Season’s Greetings Southern falls to Arkansas

After coasting through problems with the NCAA academic certification, Southern men’s basketball team is going into the season with high hopes of pursuing a season title to venture back into postseason play.
Southern introduces seven new guys into the lineup for the season.
Head coach of the Southern men’s basketball team and Interim Athletics Director, Roman Banks set a positive regard for his team this season.
“We have a great support system and high energy in our team,” said Banks, “even when we have an unproven roster and a very young team.”
Their first test of postseason action was against the University of Arkansas in which they lost 86-68.
Moses Kingsley of the Razorbacks trialed his efforts and practiced against former Southeastern Conference Player of the Year, Bobby Portis, over the past two seasons in Arkansas.
Portis, now a rookie, plays for the Chicago Bulls in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Kingsley put an all-around effort to take out the Jaguars and made the Razorbacks lead (1-0) in the season.
The 6 foot 10 junior from Nigeria had a career high of 22 points, 12 rebounds, five blocks and three steals earning a career double-double in 24 minutes of foul plagued action.
“It was a privilege to play behind Bobby,” said Kingsley. I just tried to keep up with him and stuff like that, and all that stuff has helped me today and is going to continue helping me the rest of my basketball career.”
Senior guard, Christopher Hyder, set the team high of 22 points, 5 rebounds and five steals. Senior guard Adrian Rodgers added 12 points and redshirt sophomore Chris Thomas had 11.
“In Hyder and Rodgers, I see a leader and the team has adapted to them,” said Banks.
Southern went 18-17 last season and 13-5 in Southwestern Athletic Conference play and posted all the way into the finale of the SWAC championships.
Anthlon Bell added 14 points for Arkansas.
The Razorbacks led 40-25 at the half and led by as many as 20 points but Southern cut the lead dry to 62-56 when Rodgers busted a 9-0 run with his second 3- pointer of the game.
After Rodgers burst of energy, Kingsley took control after that, scoring six straight as the Razorbacks went on a 14-3 run to take the 76-59 lead and put the game out of the Jaguars’ reach. With that he added a slam dunk to put Arkansas up 80-61 late in the game.
Banks went on to talk about the style of play that Arkansas is used to.
“The Razorbacks lost a lot of guys, but their tradition and style of play is still pretty tough to play against,” said Banks, “You can’t keep climbing a mountain and falling against these guys, because they ultimately wear you down.”
Hyder finished the game going 8 of 12 within the field and the Jaguars were outrebounded 43-8 allowing 17 offensive rebounds by Arkansas.
Southern will take their skills further in the season as they face further postseason tests at F.G. Clark Activity Center against Tulane on November 19.