THE SETTING
The South Alabama Jaguars (12-7, 6-2 SBC) head to Denver this weekend for a key Sun Belt Conference game against the Pioneers (3-15, 2-6 SBC). The Jags are riding a season-best five-game winning streak heading to Denver after a 73-69 win at Louisiana-Lafayette Tuesday. With a Western Kentucky loss at UALR Wednesday, the Jaguars are now tied for first-place with the Hilltoppers in the Eastern Division of the Sun Belt Conference.
A VICTORY OVER DENVER WOULD...
? Give the Jaguars an 13-7 record overall and a 7-2 mark in conference play.
? Give head coach John Pelphrey his 73rd victory at the helm of the Jaguar program.
? Give USA its season-best sixth win in a row and fourth consecutive road win.
? Give the Jaguars just their second win at Denver in school history and first win for head coach John Pelphrey in the Mile-High City.
THE SOUTH ALABAMA JAGUARS
The Jaguars pulled out a hard-fought, 73-69 victory at Louisiana-Lafayette Tuesday. The Jags were down at halftime for the third consecutive game and came back for the win. The game saw a season-high 28 lead changes and junior Ernest Little tallied is second double-double with a team-high 20 points and 10 rebounds.
Leading the way for the Jags this season is Bennett who is averaging a team-best 15.2 points and is second on the team with 5.5 rebounds per game. He is a team-best 102 of 224 from the field and 46 of 114 from beyond the arc. Second on the team in scoring is Little who is averaging 12.9 points per game and leads the team averaging 8.1 rebounds per game. The Mobile native had his first double-double as a Jaguar against Troy last Thursday with 14 points and 11 a career-high 11 rebounds and followed with his second double-double with a team-high 20 points and 10 rebounds at Louisiana-Lafayette Tuesday. Junior Daon Merritt is third on the team in scoring at 10.9 points per game. Merritt leads the team with 115 assists this season and has three games of 10 assists this year. He tied his career-high with 18 points all in the second half at Troy on Jan. 11.
In conference play, Bennett leads the team averaging 14.9 points and 5.6 rebounds, while Little is second averaging 13.1 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. Merritt has increased his scoring to 12.1 points in conference games as well. Bennett leads with 42 field goals made and 18 3-pointers made. Merritt leads the team with 33 made free throws for a 76.7 average (33-43).
The Jaguars are coming off of one of the most memorable seasons in school history in 2005-06. USA won both the Sun Belt Conference West Division crown and tournament crown earning a berth in the NCAA Tournament where they fell to eventual National Champion Florida. Despite the loss to the Gators, USA had its best season in over 20 years with 24 wins, the second most in school history and had the nation’s biggest turnaround from 2004-05 to 2005-06. The Jaguars finished the season with a 24-7 mark and a 12-3 record in the SBC West Division.
Head coach John Pelphrey is in his fifth season at the helm of the Jaguar program. He took the team to new heights in 2005-06, winning the division, tournament title and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. Pelphrey was named 2006 Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year. Pelphrey, the ninth head coach in school history, has a 72-62 record at South Alabama.
LAST TIME OUT - AT LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE
LAFAYETTE, La. - South Alabama hit five three throws down the stretch to take a 73-69 Sun Belt Conference win over Louisiana-Lafayette on Tuesday night.
Louisiana-Lafayette (4-15, 2-7 Sun Belt) was clinging to a 61-59 lead as the five-minute mark approached. But Willie Lago kicked the ball out to the perimeter and South Alabama (12-7, 6-2) got the loose ball to Ernest Little who hit a turnaround jumper for two of his 16 second-half points to even the score at 61-61.
The Jaguars went ahead, 64-61, on a 3-pointer by Stephen Cowherd.
Louisiana-Lafayette drew within one on two free throws by Elijah Millsap at the 3:27 mark but Little responded on the next possession for a short jumper to increase South Alabama’s lead to 66-63.
After a Millsap turnover on the ensuing possession, Daon Merritt hit a shot over David Dees that increased the Jaguars’ lead to 68-63 with 2:18 remaining.
Louisiana-Lafayette cut the lead to three, but left just 1:07 on the clock in the process. From there the Jaguars hit the free throws to seal the win.
Ross Mouton led Louisiana-Lafayette with 23 points, while Millsap and Derek Gray each added 11. Little paced the Jaguars with 20 points and 10 rebounds
.
DENVER PIONEERS
The Denver Pioneers won their third game of the season with a 90-85 win over Florida Atlantic Thursday evening. It was the Pioneers’ second win in their last three games. Prior to a win over Louisiana-Monroe on Jan. 6, Denver had lost 11 straight.
Heading into Thursday’s play, DeShawn Walker was leading the team with a 16.4 average and also leads the team averaging 5.2 rebounds per game. Also in double figures was Tyler Bullock and Antonio Porch at 10.9 and 10.2 points, respectively. Porch also averages 5.2 rebounds per game.
Head Coach Terry Carroll is in his sixth year at the helm of the Pioneer program. He has a 78-89 record at Denver and has a 347-138 record in 15 years of coaching. Carroll welcomes back three starters from last year’s 16-15 squad that finished 7-8 for second place in the West Division behind South Alabama.
INSIDE THE SERIES
The Jaguars and Pioneers each have won eight games in a series dating back to 1972. USA has won two straight including a 75-65 win in the semifinal of the 2006 Aeropostale Sun Belt Conference Tournament last March in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Denver has won the past five straight at home with the Jaguars’ only win in the Mile-High city coming in double overtime on Feb. 22, 2001, 86-80. Jaguar head coach John Pelphrey has never won in Denver.
LAST TIME THEY MET - March 6, 2006
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP) - Chey Christie had 17 points, including nine in the final 6:38, as South Alabama pulled away late to defeat Denver 75-65 in the Sun Belt Tournament semifinals on Monday.
South Alabama (23-6) will face the winner of Louisiana-Lafayette-Western Kentucky for the Sun Belt title on Tuesday night.
The Jaguars, with seven straight wins, will be seeking their first tournament title since 1998.
Denver (16-15) led 60-59 when South Alabama’s Carlos Smith sank a 3-pointer to give the Jaguars the lead for keeps with 7:19 remaining. Christie picked it up from there and scored all but four of the Jaguars final 13 points.
Mario Jointer added another basket for South Alabama after Denver had pulled to within 69-65 with 2:12 left to play.
The Pioneers were scoreless for 5:41 as South Alabama went ahead 30-20 on a jumper by Jason McGriff with 4:19 remaining. The Jaguars led 33-29 at the break.
Four Denver players scored in double figures, led by Nicholson with 14. The Pioneers also had 16 turnovers, compared to five for the Jaguars.
STRONG SECOND HALF SHOOTING
Four the fifth consecutive game, the Jags used strong second half shooting to secure the victory. Four of the five games, USA shot over 50 percent in the second half, including a season-best 71.4 percent agasint UALR last Saturday and 60 percent at Louisiana-Lafayette Tuesday.
SECOND HALF JAGS
The South Alabama Jaguars came from 14 points down in the first half to defeat Troy on Jan. 11. USA was down 20-6 to start the game, but used a 14-2 run to make the score 22-20 midway through the half. The Jags did not take the lead until midway through the second half and won 75-64.
Following the Troy come-from-behind victory, USA came from 15 points down to defeat UALR 68-54 this past Saturday. The Jags tied the game at 44 with just over nine minutes to play and outscored the Trojans 24-10 the rest of the way.
Then in the third consecutive game, the Jags were down by as many as five points and trailed at halftime before coming out with the victory at Louisiana-Lafayette Tuesday, 73-69.
Before the three consecutive comeback wins, the Jags were just 1-7 when trailing at the half.
BIG TIME ERNEST
Junior Ernest Little posted his second double-double as a Jaguar tying his career-high with 20 points and 10 rebounds at Louisiana-Lafayette Tuesday. He is second on the team averaging 12.9 points and leads the team averaging 8.5 rebounds per game.
NUMBERS UP DURING WINNING STREAK
During the Jags’ current five-game winning streak, USA has improved in a number of areas. The Jags are shooting 71 percent from the free throw line on 81 of 114 and are averaging 35.0 rebounds per game to their opponent’s 29.8. Also, the scoring has increased as USA is averaging 77.2 points per game and allowing 63.0.
In addition, the Jags are shooting almost 50 percent from the field during the past five games and are shooting 37.5 percent from beyond the arc.
ON THE RADIO AND INTERNET
All South Alabama basketball games are broadcast on WNSP 105.5 FM out of Mobile. This season, fans will have the opportunity to get live web streaming of all home basketball games and selected away contests.
Log onto www.usajaguars.com for more information.
JAGUAR NATION LIVE AND ON DEMAND
This season Jaguar fans anywhere in the world can watch home and selected road men’s and women’s basketball games on their computers. Log onto www.usajaguars.com for more information on how to sign up for Jaguar Nation Live and On Demand.
THE COACHES SHOW ON MONDAYS
Jaguar play-by-play announcer Lee Shirvanian and coach John Pelphrey host “The Courtroom” each week during the basketball season at Banana Docks Cafe in Mobile. The show airs on WNSP 105.5 FM. The show also can be accessed at www.wnsp.com. The one-hour show now returns to its normal Monday timeslot from noon to 1 p.m., beginning Dec. 4.
BIG TIME BENNETT
Junior Demetric Bennett had an outstanding week with games at Troy and at home against UALR. Bennett averaged 18.0 points and 8.0 rebounds for the week. He had his second double-double of the season at Troy and then followed with a game-high 21 points in the come-from-behind victory over UALR last Saturday.
JAGS PUT CLAMPS ON LEADING REBOUNDER
USA put the clamps down on the nation’s leading rebounder in Rashad Jones-Jennings from UALR last Saturday. Jones-Jennings tied his second season-low with just seven rebounds and had a season-low four points. Prior to the game, he had been averaging 12.5 points and 12.5 rebounds per game.
NICE SHOOTIN’
After a dismal shooting performance in the first half against UALR last Saturday, the Jags came out on fire in the second half, shooting a season-high 71.4 percent for the half on 15 of 21 from the field. USA ended the game shooting 47 percent after shooting just 28 percent in the first half.
STARTER DOUBLE FIGURES A PLENTY
USA has had nine of the 10 starters in double figures in back-to-back games. USA had all five starters in double figures for the first time since Feb. 25, 2003 against Florida Atlantic on Jan. 6 and then at Troy on Jan. 11, the Jags had four starters in double figures.
DOUBLE, DOUBLE-DOUBLE
USA had its first game of two players with double-doubles Jan. 11 at Troy. Juniors Demetric Bennett and Ernest Little each had double-doubles as Bennett had 15 points and 11 rebounds and Little had 14 points and 11 rebounds. Both players had career-highs in rebounds.
SECOND HALF DAON
Junior Daon Merritt tied his career-high with 18 points against at Troy on Jan. 11...all coming in the second half. Merritt was 0 of 3 from the field and 0 of 2 from beyond the arc at intermission, but went 5 of 7 from the field, 1 for 2 from beyond the arc and a perfect 7 of 7 from the free throw line in the second half alone for 18 points.
HITTIN’ THE CENTURY MARK
For the first time since Feb. 25, 2003, USA hit the century mark against Florida Atlantic this past Saturday. The Jags scored 101 points against the Owls in a 101-76 victory. USA has scored 100 or more points in 83 games in school history. In addition, the 101 points ties the Sun Belt Conference season-best mark. Louisiana-Monroe had 101 points against Wesley College on Dec. 19.
SEASON HIGHS AGAINST FAU
The Jags set a number of season-highs against Florida Atlantic Jan. 6. USA shot a season-best 58 percent from the field, including 60 percent in the second half, scored 101 points and had a season-high 14 3-pointers. In addition, USA scored 51 points in the second half against the Owls which is the highest output for a half this season and had a season-high 21 assists.
DEMETRIC DEADLY FROM DOWNTOWN
Junior Demetric Bennett had a career night from long range against FAU. Bennett was 9 of 14 from the field including a career-best 7 of 9 from beyond the arc. Bennett leads the team with 102 made field goals and 46 made 3-pointers.
CARLOS DOING THE DISHES
Senor Carlos Smith had a career-high nine assists against Florida Atlantic on Jan. 6. His previous career-high was eight dishes against Spring Hill (1/24/04). Smith is second on the team in assists with 59 for a 3.5 average.
REJECTION CENTRAL
Through 19 games this season the Jaguars have 49 blocks. Sophomore Brandon Davis leads the team this season with 19 blocks, junior Ernest Little has 13 and junior Kenny Hooks has 11. Last season two players tied for the team lead in blocks with 12 and as a team, had 43 blocks for the whole season. The Jags had six blocks against Florida International Jan. 4 and Little had a career-high three rejections.
JAGS SET SEASON-HIGHS
With an 80-56 win over Texas College on Dec. 19, the Jags set a number of season-highs against the Steers. USA posted 51 rebounds, including 29 on the offensive end, along with a season-best 20 steals.
DAON DISHES
Junior Daon Merritt tallied a career-high 10 assists and his first double-double as a Jaguar against Morehead State (Nov. 17) with 12 points and 10 assists, becoming the first Jaguar since Demetrice Williams (1/9/03) to record 10 assists in a game. He followed that performance with another 10 assist outing against West Florida Nov. 22. In the last outing, Merritt just missed his fourth 10-assist game by one as he had nine against Texas College (12/19) and had nine more against UALR (1/13). He leads the team with 115 assists and a 6.0 average.
STEALIN’ JAGS
The Jags have been coming up with the steals this season as they have a 142-90 advantage in that area, including a 17-4 performance against UC-Irvine in the season opener and a season-best 20-11 performance against Texas College on Dec. 19. South Alabama has forced 293 turnovers by its opponents in 17 games compared to 218 by USA.
BOMBS AWAY
The Jaguars had 11 3-pointers in the season opener against UC-Irvine and had 10 against Winston-Salem State and tallied a season-high 15 3-pointers against West Florida (Nov. 22). USA had 10 games in 2005-06 with 10 or more 3-pointers including a season-high 14 last year at Troy.
JAGS SIGN THREE DURING EARLY SIGNING PERIOD
The Jaguars signed three players during the early signing period. USA signed a pair of high school teammates in LaDarius Hall and Jamar Moore from Thomasville High School in Thomasville, Ga. In addition to them, the Jags also signed DeAndrae Ross from Lynnhaven, Fla. and Rutherford High School. All three are guards and could have an immediate impact in 2007-08.
KNOCKING DOWN THE TREY
USA has hit a three-pointer in 228 consecutive games. The last time the Jaguars were held without a trey was Feb. 6, 1999 in a 44-43 win over Arkansas-Little Rock. USA averaged 8.8 three-pointers a game in 2005-06 and averaged 7.4 in 2004-05. USA hit 11 treys in an 67-63 victory over UC-Irvine in the season opener and followed that up with a season-best 15 treys against West Florida on Nov. 22 and 14 3-pointers against Florida Atlantic last weekend. The Jags have 159 made 3-pointers through 19 games, compared to 120 by their opponents.
