Official Game Statistics 

TROY, Ala. -- Domonic Tilford tied a school record with eight three-pointers and Daon Merritt dished out a career high 13 assists as South Alabama beat Troy at its own game 90-74, Sunday afternoon at Trojan Arena. Tilford finished with 26 points, while Demetric Bennett added 22 points and 11 rebounds for his fifth career double-double.

The Jaguars (20-4, 12-1) matched the Trojans, ranked No. 2 in the nation in three-pointers per game, by hitting a season-high 14 three-pointers. Their percentage of .538 on 14 attempts was second-best of the  year.

DeAndre Coleman and Brandon Davis also topped double figures for South, tallying 13 and 10, respectively. Justin Jonus led Troy with 32 points, hitting a school-record 10 three-pointers in the process.

The Jaguars held Troy scoreless for the last 4:10 of the first half to turn a two-point deficit, 37-35, into a 44-37 lead at the break. In the second half, South Alabama opened up the game by shooting 65.2 percent, including 58.3 percent from behind the arc.

The Jaguars were up only three, 49-46, when they started a 12-4 run to push the lead to double digits for the first time, 61-50. Davis hit back-to-back inside shots before Tilford and Bennett capped the run with back-to-back three-pointers.

Jonus tried to rally his team, hitting two three-pointers in the next four minutes to make the deficit just five at 69-64, but South Alabama allowed only three field goals and seven points over the next eight minutes to break the game open. A 12-2 run put the Jaguars up by 17, 88-71, with just over a minute to play.

“That was one heck of a shootout,” Head Coach Ronnie Arrow said. “They shot the ball well and we knew they would. But a win is a win and we keep moving on. I was happy to see 21 assists. That showed how we shared the ball tonight.”

The team’s differing styles led to a big discrepancy at the foul line. South Alabama, pounding it inside, hit 18 of 21 free throws (85.7 percent), while Troy never made it to the charity stripe while sticking to the outside barrage. The Jaguars also held a 36-25 advantage on the boards.

South Alabama continues its road swing Thursday night when it travels to Middle Tennessee. Tip-off for the second game of the doubleheader is expected around 7:30 p.m.