Game Notes

Game 9 • South Alabama Jaguars (4-4) at UAB Blazers (4-5)
December 8, 2012 • 7 p.m. • Bartow Arena (8,500) • Birmingham, Ala.

THE COACHES
South Alabama
Ronnie Arrow (Southwest Texas State, 1969)
Record at USA: 210-160 (14th year)
Overall Record: 344-251 (22st year)
Record vs. UAB: 7-8

UAB
Jerod Haase (Kansas, 1997)
Record at UAB: 4-5 (1st year)
Overall Record: Same

LAST GAME
South Alabama tried to rally from an early 17-point deficit against New Mexico State, but fell short 58-52. UAB lost 84-64 at Middle Tennessee.

NEXT GAME
Both squads will return to action Dec. 16. The Jaguars start a three-game homestand vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and the Blazers travel to Rutgers.

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

RANKINGS (Through Dec. 5)
USA: #202 RPI (RealTimeRPI), #164 Sagarin
UAB: #134 RPI (RealTimeRPI), #129 Sagarin

THE SERIES
UAB leads 29-14.

Current streak: USA, 1 win
Last meeting: South Alabama 55, UAB 47 (11/30/11)
UAB’s last win in series: 82-58 (11/23/10)
USA’s last win at Bartow Arena: N/A
USA’s last win in Birmingham: 82-68 (2/27/88)
USA’s record at Bartow Arena: 0-8
USA’s record in Birmingham: 2-18
USA’s road streak: Lost 8
USA’s longest winning / losing streak in series: 4 / 9

Notes: Once co-members of the Sun Belt Conference, the two schools have met just five times since 1999… South Alabama snapped a six-game losing streak to UAB last season… Saturday will mark the first time since 1993-96 that the schools have played four consecutive seasons… After losing four of five in from 1988-89, UAB has won 11 of the last 15 meetings… The Blazers won nine in a row from 1981-85… USA has never won in Bartow Arena and has not won in Birmingham since Feb. 27, 1988… UAB has dominated USA at home, winning 18 of the 20 meetings.

OPENING TIP
The Jaguars are 0-8 all-time in Bartow Arena and have not won in Birmingham since 1988.

Bartow Arena, named after former head coach Gene Bartow, was just passed by USA head coach Ronnie Arrow on Dec. 1 for the most Sun Belt wins in history. Arrow has 112 over 14 seasons.

When the 3-pointers are falling, it usually means good things for the Jaguars. In the team’s four wins, USA is averaging 8.8 treys per game and converting at a 46.1 percent clip. In four losses, however, the Jags have hit 5.5 triples per contest at 31.0 percent. South Alabama has hit nine or more in two wins, but six or fewer and 30 percent or less in three losses. USA went 5-for-17 from behind the arc Tuesday vs. New Mexico State.

The Jaguars struggled from the line Tuesday, converting just 9 of 17 for 52.9 percent. Entering the game, the team led the Sun Belt Conference and was in the top 50 in the nation in free throw percentage at 74.9 percent. Augustine Rubit missed twice at the line for the second time this season to fall from the top spot individually in the league.

Rubit’s eight points vs. NMSU marked the first time this season he was held to single-digit scoring. He did manage to grab 10 rebounds for the fourth time in fifth games (he had nine at FIU) to remain second in the league in rebounding (9.1 rpg). He is also second in scoring (17.8 ppg) and free throw percentage (87.0%).

USA’s 13 steals Tuesday ties the most by the program since the 2006-07 season. The Jaguars last had 13 in a game Feb. 10, 2011 vs. Troy. Both Javier Carter (five) and Xavier Roberson (four) set new career highs individually.

Over his last two games, Mychal Ammons is averaging 18.5 points and 3.5 three-pointers, and is shooting 59.1 percent from the floor and 63.6 percent from 3-point land. He followed up a season-low three-point performance at FAU to score a game-high 21 points at FIU, thanks to a 5-for-7 outing from behind the arc. He was the only Jaguar in double-figures vs. New Mexico State with 16 and he added eight rebounds and two steals. He ranks second in the Sun Belt in 3-point percentage (52.4%) and fourth in rebounding (8.1 rpg).

UAB started 3-1 on the season but as lost four of its last five outings, including two in a row by at least 18 points at No. 18 North Carolina and Middle Tennessee. Saturday will mark the Blazers’ first home game since Nov. 20.

The Blazers have five players averaging 9.2 points or more, including former WKU player Jordan Swing, who is averaging a team-best 14.8 points and shooting 52.5 percent on 3-pointers (third in Conference USA).