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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama converted 53.8 percent from the floor and Tony Mitchell had 20 points to give the Crimson Tide a 72-50 victory over the University of South Alabama men’s basketball team Wednesday evening at Coleman Coliseum.

Alabama improves to 4-3 while South Alabama falls to 2-4.

“It’s the same thing every game,” said USA head coach Ronnie Arrow. “I thought we came out with some energy and executed, but then we stopped executing. We’re young but I’ve got to do a better job. I’m not making any excuses. Whatever happens good, bad or indifferent, it falls back on me and I’ve got to do a better job of teaching.”

Sophomore Martino Brock (Memphis, Tenn.) totaled 11 points for the Jaguars and added team-high totals of four assists and four steals. Sophomore Javier Carter (Dallas, Texas) had 10 points while redshirt freshman Augustine Rubit (Houston, Texas) collected a game-high-tying 13 rebounds.

Mitchell led all players with 20 points and also had 13 rebounds. Charvez Davis came off the bench to score 15 points and Senario Hillman tallied 14 points.

The Crimson Tide shot 14 of 26 from the floor in each half, including 4 of 6 3-pointers before halftime.

Davis had three of those trifectas during a pivotal 18-4 Tide run in the first half. The rally, which coincided with a stretch of almost six minutes without a USA field goal, turned a 13-9 Jaguar lead into a 33-23 Crimson Tide advantage at the break.

South Alabama suffered another drought in the second half, going nearly four minutes without a point as Alabama built up 10 straight points to go on top 47-29.

The lead got as high as 22 before USA made a run to close the gap. Brock fed sophomore Rico Sanders (College Park, Ga.) for a lay-up after a steal to cut the margin to 53-40 with 5:39 left, but Mitchell hit a jumper and a dunk off a turnover for four points within six seconds.

The Jags would get no closer than 15 the rest of the way.

Neither team protected the ball well as they combined for 41 turnovers; Alabama had 22 miscues.

“We had too many turnovers,” said Arrow. “(Alabama isn’t) doing anything special. They’ve got a nice club, but there’s no way they’re 22 points better than us. We have to make better decisions with the ball. Our guards have got to make better decisions.”

South Alabama completes a two-game road trip Saturday at Louisville. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. Eastern time.

NOTES: Wednesday’s game was the 1,200th official game in South Alabama history and marked the first-ever visit to Coleman Coliseum… Alabama now leads the series between the two schools 2-1… The loss snaps a run of two straight road wins against SEC schools… Rubit has three double-digit rebound performances in six games this season… His 13 boards are the second-most in his young career… Six of his 13 tonight were on the offensive glass… Brock’s four steals tie his career-best while his four assists tie his season high… He has recorded four steals three times this season… Redshirt freshman Todd Martin (Mobile, Ala.) scored the first points of his career on a 3-pointer with eight seconds left.

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).

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