Game Notes

MOBILE, Ala. – With two victories already under their belt, the University of South Alabama men’s basketball team will attempt to complete its three-game homestand with a clean sweep Saturday against Arkansas State.

The Jaguars and Red Wolves will tip off at 7:05 p.m. Fans can listen to the game on 105.5 FM WNSP or online at WNSP.com. Subscribers to Jaguars All-Access can also watch live video at USAJaguars.com. Updates will be provided via live stats and Twitter: @SouthAlaMBK.

Saturday South Alabama will be looking to end the 2012 calendar with its third straight win and stay undefeated in the Sun Belt Conference. The Jags enter the contest 6-5 overall but 3-0 in league play. Arkansas State snapped a two-game skid Thursday with a dominating 87-70 win over Louisiana at Lafayette and will bring a 7-5, 1-2 record to the game.

The Jaguars went into the Christmas break on a high note, defeating Arkansas at Little Rock 77-62, to give interim head coach Jeff Price a win in his first game in charge.

“I thought we were really solid, obviously,” said Price. “After watching the tape twice, we were good on both ends. We had the huge run that won the game for us, but we defended extremely well—held them to 38 percent—and we shot the ball well. We pushed the ball up the court and scored 77 points against a team that was giving up 62. Obviously it was a really good effort on both ends.”

Four of USA’s five starters scored in double-digits and used a 16-0 first half run to put away the Trojans. The Jags forced a season-high 21 turnovers and scored 27 points off of them.

“That allowed us to get in transition more and get some easy baskets out of our defense,” Price said. “Those points are from our defense so we need to continue to have that mentality of defending with pressure and score off our defense.”

Arkansas State is no stranger to forcing turnovers as the team leads the Sun Belt in steals (9.8 spg), turnover margin (+4.17) and turnovers forced (17.8). South Alabama committed just 10 miscues vs. UALR—the second-lowest total in a game this season—while its assist-to-turnover ratio was a season best plus-five.

“They pressure a lot,” Price said of Arkansas State. “They’re going to press some and they really get after the ball; that’s why they’re up there in steals.

“We just need to take care of (the ball) and make good decisions. If they get up in us too deep, try to break them down and as always, we need to get the ball inside and get things done in the paint.”

Saturday’s game will feature two of the top three scorers and the top two rebounders in the Sun Belt. USA junior Augustine Rubit (18.9 ppg) and ASU’s Ed Townsel (16.8) are ranked two-three in scoring while Rubit (10.3 rpg) and ASU’s Brandon Peterson (10.1 rpg) occupy the top two spots in the rebounding list.

Townsel is averaging 27.5 points in his last two games, including a career-best 31 Thursday vs. Louisiana at Lafayette. He also ranks third in the SBC in 3-pointers per contest (2.9) and second in steals per game (2.1).

He poured in a team-high 17 against the Jaguars last season.

“He can really shoot the ball and he went to the line 11 times; their team went 37 times,” Price noted. “That gives you an idea of their ability to put the ball on the floor with their quickness and get to the basket. He’s not the only one that’s dangerous; Trey Finn is a preseason all-conference player that’s averaging eight (points per game) right now that can get 30 (points) on you in a hurry.”

While Townsel provides the Red Wolves with an outside threat, Peterson does his work on the inside. While he was held to a season-low two points Thursday, he still grabbed a team-high-tying eight rebounds and has recorded ten boards or more six times.

“He’s a force inside that’s playing well,” Price said. “They won by 17 points (Thursday) night and he had two points. He’s able to jump up and have 20. He’s a tremendous rebounder.  It shows how many threats they have inside and out.

Countering Peterson for South Alabama is Rubit, who scored his 1,000th career point last Saturday and has notched three straight double-doubles. He is averaging 22.0 points and 13.3 rebounds in his last three games.

“You’re going to see two of the better interior players in the conference play against each other,” Price said. “Hopefully Aug will be ready for the task.”

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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