STWF Sports| NEW ORLEANS | October 20,2026 — LSU New Orleans will get its first competitive look at the 2026-27 roster Wednesday night when the Privateers travel to Hattiesburg, Mississippi, for an exhibition matchup against Southern Miss at Reed Green Coliseum.
Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
The contest gives LSU New Orleans an early measuring stick against a Southern Miss program coming off a 19-win season and provides the Privateers with an opportunity to evaluate a largely rebuilt roster before the regular season begins.
Privateers Look to Build on Last Season’s Turnaround
LSU New Orleans enters the new season with momentum after producing one of the biggest year-to-year improvements in program history.
The Privateers improved by 11 wins last season, trailing only Ron Greene’s 1973-74 team, which improved by 12 victories. Their 10-win improvement in conference play matched Tim Floyd’s 1992-93 team for the largest league turnaround in program history.
LSU New Orleans also won nine road games, tying the 1992-93 and 2007-08 teams for the most in a single season in program history.
Only Miami, Green Bay, Seton Hall and Stephen F. Austin posted larger overall win improvements nationally last season.
Experience Returns, But Roster Looks Different
The Privateers bring back only a small group of players who saw action last season.
Kedrick Osby appeared in 32 games with seven starts, averaging 4.9 points and 2.2 rebounds per game. Enzo Boudouma also played in 32 contests with six starts, averaging 5.3 points and 3.1 rebounds.
Jamal Chretien II appeared in 14 games with four starts, while Eze Nwakamma returns after not seeing game action last season.
Those returners are joined by a large group of newcomers, including Jaydon Awe, Walter Campbell, Nick Jones, Autrail Manning Jr., Marcus McDonald, Cham Okey, Solomin Ominu, Yohandry Ortiz, Jonathan Pace, Sam Parson, Kryan Ratliff, Alan Shi and Kahlil Singleton.
With so many new faces, Wednesday’s exhibition should provide an early look at rotations, chemistry and which newcomers may be ready to contribute immediately.
Southern Miss Brings Proven Production
Southern Miss enters the matchup after finishing 19-16 overall and 9-9 in Sun Belt play last season.
The Golden Eagles reached the Sun Belt semifinals before falling to eventual conference champion Troy. They were picked to finish seventh in the league this season.
Senior guard Isaac Taveras headlines the returning group after being named the Sun Belt Preseason Player of the Year.
Taveras averaged 15.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game last season and gives Southern Miss an experienced scoring option heading into the year.
Brewer Carruth, Chandler Watts and Fallou Diagne also return.
Carruth is especially familiar with this matchup, as he is the only remaining Golden Eagle from Southern Miss’ overtime exhibition win during Stacy Hollowell’s first game on the Privateer bench two seasons ago. Carruth also led Southern Miss with 22 points in last week’s scrimmage.
Series History Adds Familiarity
In regular-season meetings, LSU New Orleans and Southern Miss are tied 11-11 all-time.
Southern Miss won the most recent regular-season matchup in 2009.
Although Wednesday’s game will not count in the standings, it should still provide value for both programs as they prepare for the regular season.
For LSU New Orleans, the focus will be on building chemistry, identifying reliable rotations and continuing the momentum created by last season’s turnaround.
For Southern Miss, it is another opportunity to sharpen a veteran core before Sun Belt competition begins.
The result will matter less than the information both coaching staffs take away from the night, but with history between the programs and plenty of new faces on the Privateer roster, the exhibition should provide an intriguing early-season test.
