Box Score (html)
Box Score (pdf)

MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama men’s basketball team held Mobile to a season-low 48 points and the Jaguars had four players in double-digit scoring to defeat the Rams 90-48 Monday evening at the Mitchell Center.

USA wins for the fourth straight game to improve to 6-5. The game was an exhibition for Mobile, a member of NAIA Division I, who remains at 7-3.

“Just looking at the stats, defensively, we did some good things,” said USA head coach Ronnie Arrow. “If we can hold everybody to that kind of shooting we can win a lot of games. I say this every year, but this year especially, our team has got to be a good defensive team and score points off of defense.”

USA sophomore Javier Carter (Dallas, Texas) scored a career-high 17 points and added seven rebounds, two assists and two blocks in just 22 minutes of work. Sophomore Martino Brock (Memphis, Tenn.) and redshirt freshman Augustine Rubit (Houston, Texas) added 16 points apiece and Rubit just missed out on his third straight double-double with nine rebounds.

Senior Tim Williams (Pontiac, Mich.) recorded his first double-double since Feb. 13, 2010 with 13 points and a season-high 11 boards.

The Jaguars started fast, jumping out to a 16-6 lead while converting seven of nine from the floor. An 11-0 run, with contributions from four USA players, increased the margin to 33-15 with 5:01 to play before halftime.

The lead got as high as 21 in the first half thanks to a 17-3 run, capped off with a lay-up from Carter.

South Alabama shot a season-best 59.1 percent from the floor before the break and 56.6 percent for the contest.

“Our shot selection tonight was better, with 56 percent shooting and 41 percent from the threes,” said Arrow. “I think we’re sharing the ball and getting each other better shots than what we were earlier in the year. It’s good to see us making free throws. That’s two games in a row that we’ve shot in the 80 percent category and 19 assists is really good.”

The hot shooting continued after intermission as the Jags opened with a 13-3 spurt to take a 52-25 lead. USA outscored Mobile 51-26 in the second half.

The Rams made only 16 of their 55 attempts for 29.1 percent, the lowest by a South Alabama opponent all season. The Jaguars also blocked nine shots.

“Defensively, especially the second half, I thought we really got after them,” said Arrow. “They scored 22 (in the first half) and 26 points (in the second). Our goal was to keep them to 56 points so we’re well under that.”

Ji Kimbrough paced the Ram offense with 15 points, 11 in the second half. Donte Walker was held to five points, well below his season average of 14.3 coming into the game.

South Alabama now turns its attention to Sun Belt Conference play, starting Thursday night at Arkansas State. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:05 p.m.

NOTES: The 42-point margin is the largest in a South Alabama win since defeating William Carey 123-75 on Feb. 25, 2003… The Jaguars have used the same starting lineup—Brock, Carter, Rubit, Gary Redus and Williams—in its four-game winning streak… The streak is the school’s longest since December 2009 and all four have been by double figures… USA won the rebounding battle (46-27) and outshot the Rams 46 percent to 27 percent, giving the Jags a 6-0 mark when accomplishing both of those in a game… South Alabama had not held an opponent to under 50 points since UALR scored 44 in the Sun Belt Tournament semifinals on March 9, 2009… Redus dished out five assists, tying his season high for the second consecutive game… Sophomore Jose Diaz (Miami, Fla.) scored his first career points late in the contest… Rubit’s nine rebounds ends his five-game double-digit streak and are his fewest since grabbing three vs. LSU on Nov. 28.

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—