MOBILE, Ala. --- A 3-pointer by junior Gary Redus (Decatur, Ala.) with 1:03 left in the game gave the University of South Alabama men’s basketball team the lead for the final time as the Jaguars held on for a 70-66 win over Georgia State in the championship game of the Second Annual USA Thanksgiving Tournament Thursday afternoon.

The Jaguars improve to 5-2 while the Panthers drop to 3-4.

USA junior Tim Williams (Pontiac, Mich.) was named the Tournament’s Most Valuable Player after averaging 17.5 points and eight rebounds in the two games. Also receiving all-tournament accolades were seniors Bryan Sherrer (Monticello, Ark.) and LaShun Watson (Greenville, Ga.).

After being outrebounded in two straight games, including a season-worst 53-29 last weekend at Tulsa, the Jaguars won the battle of the boards 37-26 against the second-best rebounding team in the Colonial Athletic Association.

“It makes all the difference in the world when you rebound,” said USA head coach Ronnie Arrow. “We went back after the Tulsa game, and worked on rebounding. We outrebounded a team with Georgia State’s size and so we’ll continue to work on rebounding because that’s an asset we have to bring every game. I just think the team showed signs of coming together and doing the things we had to do to win against a good team.”

Ahead by five at halftime, South Alabama took an eight-point lead – its largest to that point – two minutes into the second half on a three-point play by Sherrer.

A couple of minutes later Georgia State answered with a 9-0 run to rally from a six-point deficit to lead for the first time since midway through the opening half. The spurt was capped off with back-to-back buckets immediately following two USA turnovers.

“We turned the ball over and they had something to do with that out front where we couldn’t get back,” said Arrow. “If we take care of that, then we’re able to relax a little more. But give them credit, they put pressure on us out there. They are a really difficult team to guard, and they do a good job in the passing game.”

The Jaguars tried to put the game away with 5:46 to play on three-point play from freshman Javier Carter (Dallas, Texas) that put USA ahead 63-58. But six straight points from GSU, the last four from Trae Goldston, gave the Panthers a 64-63 advantage with 2:28 on the clock.

Redus’s climactic trifecta came after two offensive rebounds. Sherrer fed Redus deep in the left corner to put the Jags ahead for good.

“It was a great play,” said Arrow. “Last night I didn’t think we did a good job of penetrating and getting people open, but we did a much better job today, especially Raymond [Sims]. He’s so quick he can get in and make things happen, and when he’s giving it up to the right people, he’s very important to what we do.”

Georgia State missed a 3-pointer on its next possession and after a Redus free throw, a critical GSU turnover gave the ball back to South Alabama. Sherrer hit two at the line for an insurmountable five-point lead.

The Panthers’ Joe Dukes led all players with 24 points and posted team-high totals of six rebounds, three assists and two steals. Goldston added 16 points and two thefts.

Sherrer scored 11 of his team-high 15 points after halftime, while Watson tallied all 14 of his markers before the break. Junior Raymond Sims (Philadelphia, Pa.) dished out five assists.

“I thought he did a really good job late in the game of making things happen,” said Arrow. “He had almost half of our assists, and that’s what he is here to do.”

South Alabama returns to action Sunday with a road contest at Arkansas. Tip-off is at 2 p.m.

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).

NOTES: South Alabama has shot 50% or better from the field in the second half in each of its five wins… Sherrer went 5-for-6 at the free throw line but missed for just the second time all season – he now has a 93.1 percentage at the stripe… Redus has reached double-digits in scoring five straight games, all from the bench… Georgia State shot 52.9% from the floor, the highest by a USA opponent all season… GSU missed its only free throw attempt after halftime.

All-Tournament Team
Tim Williams, South Alabama - MVP
LaShun Watson, South Alabama
Bryan Sherrer, South Alabama
Joe Dukes-Georgia State
Xavier Hansbro, Georgia State
Justin Baker, Utah Valley
JaMarkus Holt-Alcorn State

—USA—