”

USM (6-6) will travel to Pensacola, Fla. to take on no. 23 Florida (6-5) Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m.

SPORTS

Page 8 | Monday, March 3, 2014

BASKETBALL

USM finishes regular season perfect at home James Johnson Printz Reporter

Southern Miss defeated FIU Thursday night to finish unbeaten at home with a perfect 14-0 record.

The win marked the second time in the last three years that USM finished with an unblemished record at home.

USM also set a school-record, winning 13 straight home conference games.

Freshman Matt Bingaya had another big game as he led all scorers with 20 points, six rebounds and four steals.

Daveon Boardingham added 14 points and grabbed eight boards while Jerrold Brooks chipped in 11 points and a career-high seven assists.

Brooks led the way from deep, making three of his six attempts from distance.

Jeremiah Eason was also in double figures with ten points off the bench.

The game started in USM’s favor before Tymell Murphy started a 9-2 FIU run with a lay-up, cutting the deficit to 20-19 with 6:33 to play in the first half. Two free throws from Bingaya gave Southern Miss a 35-23 lead going into halftime.

Bingaya began the second half hot converting on an andone play. After a jumper by Dennis Maven, USM came up with three straight steals that they turned into six points to take a 44-25 lead just two

minutes into the half.

It was evident that Southern Miss would come away with a win after Boardingham began to show off his highlight dunking skills. He had a towering alley-oop and muscled his way to another dunk after a feed from Watson.

USM kept the lead in double digits for the remainder of the game to give them their 24th win of the season. USM shot 46 percent (27-of-59) from the floor, but struggled from three, converting just 4-14 shot attempts from deep.

FIU shot 49 percent (24-of49) from the field, including 65 percent in the second half, but it just was not enough to get past USM. FIU also shot well from three, going 9-22 (41 percent).

The Golden Eagles outrebounded FIU, 36-29 and came away with 14 steals for the game. USM was outstanding from the line, going 20-29 while FIU converted on just nine of their 16 attempts from the charity stripe.

Murphy led the Panthers with a game-high 11 rebounds while adding 13 points.

Porcher-Jimenez had a teamhigh 17 points while Mann chipped in 13.

Hunt Mercier/Printz

Matt Bingaya yells after his dunk ignites the crowd against Florida International at Reed-Green Coliseum Thursday night.

USM moves into first place tie with victory over FAU James Johnson Printz Reporter

Southern Miss traveled to Boca Raton, Fla. Sunday and came away with a 60-49 win over Florida Atlantic (10-20, 5-10) to move Southern Miss (25-5, 12-3) into a first-place tie with Middle Tennessee in Conference USA. USM dropped two games the last time they hit the road and needed to come away with the win to improve their chances of getting into the NCAA tournament.

“We just have to go and play hard, you can’t go in underestimating any team, we’re playing for a conference (championship),” said senior Neil Watson before the game.

Daveon Boardingham scored 24 points, grabbed eight rebounds and was terrific from the line for a big man, hitting 12-15 free throws. Aaron Brown chipped in 15 points for USM, going 8-8 from the free throw line.

The Golden Eagles went on a 9-0 run midway through the first half, as they held Florida Atlantic

scoreless for seven minutes to give them a 31-24 lead at the break.

FAU managed to cut the lead to just three after Justin Raffington scored with 5:30 left in the game.

Southern Miss responded well with an 8-0 run in order to come away with the much-needed win.

FAU struggled down the stretch, going just 1-5 and turning it over three times in the last four minutes plus to end the game.

Southern Miss shot (8-22) 36.4 percent from the floor in the first half and (7-21) 33.3 percent in the second half. USM did not

shoot well from beyond the arch hitting (2-6) 33.3 percent in the first half and (0-4) none in the second half. Southern Miss cashed in at the charity stripe shooting (13-18) 72.2 percent in the first half and (15-19) 78.9 percent in the second.

USM outscored FAU in the paint 26-12 and 19 points off turnovers while limiting FAU to just five. However, USM had six second-chance points to FAU’s 15.

Raffington finished the night with 14 points while Jackson

Trapp and Tyler Pate were both in double figures with 11 and 10 points respectively.

USM will travel to New Orleans Thursday night to take on Tulane (16-14, 8-7) at 6 p.m. in the final regular season game for both schools. USM dominated Tulane 78-47 earlier in the season at home.

The C-USA tournament will start Tuesday in El Paso, Texas.