BOCA RATON, Fla. --- Three University of South Alabama men’s basketball players scored at least 20 points and the Jaguars came back from a 15-point deficit in the second half to defeat Florida Atlantic 96-93 in overtime Saturday at FAU Arena.

The win, USA’s third straight, gives head coach Ronnie Arrow his 171st career win at South Alabama, tying Cliff Ellis for the most in school history. Arrow has a 171-117 record in 11 seasons.

The Jags are 11-4 overall and 3-0 in the Sun Belt Conference. The Owls drop to 5-9 and 1-2.

Jaguar junior Tim Williams (Pontiac, Mich.) tallied a game-high 23 points and hit a 3-pointer with 10.4 seconds left in regulation to send the game into overtime.

Sophomore Allyn Cooks (Bryan, Texas), who fed Williams on the key trifecta, set a new career high with 20 points. Senior Bryan Sherrer (Monticello, Ark.) tied his personal best with 21 points.

“We didn’t show up ready to play, number one, for whatever reason,” said Arrow. “Give FAU credit, they have a bunch of young guys that were hungry to play and came out and hit shots. I thought it showed a lot on our part to come back and win like that.”

FAU took its largest lead, 15, early in the second half on a Brett Royster dunk, and had a double-digit advantage as late as the eight-minute mark.

South Alabama cut the margin to two (85-83) on a Williams trey with 24.6 seconds left, and after FAU’s Raymond Taylor hit one of two at the free throw line, Williams hit another bomb to tie the game for the first time since the 18:33 mark of the first half.

“Our guys executed and got him open and (Williams) hit the shots,” said Arrow. “We called ‘knockoff throwback’ and he nailed the shot. It takes two to tango; Allyn did a great job of penetrating and pitching back to Tim. That’s what it’s all about – Allyn doing his job and Tim doing his job.”

The Jaguars never led until 3:50 was left in the extra frame. The teams traded points in the first couple of minutes but Sherrer put USA on top for good with a 3-point play with 3:20 remaining.

The Owls won the rebounding battle 45-34 and grabbed 18 offensive rebounds, leading to 23 second-chance points.

“They kicked our butts on the boards,” said Arrow. “Late in the game they still got a couple but we got most of them and we limited them to one shot. If we do that the whole game, we’re OK.”

Cooks and Williams scored 16 points each in the second half alone. Junior Gary Redus II (Decatur, Ala.) and senior LaShun Watson (Greenville, Ga.) came off the bench to post 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Florida Atlantic also had five players in double figures. Royster paced the Owls with 20 points before fouling out late in the second half. Taylor notched a double-double with 18 points and 13 assists. Greg Gantt had 15, Sanchez Hughley added 13 and Shavar Richardson tallied 10.
 
South Alabama returns home Thursday to host Western Kentucky in a game televised by Fox College Sports. Tip-off is set for 5:05 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: South Alabama shot a season-high 54.5% from the floor and tied a season best with 66.7% in the second half… The Jags are now 9-0 when hitting better than 50% in the second half… The Jags placed five players in double-digit scoring for the first time this season… After shooting just 1-for-7 from outside the arc before halftime, USA converted on seven of its nine 3-point attempts in the second period… The team’s 55 second-half points are the most this season… The Jaguars scored 10 points in the final 50.7 seconds in regulation… South Alabama has won seven straight games in the state of Florida… USA is 4-0 when Williams scores 20 or more points and 10-0 when scoring 70 or more as a team… FAU’s 93 points are the most South Alabama has allowed all season.

—USA—