GAME NOTES: A pair of 2-0 teams will try to keep their perfect seasons intact on Thursday night, as the Southern Miss Golden Eagles venture to Coleman Coliseum to take on the Alabama Crimson Tide in a non-conference bout.

USM began the campaign with consecutive home games, coming away victorious against William Carey (86-63) and South Alabama (68-59). The Golden Eagles were up to the challenge on the road last year, going 10-6.

Alabama also came away victorious in a pair of home contests to open up the campaign, downing Towson (82-54) and Western Carolina (80-74).

The Crimson Tide have a handle on the all-time series with the Golden Eagles by a 20-5 count. Alabama won the most recent matchup in November of 2007, 79-77.

The Golden Eagles were in danger of getting knocked off by South Alabama their last time out, as they trailed with under five minutes to play, but they caught fire down the stretch by ending the game on a 21-9 run to capture the nine-point victory. The team struggled from the field at just 41.2 percent, but it held its opponent to an even worse percentage (.371) and dominated the rebounding battle, 44-29. Matt Bingaya was the catalyst in the frontcourt with 14 points, nine rebounds and three blocks. Chip Armelin scored 13 points, Shadell Millinghaus netted 11 and Norville Carey chipped in 10 points, six boards and two blocks off the bench.

After a hot-shooting opening game, USM still sits with an impressive field goal percentage on the young season (.485) and it boasts a convincing +16.0 scoring margin. Bingaya (17.0 ppg, 9.5 rpg), Millinghaus (15.0 ppg), Armelin (12.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg) and Dallas Anglin (9.0 ppg) have all been consistent presences for the squad.

The Crimson Tide also endured a back-and-forth battle in their most recent game, as they unexpectedly needed to fight through five ties and 14 lead changes with WCU before surging ahead for good with a 7-0 spurt inside of five minutes remaining. They nearly cost themselves with a poor showing from 3- point range (2-of-17), but they put up an impressive shooting night overall (.469) and cashed in on plenty of trips to the free-throw line by knocking down 32-of-42. Levi Randolph was automatic from the stripe (11-of-11) on his way to a team-high 19 points. Ricky Tarrant made his presence felt off the bench with 18 points, Jimmie Taylor logged a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Shannon Hale added 10 points and three steals.

Alabama's production on both the offensive (81.0 ppg) and defensive (64.0) ends of the floor has been stellar in the early going. Randolph stuffs the stat sheet with 17.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 3.5 apg and 2.0 steals per contest. Hale (12.0 ppg), Tarrant (11.5 ppg), Rodney Cooper (10.0 ppg) and Taylor (9.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg) bring plenty of balance to the team.

These evenly-matched teams should be in for a tightly contested matchup from start to finish, but the home crowd should give Alabama the boost it needs down the stretch.