South Alabama vs. Grambling Game Notes
After travelling to Ole Miss on Tuesday, South Alabama returns to the firendly confines of the Mitchell Center on Saturday to face Grambling. The game is the back end of a 5 p.m. doubleheader with the women’s team.
The Jaguars (1-1) fell behind by 22 points just before halftime, then saw a furious rally fall just short. USA closed to within 81-78 with 0.4 seconds remaining, but the inbounds pass on the baseline was stolen away. Demetric Bennett hit six three-pointers enroute to 28 points, one shy of his career high.
Grambling (0-2) hung tough at Georgia on Wednesday night, falling 83-70. Anthony Williams scored 16 points to lead the Tigers.
Other storylines for tonight’s game:
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The last Mitchell Center outing featured a defense that allowed just 41 points, the lowest total in the arena’s nine-year history.
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South Alabama posted its first 50-percent shooting half of the season Tuesday when it hit 59.4 percent after intermission.
The Series
South Alabama has won all three games in the series, although the teams haven’t faced each other in 11 years. The Jaguars defeated the Tigers 57-54 on Nov. 29, 1996.
All three previous meetings have taken place in Mobile.
A breakdown of the all-time series:
Dec. 28, 1981 (H) 91-66 W
Dec. 19, 1986 (H) 86-72 W
Nov. 29, 1996 (H) 57-54 W
Arrow Against the Tigers
Head Coach Ronnie Arrow has never faced Grambling in his 14 years as a head coach.
Against the SWAC
South Alabama has had great success against current members of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The Jaguars are 30-8 all-time against the league.
The school breakdowns are as follows: Alabama A&M 2-0, Alabama State 8-3, Alcorn State 2-3, Grambling State 3-0, Jackson State 3-1, Mississippi Valley State 3-0, Prairie View A&M 7-0, Southern 1-1, Texas Southern 4-0.
At Home
South Alabama has an 81-34 record all-time at the Mitchell Center, gaining double-digit victories in five of the eight years, including two straight. The Jaguars are 1-0 this year in "friendly confines." following an 11-3 mark a season ago.
A Mitchell Mark
The 41 points allowed to West Florida in the season opener was the fewest by an opponent in the nine-year history of the Mitchell Center. The previous best came during a 71-43 win over Southeastern Louisiana on Nov. 28, 2001.
The 41 points also equalled the second-lowest total ever given up in a season opener. The Jags won 72-41 overa Alcorn State in 1997 and 64-37 over McNeese State in 1970.
A Tale of Two Halves
Granted the season has just started, but South Alabama posted its best- and worst-shooting halves of the season against Ole Miss on Tuesday night. The Jags fell below 40 percent for the first time in the opening period when it connected on just 38.2 percent (13-of-34). They then topped 50 percent for the first time by hitting 19 of 32 attempts (59.4 percent).
Gimme A "D"?
After holding West Florida to a dismal 29.5 percent (13-of-44) shooting from the floor, South Alabama surrendered 58.3 percent (21-of-36) from the field in the opening period against Mississippi. The final tally was an even 50 percent for the Rebels, a mark that only six teams reached in all of 2006-07.
Bennett Leads the Team
The top efforts of the young season can be summed up in three words -- Bennett at Mississippi. The senior posted the best marks of the season in seven different categories: points (28), field goals (11), field goals attempted (18), field-goal percentage (.611), three-pointers made (6), three-pointers attempted (11) and three-point percentage (.545).
An eighth category is not one Bennett would readily mention... he had a team-high four turnovers at Ole Miss as well.
Three Different Starts
Should tonight’s probable starters hold true, South Alabama will be using its third different starting lineup in as many games.
Domonic Tilford, who started the opener, returns to the first five tonight in place of Ronald Douglas. Demetric Bennett opened at Ole Miss after coming off the bench in the opener.
Seven different players have at least one start in the first two games.
A First Double-Double
Junior college transfer DeAndre Coleman became the first Jaguar this season to post a double-double when he tallied 12 points and 10 rebounds against Ole Miss.
His rebounding mark was the most by anyone this season, while his point total was a personal best.
Hayles Sidelined until December
Junior Daniel Hayles has been forced to the sidelines until the end of the fall semester after personal issues forced him to drop two classes. His resulting "part-time" status makes him ineligible to participate in any athletic activity.
Hayles will return to full-time status on Dec. 12, the day after the close of South Alabama’s fall semester.
Bennett, Merritt Earn Honors
Senior guards Demetric Bennett and Daon Merritt were named to the preseason All-Sun Belt Conference team during the league’s annual media day.
The pair of Jaguars repeated the honors they received at the end of last year -- Bennett on the first team and Merritt on the third team.
Preseason Picks
South Alabama, winners of its Sun Belt Conference division two straight years, was tabbed second by the league coaches in the annual preseason poll.
The Jaguars were behind a unanimous selection of Western Kentucky in the East Division.
Louisiana-Monroe was the preferred choice of the coaches to win the West Division.
