MOBILE, Ala. -- Demetric Bennett and Domonic Tilford hit back-to-back pointers to spark a 10-0 run near the six-minute mark of the second half, lifting South Alabama to an 84-73 victory over Troy in the Sun Belt Conference opener for both teams. Bennett finished with a game-high 26 points, his sixth effort over 20 points this season.

Three other Jaguars reached double figures in points ? Tilford (17), Ronald Douglas (12) and DeAndre Coleman (10). O'Darien Bassett led three Trojans in double figures with 25 points.

The game featured seven ties and 20 lead changes, that last of which came with 7:07 left when Bennett's three put the Jaguars (8-3, 1-0) ahead for good 69-68. Each team had two unsuccessful trips down the floor before Tilford buried his three with 5:23 remaining. After that, Douglas put back a missed shot and Daon Merritt converted a layup to cap the run and put South ahead 76-68 with just 3:52 to play. The eight-point advantage was the biggest for either team up to that point.

Bassett answered with a three to cut the gap to 76-71, but Bennett, Coleman and Douglas each had dunks to send the lead to double digits for the first time, 82-71, at the 1:15 mark.

The run finished at 18-3 when Tilford converted two free throws to push the lead to 13, 84-71, with 36 seconds remaining.

"I thought the last six minutes we started executing," Head Coach Ronnie Arrow said. "Daon (Merritt) got the team into the offense and we got some easy looks. Ronald Douglas and DeAndre Coleman limited them to one shot and we took advantage."

South Alabama won for the fourth straight time despite equalling its lowest shooting percentage of the season (.400/30 of 75). The difference came from a 58-32 rebounding advantage that resulted in 23 second-chance points and a season-low eight turnovers.

The Jaguars got double-doubles from both Coleman and Douglas as they tallied 18 and 10 rebounds, repectively. Tilford just missed the mark, adding a career-high nine boards to his scoring total. Merritt equalled his season best for assists with eight, including four in the final run.

South Alabama looks to equal the school record for wins before Christmas when it hosts Middle Tennessee Saturday at 7:05 p.m. in the Mitchell Center. The 1983-84 team also had nine wins before heading home for the holidays.