Official Game Stats
MIAMI, Fla. -- Demetric Bennett topped the 30-point mark for the third time this season to lead South Alabama to a 74-55 victory over Florida International Saturday night at Pharmed Arena. With the victory, the Jaguars (25-5, 16-2) claim a share of the Sun Belt Conference East Division title and earn the No. 1 seed for the conference tournament starting next weekend.
In addition to his 30 points, the senior from Albany, Ga., grabbed five rebounds and dished out four assists. Ronald Douglas and Brandon Davis also topped double figures with 10 points each, while Daon Merritt chipped nine assists and eight rebounds. Alex Galindo led the Golden Panthers (9-19, 6-12) with 15 points.
South Alabama left no doubt in claiming its third straight division title and tying the school record for wins at 25. The Jaguars opened the game with a Bennett basket, then answered an FIU basket with six straight points, the first four on dunks by Douglas. After the Golden Panther closed to within two, 10-8, and were down 15-12 at the 11:21 mark when Bennett scored eight points during a 12-1 run that pushed the lead to double digits for the first time, 27-13. The lead was 33-22 at halftime by virtue of a defensive effort that included 36.0 percent shooting and nine turnovers for the Golden Panthers.
FIU made its only charge of the second half at the beginning, closing to eight on two occasions in the first three minutes, the last at 39-31 with 16:45 to play. But the Jaguars scored seven straight points to start a 14-4 run over the next 5:04 that made the margin 18 points, 53-35 with 11:14 left. South kept the pressure on by shooting 60.0 percent in the period, including 55.6 percnet from behind the three-point arc. It led by as many as 20 on two occasions in the final five minutes.
"I thought our two seniors held us together throughout the game," Head Coach Ronnie Arrow said. "Our inside guys, Brandon (Davis) and Ronald (Douglas), did a good job on their inside guys. For a while it was a shot-blocking contest. I thought our defense was really good at protecting the hole.
"Winning the East is a means to an end," Arrow said about the school's 11th regular-season league title. "We earned the No. 1 seed and now we need to show up at home and win three more games to guarantee an NCAA bid. I am really proud of these guys."
South Alabama, which had already earned a first-round bye in the conference tournament will open play against the Denver-New Orleans winner Sunday afternoon at 12:30 p.m. in quarterfinal action. USA's Mitchell Center, where the Jags are 16-0 this year, was predetermined by the league office to host the quarterfinal, semifinal and championship rounds.
