12/22/05– FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JAGUARS STUNG AT ALABAMA STATE, 78-75
CONTACT: Kit Strief

Box Score

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Alabama State posted a 78-75 victory over the South Alabama Jaguars on Thursday night, snapping USA’s seven game winning streak and dropping the Jaguars to 8-2 overall.

“I thought down the stretch their two big guys made some plays and really hurt us,” Jaguar head coach John Pelphrey said. “We had our chances, but we just didn’t make enough plays.”

The Jaguars opened the game with an 11-3 start, making five of their first six shots, including three layups by junior Jason McGriff. A 7-0 run by Alabama State cut the deficit to 11-10 before McGriff made his third bucket in the first four minutes of the game.

Alabama State took its first lead of the half on a Richard Lott layup making the score 14-13 with 13:20 to play in the half. USA regained the lead on a junior Leandro Buboltz bucket with 11:54 left.

USA came out of the 12-minute media timeout and proceeded to go on an 11-3 run over the next two-plus minutes to take a 24-16 lead with 9:17 to play. The Jaguars increased the lead to 12 points on a sophomore Demetric Bennett 3-pointer with 5:47 left making the score 34-22.

Alabama State came all the way back to tie the game at 34 a piece on the heels of a 12-0 run to end the half.

Despite not scoring a basket in the final 5:47, USA was 15-of-32 for the first half for 46.9 percent. The Jags were 3-of-11 from beyond the arc and just 1-of-4 from the line. Alabama State was 13-of-30 for 43.3 percent and was 1-of-9 from 3-point land and 7-of-13 from the line. USA committed 12 fouls compared to ASU’s four.

“Foul trouble really hurt us tonight. We didn’t force them to go against our defense. We gave up too many fouls tonight,” Pelphrey said.

Jaguar senior Jeffery Collins had a team-high seven points off the bench on 3-of- 6 from the field and 1-of-2 from beyond the arc. Akeim Claborn scored 15 points in the half and was the only player in double figures.

The second half started just as the first half did with the Jaguars jumping out to an early five point lead on a trey by junior Carlos Smith. Alabama State had the answer again and battled back to tie the game.
USA then took control midway through the second half, building a six point lead with 7:24 to play. Alabama State again battled all the way back and tied the game for the ninth time in the half at 72.

ASU’s LaMarquis Blake made one-of-two from the line with 1:01 to play to put ASU up 75-74. Blake again was fouled and went one-of-two to put the Hornets up two with 34 seconds left.

Jointer drove to the bucket and was fouled by Herbert Warren with 22 seconds left. Jointer, who was 8-of-11 from the line, missed the first free throw and made the second. The Jaguars immediately fouled, putting Hales at the line. He made both, giving ASU a three point lead with seven seconds left.

Bennett took a trey at the buzzer and after going half in, it rimmed out.

Jointer had a team and season-high 21 points on five-of-11 from the field. He was two-of-four from beyond the arc and nine-of-12 from the line. Senior Chey Christie added 11 points and a team-high nine rebounds and McGriff chipped in 11 points.

ASU’s Akeim Claborn had a game-high 24 points, followed by 17 from Blake, 15 from Lott and 11 from Hayles.

USA heads into Christmas break and will return to action on Dec. 30 at home against Western Michigan at 8:05 p.m. in the Mitchell Center.