MOBILE, Ala. ? South Alabama junior LaShun Watson (Greenville, Ga.) hit a 3-pointer as the clock expired to give the Jaguars a 66-65 victory Thursday over Florida International at the Mitchell Center.

The win is USA’s third straight at home and gives them a 14-11 overall record and 7-7 mark in the Sun Belt Conference. FIU falls to 10-17 and 5-9.

Watson led the team with a career-high 17 points. He shot 7-for-11 from the floor and grabbed six rebounds.

“It was a flare play for (Dominic) Tilford, and Bryan (Sherrer) had enough about him to see they jammed him, but he found LaShun (Watson) and he nailed the shot,” said USA head coach Ronnie Arrow.

The Panthers’ Alex Galindo paced all players with 26 points, converting eight of his 11 3-point attempts. His final trifecta, a shot from the left wing with 13 seconds left in the game, gave FIU the lead for the first time since the 11:45 mark of the first half. Florida International rallied from a 10-point deficit with 5:34 to play in the contest.

Watson missed a jumper with 43 seconds on the clock that would have put USA up by three. After a timeout, Galindo’s triple put the Panthers up two, setting the stage for Watson’s heroics. Junior Bryan Sherrer (Monticello, Ark.) dished to Watson who drilled his shot at the top of the key.

“He was open on one about 30 seconds before that, and it didn’t go in, but he had enough about himself to come back and nail the 3-pointer,” said Arrow. “I was really proud. That’s what it’s all about ? guys making plays.”

Senior Brandon Davis (Birmingham, Ala.) recorded his fifth double-double of the season with 14 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. Classmate Ronald Douglas (Baton Rouge, La.) tallied 10 points and swatted a shot, extending his consecutive games streak with a block to nine.

Florida International’s Russell Hicks also notched a double-double with 15 points and 10 boards. Tremayne Russell added 12 points.

Galindo hit a 30-footer in the final seconds of the first half, allowing FIU to pull within three (35-32) at halftime. But USA opened the second half shooting 7-for-11 from the floor while holding FIU to 2-for-10 to take a 10-point lead.

Galindo single-handedly got the Panthers back in the game, hitting three straight 3-pointers, part of a 9-2 rally to pull the team to within three points. Including his final shot, he converted his last four field goal attempts, all 3s.

The Jaguars take a day off before hosting Florida Atlantic Saturday evening at 7:05 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: Davis’s double-double was the 10th of his career... He leads all active USA players in that category... Davis moved into ninth place all-time for rebounds in South Alabama history... He currently has 527 in three seasons and is four away from eighth place... Senior DeAndré Coleman (Stone Mountain, Ga.)  battled an illness all week and was limited to just 15 minutes of action... The Jags are 12-1 this season when leading at halftime and 7-0 against Sun Belt teams.

?USA?