Game Notes

MOBILE, Ala. – Tuesday will mark the final preseason tuneup for the University of South Alabama men’s basketball team when the Jaguars face Dillard (La.) University Tuesday night at the Mitchell Center.

Tip-off between the Jags and Bleu Devils is slated for 7:05 p.m. USA starts the 2011-12 season in earnest Saturday at Mississippi State.

South Alabama was victorious Wednesday in its first exhibition contest, defeating Spring Hill 88-64.

“I think we’ve learned some newer stuff, we put some new things in and we’ll see how it goes tomorrow,” said USA head coach Ronnie Arrow. “You don’t ever know until you go play. Once you play, you see where you’re at.

“We just have to come out and play with intensity and take care of the ball. We only had 11 turnovers, which was really good, but we have to get better with execution and keep our transition going. Our transition game was good against Spring Hill.”

The Jaguars were led Wednesday by sophomore Augustine Rubit (Houston, Texas), the Sun Belt Conference Preseason Player of the Year, who had 18 points. Seventeen of those points came in the first half and his five rebounds are tied for the third-fewest in his career. Last season, Rubit led the SBC in rebounding with 11.0 per contest, which ranked sixth-best in the nation.

“He’s been practicing a little bit harder; I don’t think he went to the boards like he generally does for a whole game,” Arrow said. “He did in the first half, though.”

Freshman Mychal Ammons (Vicksburg, Miss.) made a splash in his first appearance in a South Alabama uniform, recording a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. He came alive in the second half, leading all players with eight points and seven rebounds after halftime.

“He’s had some really good practices,” Arrow said. “Starting two days before the game, he had some really good practices, and good practices lead up to good games.”

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

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