Official Game Statistics
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- South Alabama used a 12-2 run during a five-minute span of the second half to break open a close game, then hit enough free throws down the stretch to defeat Sun Belt Conference West Division co-leader UALR, 72-65, Saturday night at the Jack Stephens Center. The win was the 11th straight for the Jaguars, who improved to 15-3 overall and 7-0 in league play.
Daniel Hayles hit three key three-pointers during the contest to finish with a USA career-high 13 points. Four other players reached double figures for the Jags -- Demetric Bennett had 12, Daon Merritt and Domonic Tilford each added 11, while Brandon Davis had 10. Brandon Patterson led UALR (12-6, 4-3) with 14 points.
South Alabama was ahead by two, 51-49, with 9:20 to play after five straight Trojan points, but Hayles hit a three from the right baseline and Tilford knocked down a pair of free throws to stretch the lead back to seven, 56-49, with 8:09 left. After a UALR layup, the Jaguars scored seven in a row to open their biggest advantage of the game, 12 points at 63-51 with 4:21 to play. South Alabama hit nine of 12 freet throws in the final 2:02, keeping no less than six-point spread at all times.
"We knew we had to show up and play physical," Head Coach Ronnie Arrow said. "We did a good job countering them tonight. We have had different guys step up for us when the game in on the line and tonight it was Daniel's time. He is getting the rust off and hit a couple of big shots. We also adds a great defensive tendency for us."
South Alabama opened a 23-13 lead midway through the first half, but saw the Trojans storm back with nine straight points to trail just by just one, 23-22 with 5:58 left. UALR took its first lead of the game at the 3:02 mark on a basket by Derrick Bales. Their advantage was four, 30-26, with 1:38 remaining when the Jags came to life. They scored nine straight points on three three-pointers for a 35-30 advantage at the break. Tilford brought USA within one at the 1:26 mark, then Hayles hit treys with 49 and 0.8 seconds left to send the Jags into the locker room with the lead.
Both teams shot 39.3 percent from the field (22 of 56) and made five three-pointers, but the Jaguars made seven more free throws. They also forced six more turnovers (18-12) to offset a 42-35 rebounding deficit.
Merritt dished out seven assists, compared to only two turnovers, while DeAndre Coleman reached double figures in rebounds for the eighth time this season with 11.
South's win streak is now tied with Tennessee and Indiana for fourth-longest in the nation, trailing only Kansas (18), Memphis (17) and Drake (15). It also ranks tied for fourth in school history, equalling a pair that includes one in 1988-89 that occurred during Arrow's first stint as head coach at South Alabama.
The Jaguars return home this week to begin a two-game homestand against West Division foes at the Mitchell Center. Louisiana-Lafayette visits on Thursday night before Denver calls on Sunday afternoon.
