Game Notes
Game 18 • Florida International Panthers (8-10, 3-3) at South Alabama Jaguars (7-10, 1-5)
Jan. 22, 2011 • 7:05 p.m. • Mitchell Center (10,000) • Mobile, Ala.
THE COACHES
South Alabama
Ronnie Arrow (Southwest Texas State, 1969)
Record at USA: 184-138 (12th year)
Overall Record: 318-229 (20th year)
Record vs. FIU: 6-1
Florida International
Isiah Thomas (Indiana, 1987)
Record at FIU: 15-35 (2nd year)
Overall Record: Same
LAST GAME
South Alabama almost rallied from 24 points down vs. Western Kentucky Thursday but lost 84-75. Florida International fell at home 78-70 to Arkansas-Little Rock.
NEXT GAME
The Jaguars visit in-state rival Troy Thursday night. The Panthers host Western Kentucky Thursday.
ON THE AIR
Radio: 105.5 WNSP; Lee Shirvanian (pxp), Pat Greenwood (color)
On the web: www.wnsp.com (audio); Jaguar All-Access (video)
RANKINGS (Through Jan. 20)
USA: #291 RPI (RealTimeRPI), #297 Sagarin
FIU: #249 RPI (RealTimeRPI), #252 Sagarin
THE SERIES
USA leads 16-8.
Current winning streak: FIU, 1
USA’s last win in series: 69-65 OT (2/11/10)
Last meeting: FIU 73, South Alabama 62 (1/8/11)
Last five games: USA leads 4-1
USA’s last win at the Mitchell Center: 69-65 OT (2/11/10)
FIU’s last win at the Mitchell Center: 74-71 (2/19/05)
USA’s record at the Mitchell Center: 5-2
USA’s record at home: 8-2
USA’s home streak: Won 4
USA’s longest winning / losing streak in series: 6 / 2
Notes: FIU ended a six-game losing streak to South Alabama on Jan. 8 in Miami… The win was the Panthers’ second-biggest win in the series (74-43 in 1998)… USA’s win streak was its longest all-time vs. FIU… The Jags have won eight of the last 10 games… Twice FIU has won in the Sun Belt Tournament… The series is 13-8 USA since FIU joined the league in 1998… The last meeting in Mobile, a 69-65 USA win, was the first in the series to go to overtime.
OPENING TIP
A win would give the Jaguars their 700th win in the program’s history. They have lost their last four opportunities to pick up the notable victory.
USA is 1-5 in the Sun Belt for the first time since 1981-82. That team started 1-7 and finished the season 2-8.
South Alabama’s last six home Sun Belt games have been decided by nine or fewer points (4-2 record).
Florida International snapped a six-game losing streak to South Alabama in its 73-62 win Jan. 8 in Miami. The last meeting in Mobile went to overtime (69-65 USA win).
FIU has lost three straight since defeating USA 73-62 on Jan. 8. The combined Sun Belt record of the three teams are 14-4 and two of the three losses were on the road.
The Panthers rank first in the SBC in steals per game (8.8) and had 11 Thursday vs. UALR. They face a team that averages just 10.0 turnovers in the last two games. USA had 16 miscues (seven FIU steals) in the first meeting in Miami but the Panthers converted them into just 13 points.
USA opponents are shooting 53.7% in the last three games.
Augustine Rubit had his eighth double-double of the year vs. WKU with 11 pts and 12 rebs, tying his most rebounds in a month. He has six double-doubles in the last 11 games, is tied for first in the Sun Belt in double-doubles, and is the only player to average a double-double for the season (12.4 pts, 10.8 rebs). Eight of the 12 rebounds were on the offensive glass, double what any USA player had for the game.
Martino Brock recorded 17 points (game high) vs. WKU for the second straight game. Since missing the FAU game with an injury, he averages 18.7 points and 3.0 3-pointers. He was credited with three steals Thursday and leads the SBC (2.0 pg).
Gary Redus scored 13 of his season-high 15 points Thursday in the second half.
