AUBURN, Ala. ? The University of South Alabama dropped a hard-fought 82-71 decision at Auburn on Wednesday night. The Jags fall to 5-3 on the year, while Auburn improves to 7-3. South Alabama had three players in double figures led by senior Carlos Smith who had a game-high 22 points.

The game was back-and-forth from the start. Auburn started off by turning the ball over on seven of its first eight possessions. The Jags took their first lead of the game on a layup by Smith at the 15:35 mark at 6-5. Auburn came right back and built the lead to as many as seven through the rest of the first half. The Tigers’ largest lead of the half came at the 7:14 mark as Dwayne Reed hit a trey to build a 23-16 lead.

A key 3-pointer by senior Stephen Cowherd, who had 11 points off the bench in the first half, cut the deficit to two points at 26-24 with 4:56 left. The half ended at 36-33 in favor of Auburn.

Cowherd led the Jags with 11 points for the half. USA was 13 of 34 from the field for 38.2 percent. The Jags were 5 of 15
from beyond the arc and made their only two free throws attempts in the half. Auburn was led by 10 points off the bench from Rasheem Barrett and were 12 of 20 from the field and 6 of 10 from beyond the arc. The Tigers went to the charity stripe eight times, making six.

The Jags opened the second half with an 8-0 run to build a 41-36 lead with 16:22 left. South Alabama increased its lead to seven points at the 14:30 mark on a breakaway by junior Daon Merritt.

Auburn then went on the decisive 16-0 run over the next 4:30. A jumper by Cowherd at the 10:08 mark ended the run. The Jags were able to get the deficit down to seven, but were unable to get closer than that the rest of the way.

Besides Smith, Merritt had 15 points and eight assists and Cowherd finished with 13 points. USA shot 44 percent for the game and 34 percent from beyond the arc. The Jags only went to the free throw line four times in the game compared to 21 times for Auburn.

The Tigers had four players in double figures led by 20 points from Barrett and 15 points off the bench from Archie Miaway.

USA continues on its swing of Southeastern Conference opponents as it travels to Mississippi State on Saturday. Game time is 7 p.m. and will be televised on SportSouth. The Jags return to the Mitchell Center for the 2006 Coors Classic on Dec. 16 at 5 p.m. against Ole Miss.