Southern Miss Tops Louisiana in Close Contest
Thursday, December 18, 2025, 8:30 PM ET · Reed Green Coliseum
Southern Miss Golden Eagles 62, Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns 54, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns vs Southern Miss Golden Eagles?
Southern Miss Golden Eagles beat Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns 62-54 at Reed Green Coliseum on December 18, 2025.
Who was favored in Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns vs Southern Miss Golden Eagles?
Southern Miss Golden Eagles were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -950 (about 90% implied). The favorite won.
The Southern Miss Golden Eagles secured a victory over the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns with a final score of 62-54 at Reed Green Coliseum. This matchup showcased the contrasting fortunes of both teams, with Southern Miss holding a home record of 7-5 compared to Louisiana's struggling away record of 1-11. The Golden Eagles' recent form included a mixed bag of results, with a record of 6-4 in their last ten games, although they entered this game on a one-game losing streak after falling to Ole Miss. They averaged 76.7 points scored and allowed 71.1 points in those games, indicating a generally competitive scoring environment.
In contrast, Louisiana has faced significant challenges, winning only one of their last ten games, which included a nine-game losing streak leading up to this contest. The Ragin' Cajuns averaged a mere 55.4 points scored while allowing 70.7 points, highlighting their struggles both offensively and defensively. Their away record was particularly concerning, as they had not won a game on the road this season, going 0-6.
Historically, the teams were evenly matched, with a head-to-head record of 1-1 in the current season. Southern Miss had previously defeated Louisiana 67-59 in an earlier meeting, while Louisiana had edged out Southern Miss 62-60 in their most recent encounter on February 23.
In terms of player availability, the block did not provide specific details on injuries, but the performance of key players would have been critical in such a tightly contested game. The market had Southern Miss favored by 11.5 points according to DraftKings, indicating a strong belief in their home-court advantage.
The game conditions were typical for a December night in Mississippi, with the atmosphere at Reed Green Coliseum likely contributing to the Golden Eagles' performance. Fans would have been keen to see how Southern Miss could bounce back from their recent loss and how Louisiana would respond after a series of defeats.
Key moments in the game included a series of scoring plays in the second half, where Southern Miss managed to maintain a slim lead. Notable plays included a 24-foot three-point jumper by Israel Hart, which extended their lead to 58-48. Despite a late surge from Louisiana, including a three-pointer by Joshua Lewis, Southern Miss held firm to secure the win.
Overall, the game underscored the challenges facing Louisiana this season while highlighting Southern Miss's potential to capitalize on home games.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | USM -11.5 | 132.5 o -110 / u -110 | Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns +625 · Southern Miss Golden Eagles -950 |
Leaders
- PointsIsrael Hart17Southern Miss Golden Eagles
- AssistsDylan Brumfield4Southern Miss Golden Eagles
- ReboundsDjahi Binet8Southern Miss Golden Eagles
- PointsDorian Finister20Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
- AssistsJaxon Olvera1Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
- ReboundsDorian Finister7Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Recent form
Southern Miss Golden Eagles
Last 10: 6-4Streak L176.7 scored · 71.1 allowed per game5-0 at home
- L67-71at Ole Miss RebelsDec 13
- W68-60vs Grambling TigersDec 9
- L64-88at Miami HurricanesDec 6
- W82-75at Radford HighlandersDec 4
- W70-60vs UT Martin SkyhawksNov 23
- W92-83vs North Florida OspreysNov 23
- W82-59vs William Carey CrusadersNov 19
- L70-75at Grambling TigersNov 14
- L79-83at South Carolina GamecocksNov 9
- W93-57vs Tougaloo BulldogsNov 7
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Last 10: 1-9Streak L955.4 scored · 70.7 allowed per game0-6 away
- L44-65at Louisiana Tech BulldogsDec 13
- L63-70vs UNC Wilmington SeahawksDec 6
- L55-65at Lamar CardinalsDec 4
- L45-51vs Jackson State TigersNov 29
- L56-77at UC Davis AggiesNov 25
- L43-80at Santa Clara BroncosNov 22
- L66-93at Stanford CardinalNov 19
- L62-88at McNeese CowboysNov 15
- L62-66vs Tulane Green WaveNov 12
- W58-52vs SE Louisiana LionsNov 8
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Troy | 22-12 | - | 12-6 |
| South Alabama | 21-12 | 1 | 11-7 |
| Arkansas State | 20-12 | 1 | 11-7 |
| Texas State | 19-13 | 1 | 11-7 |
| Marshall | 19-13 | 1 | 11-7 |
| Coastal Carolina | 19-13 | 1 | 11-7 |
| App State | 19-13 | 1 | 11-7 |
| James Madison | 18-15 | 3 | 9-9 |
| Southern Miss | 19-16 | 3 | 9-9 |
| Georgia Southern | 21-16 | 4 | 8-10 |
| Old Dominion | 12-21 | 5 | 7-11 |
| Louisiana | 11-22 | 5 | 7-11 |
| Georgia State | 10-22 | 5 | 7-11 |
| UL Monroe | 4-28 | 11 | 1-17 |
Box score
| Stat | Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns | Southern Miss Golden Eagles |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 20-57 | 15-48 |
| Field goal % | 35 | 31 |
| Three-pointers | 4-17 | 6-18 |
| Three-point % | 24 | 33 |
| Free throws | 10-13 | 26-39 |
| Free throw % | 77 | 67 |
| Rebounds | 38 | 40 |
| Offensive rebounds | 5 | 7 |
| Defensive rebounds | 33 | 33 |
| Assists | 4 | 5 |
| Steals | 7 | 5 |
| Blocks | 3 | 5 |
| Turnovers | 10 | 8 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 6 | 12 |
| Fast-break points | 9 | 10 |
| Points in the paint | 22 | 8 |
| Fouls | 24 | 13 |
| Largest lead | 5 | 12 |
| Lead changes | 3 | 3 |
| Time in front | 27 | 64 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half27-30Jeremiah Evans makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half27-31Djahi Binet makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half27-32Djahi Binet makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half29-32Jeremiah Evans makes 4-foot hook shot (Michael Mouton assists)
- 2nd Half29-33Israel Hart makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half29-34Israel Hart makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half31-34Jeremiah Evans makes 7-foot jumper
- 2nd Half31-37Israel Hart makes 24-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half33-37Joshua Lewis makes 11-foot step back jumpshot
- 2nd Half33-38Tegra Izay makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half34-38Dorian Finister makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half35-38Dorian Finister makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half37-38Dorian Finister makes 9-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half37-39Dylan Brumfield makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half37-41Dylan Brumfield makes 9-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half39-41Jaxon Olvera makes 12-foot jumper
- 2nd Half39-42Chiante' Tramble makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half40-42Dorian Finister makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half40-43Dylan Brumfield makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half42-43Jaxon Olvera makes layup
- 2nd Half42-44Djahi Binet makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half42-47Israel Hart makes 27-foot three point jumper (Dylan Brumfield assists)
- 2nd Half44-47Dorian Finister makes 10-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half44-48Djahi Binet makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half44-50Tylik Weeks makes 10-foot jumper
- 2nd Half44-51Israel Hart makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half44-52Israel Hart makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half44-53Israel Hart makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half44-54Israel Hart makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half45-54Dorian Finister makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half46-54Dorian Finister makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half46-55Chiante' Tramble makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half48-55De'Vion Lavergne makes 13-foot jumper
- 2nd Half48-58Israel Hart makes 24-foot three point jumper (Chiante' Tramble assists)
- 2nd Half48-60Brewer Carruth makes 17-foot jumper
- 2nd Half50-60Dorian Finister makes layup
- 2nd Half51-60Dorian Finister makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half51-61Israel Hart makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half51-62Israel Hart makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half54-62Joshua Lewis makes 23-foot three point jumper (De'Vion Lavergne assists)
Win probability
Above the line favours Southern Miss Golden Eagles, below favours Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns.
Venue
- Reed Green ColiseumHattiesburg, MS
- Attendance2606
- OfficialsChuck Jones, Joe Lindsay, Chase Shaw
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