St. Thomas, VI (Sportsbooks) - The 2008 Paradise Jam kicks off today, with the 17th-ranked Miami-Florida Hurricanes taking on the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles at the Sports and Fitness Center in the Virgin Islands. The winner of this first round matchup will move on to face either UConn or La Salle in the semifinals.
The Hurricanes played one tuneup game prior to this tournament, opening their 2008-09 campaign with an expected 96-60 blowout of Division II Florida Southern on Saturday. It was the 16th straight season-opening win for Miami, which returns four starters from a team that went 23-7 a year ago. The Hurricanes have had success in the Paradise Jam before, winning the title in 2001.
As for USM, it has participated in two games prior to this event, winning them both at home. The team got its season underway with a 75-51 triumph over Loyola-New Orleans on Saturday before defeating Alabama State, 74-61, on Tuesday. It marks just the second 2-0 start for the Eagles in the past five years.
The all-time series between USM and Miami is tied at 1-1, but the programs have not met since 1957.
Jeremy Wise dropped in 26 points and collected eight boards, as the Eagles handled Alabama State on Tuesday. It was the second straight 20-point effort by Wise, who posted 23 points in an opening win over Loyola after averaging a healthy 18.7 ppg a season ago. R.L. Horton added 16 points in the win over Alabama State, while Courtney Beasley notched his second career double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Beasley also posted double digits in the opener, finishing with 11 points and five rebounds. The Eagles have outrebounded each of their first two opponents by an average of 15.5 rpg and they have also forced a total of 35 turnovers on the season.
The Hurricanes shot 46.7 percent from the field, including an 8-of-18 performance from three-point range, as they cruised past Florida Southern in their opener. The team had success at the foul line (18-of-23) as well and even dominated the glass, 56-37. Dwayne Collins led the charge with a double- double of 18 points and a career-best 16 rebounds. It is a terrific start for Collins, who was a key contributor with 8.6 ppg and 6.8 rpg last season. Jack McClinton, the team's top scorer (17.7 ppg) from last year, also tallied 18 points and handed out four assists in the win. Eddie Rios made 6-of-10 field goals and he set a new career-high with 17 points, while Brian Asbury had 13 points and seven boards on the bench.
