HOUSTON --- The University of South Alabama came back from a 13-point deficit in the second half, but a key 3-point play by Rice in the final minute put the Owls on top for good to win 71-69 Saturday night at Tudor Fieldhouse.

Rice stays undefeated at 2-0 while South Alabama drops to 1-1. The Jaguars wrap up play at the Rice Basketball Challenge Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. against Sacramento State.

“Our small lineup really got after it and did some good things,” said USA head coach Ronnie Arrow. “I was proud of the way we came back. Our small bunch is really good and getting better.  We’re going to have to do more with them.”

Rice’s Tamir Jackson led all players with 18 points while Connor Frizzelle had 17 on 5-for-5 shooting from 3-point land.

South Alabama freshman Martino Brock (Memphis, Tenn.) had 10 of his 11 rebounds and all 15 points in the second half. He also added two blocks and two steals after halftime.

Senior Bryan Sherrer (Monticello, Ark.) and sophomore Allyn Cooks (Bryan, Texas) scored 14 points each. Sherrer was a perfect 4-for-4 from beyond the arc and Cooks had 12 after halftime.

The Owls took its biggest lead – 13 – with 16:02 to play on a trifecta by Frizzelle. The Jags answered with seven straight points, capped off by an old fashioned 3-point play from Brock. Rice hit back to go up 10 but an 8-1 USA run cut the margin to three, 52-49.

A Frizzelle 3-pointer with 3:03 left put the Owls on top 65-59 but a Brock put-back finished off a 6-0 Jaguar spurt to tie the game with a minute remaining.

On Rice’s next trip down the floor, Trey Stanton converted a 3-point play with 42.9 seconds left to give the Owls the lead for the final time.

Down three with 20.9 seconds left, USA called a timeout just before Sherrer hit a 3-pointer that would have tied the game. After the timeout, junior Tim Williams (Pontiac, Mich.) had an open look in the corner but missed. The Jags would get no closer.

“I saw (Sherrer) take a dribble and I thought we were going to take a bad shot so I called it,” said Arrow. “But it’s just one of those things.”

South Alabama dominated the second half, forcing eight turnovers – with seven steals – and held Rice to 39.1% shooting while outscoring the Owls 42-33. The Jags also won the battle of the boards after halftime 24-17 and had 14 second-chance points.

“They put three big guys in the game – and their big guys are big – and I thought the press would be really effective,” said Arrow. “And when they went small again it was even more effective. I’m glad the press kicked in because now they see what we can be.”

NOTES: South Alabama only led once – 5-3 on a lay-up by junior Raymond Sims (Philadelphia, Pa.) at the 17:01 mark of the first half… After going 0-for-5 from 3-point land Friday, the Jags went 5-for-16 from long-range… Williams shot just 2-for-12 from the floor but hit double figures (10 points) on 6-for-9 shooting at the charity stripe… Brock has led the team in scoring in both of its games so far.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com.  Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

—USA—