Game Notes

Game 3 • Tennessee State Tigers (0-3) vs. South Alabama Jaguars (2-0)
November 19, 2012 • 4 p.m. EST • Georgia State Sports Arena (3,800) • Atlanta, Ga.

THE COACHES
South Alabama
Ronnie Arrow (Southwest Texas State, 1969)
Record at USA: 208-156 (14th year)
Overall Record: 342-247 (22st year)
Record vs. TSU: 0-0

Tennessee State
Travis Williams (Georgia State, 1995)
Record at TSU: 0-3 (1st year)
Overall Record: 42-48 (4th year)

LAST GAME
South Alabama won its 21st straight home opener Wednesday, defeating William Carey 82-64. Tennessee State suffered a 72-43 setback at Minnesota on Thursday.

NEXT GAME
Both teams continue play at the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic. The Jaguars take on Monmouth while the Tigers face off against host Georgia State.

ON THE AIR
Radio: 105.5 WNSP; Lee Shirvanian (pxp)
On the web: www.wnsp.com (audio)

RANKINGS (Through Nov. 16)
USA: #4 RPI (RealTimeRPI), #148 Sagarin
TSU: #262 RPI (RealTimeRPI), #177 Sagarin

THE SERIES
Monday will be the first meeting between the two schools.

OPENING TIP
South Alabama won its 21st straight home opener Wednesday, defeating William Carey 82-64.

The Jaguars last started 2-0 in the 1996-97 season. That team finished 23-7 and won the Sun Belt title en route to a berth in the NCAA Tournament. That was also the last time USA started 3-0. The last 4-0 start was 1990-91 and 1982-83 was the last time the Jags were 5-0.

South Alabama leads the Sun Belt in free throw percentage, field goal percentage and 3-point field goal percentage. The Jags have three in the league’s top 10 in scoring and two of the top four in field goal percentage.

USA dominated the second half against William Carey, outscoring the Crusaders 46-28 after halftime thanks to a 60.0 shooting percentage. The Jags went 0-for-6 from 3-point territory in the first half but hit six of their 12 long-range attempts in the second. Antoine Allen and Xavier Roberson combined to go 6 of 7 from distance in the second half.

Despite missing the final 16 games of the 2011-12 season with a foot injury, Roberson has showed no sign of rust since his return. he is averaging 12.5 points in two games, including 15 vs. William Carey. All 15 of his points and all four of his 3-pointers came in the second half, and his 3-point total is a new career high. Roberson went 0-for-6 from the floor and 0-for-3 from 3-point territory in the first half. He had five assists and no turnovers in the season opener at FSU. Roberson’s 15 points are his most since scoring 19 last Nov. 23 in an overtime win at LSU.

Junior Augustine Rubit bounced back from an average performance at FSU with a game-high 20 points and just missed a double-double with nine rebounds. He scored 16 of his 20 points in the first half, and with 3:58 left to play before halftime, accounted for half of the team’s 32 points. Rubit ranks in a tie for fifth in the conference in points per game (16.0).

Senior Javier Carter extended his blocks streak to eight games in grand style, rejecting seven shots vs. William Carey. His total ranks in a tie for fifth in school history for a single game. He also dished out a career-high three assists (with no turnovers) and grabbed eight rebounds. Carter’s efforts have helped the Jags rank first in the conference in blocks per game (6.5) after the team had nine vs. William Carey.

Sophomore Mychal Ammons recorded his third straight double-double Wednesday with 19 points and a career-high 13 rebounds. He did not have a double-double in his first 28 career games but has three in a row since. He is averaging 15.5 points and 8.5 rebounds in his last 11 games. Ammons leads the SBC in rebounding (12.0 rpg), is second in field goal percentage (66.7%) and sixth in free throw percentage (90.0%).