MOBILE, Ala. ? The University of South Alabama men’s basketball team did not disappoint on Homecoming as it posted an 85-67 victory over visiting Arkansas State Sunday afternoon at the Mitchell Center. USA (19-7, 13-2 SBC) extended its winning streak to 12 games which is currently third best in the nation. Junior Daon Merritt led the Jags with 19 points and six assists, while junior Ernest Little added 15 points and 12 rebounds. Arkansas State (12-14, 7-7 SBC) was led by 19 points and 12 rebounds from Isaac Wells.
The Jaguars began the game turning the ball over on their first three possessions, but then went on an 11-0 run to build a 11-4 lead through the first five minutes of the game. Senior Leandro Buboltz had two 3-pointers during the run to spark the Jags.
USA extended the lead to 17-7 with a pair of 3-pointers by sophomore Trajinski Grigsby and held a 17-9 lead through the first 8:15 of the game. USA extended the lead to 28-14 with just over eight minutes left in the half on sharp shooting from the outside as the Jags went on an 11-5 run since the 11:44 mark. Junior Demetric Bennett hit his first 3-pointer of the game and senior Carlos Smith also added a trey during the spurt.
A nice hoop and harm off two offensive rebounds by Isaac Wells cut the Jag lead to 32-21 with just over six minutes left in the half. Another 10-3 run by USA pushed the lead to 42-24 with 3:40 left in the half as sophomore Brandon Davis continued his strong first half with six points during the run.
Arkansas State cut the 18-point Jaguar lead to 10 with eight quick points over the next two minutes, courtesy of a 3-pointer by Ryan Wedel and a jumper by Wells. Little ended the run with a turnaround jumper in the lane with under a minute to play in the half.
For the half, the Jags shot 51.4 percent on 18 of 35 from the field. All seven players who scored in the first half had at least five points for the Jags, led by 10 points and nine first half rebounds by Little. USA had six 3-pointers in the half and went 2 of 3 from the line.
Arkansas State shot 37.5 percent from the field on 12 of 32 and was 4 of 10 from beyond the arc. Jim Jones led the Indians with 11 points, while Wells chipped in nine points and a team-high five rebounds in the first half.
USA held a 22-16 lead in rebounds for the first half.
Arkansas State opened the second half and cut the 12-point Jaguar lead in half with two 3-pointers, but Smith answered with a trey with just over 17 minutes left. USA pushed the lead back to 14 with a 3-pointer by Bennett and a runner followed by a 3-pointer by Merritt. USA went on an 8-0 run after the Indians had gotten the deficit down to six at 49-43.
Arkansas State kept the margin close as it began hitting shots from the outside as both Wells and Wedel hit big 3-pointers. Seven of ASU’s first eight field goals were from beyond the arc. USA had not hit a field goal since the 14:55 mark until Merritt hit a big 3-pointer with 10:25 left in the game putting the Jags back up 10.
Senior Stephen Cowherd was recipient of a nice no-look pass from Davis for the score and foul putting USA back up 13. Cowherd then dished to an open Bennett for a 3-pointer increasing the lead to 71-57 with eight minutes left.
USA extended the lead to 83-65 for its largest lead since the first half on a reverse layup by Bennett with 2:32 left in regulation.
For the game, the Jaguars shot 49.2 percent on 32 of 65 from the floor and were 11 of 28 from beyond the arc. Merritt had 19 points and six assists to lead the Jags, while Little recorded his fifth double-double of the season with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Also in double figures was Bennett with 15 points and Smith with 10.
Arkansas State shot 41.3 percent from the field on 26 of 63 and were 11 of 25 from beyond the arc. Wells led the way with 19 points and 12 rebounds and Adrian Banks added 15 points.
USA takes its 12-game winning streak out of conference on Wednesday at Houston at 7 p.m. USA heads to Florida for two games at Florida International and Florida Atlantic, before returning home for Senior Night on Feb. 24 against Troy to conclude the regular season.
