HATTIESBURG — Southern Miss did just enough to win its first men’s basketball exhibition game of the season.
Just.
The Golden Eagles hit six free throws in the final minute, which proved to be just enough to outlast Mississippi College 96-95 in double overtime.
Southern Miss’ sophomore swingman Bilal Abdur-Rahim and senior forward Quinton Campbell hit a pair of free throws and senior forward Raheem Watts added two more foul shots with 4 seconds to play in the second overtime.
The Golden Eagles needed every one of the free throws as Mississippi College guard Antonio Johnson drilled his sixth 3-pointer of the game at the buzzer.
Campbell and Watts each finished with 17 points for USM, while Abdur-Rahim and sophomore guard D’Angelo Richardson scored 13. Tim Rowe had 12 points and six rebounds.
Richardson, a former Vicksburg High star, also had three steals, three assists and two rebounds in 23 minutes off the bench.
Johnson had 22 points and seven rebounds for Mississippi College, and Stacey Mack had 21 points and 15 rebounds.
Mississippi College outrebounded Southern Miss 46-38, shot 48.4 percent from the floor, and hit 14 of 28 3-pointers.
“There were some good things, and I know how that sounds,” Southern Miss coach Doc Sadler said. “I’m not as disappointed as some of our fans probably are, and I’m probably more optimistic than I probably should be.”
Southern Miss will play another exhibition game Monday at home against William Carey before hosting Tougaloo in the season opener next Friday. Mississippi College is off until its season opener Nov. 17 at Nicholls State.

Ole Miss 90, Morehouse 66
Cullen Neal scored 19 points to lead five Ole Miss players in double figures as the Rebels took care of Morehouse College in an exhibition game Thursday.
Sebastian Saiz had 11 points and nine rebounds for Ole Miss, Deandre Burnett and Rasheed Brooks scored 17 points apiece, and Terence Davis scored 14.
Ole Miss only led by six points at halftime, but went 16-for-23 from the field (69.6 percent) in the second half to pull away.
The Rebels also hit 12 3-pointers in the game. They only made more 3-pointers than that once last season.
Jordan Wallace led Morehouse with 19 points.
“It’s hard to catch a rhythm when I’m playing as many guys as many minutes as I am, some guys that won’t be playing as many when it starts for real,” Ole Miss coach Andy Kennedy said. “I’m trying to give them some experience and an opportunity.”
Ole Miss will open the season next Friday by hosting Tennessee-Martin.