Game Notes

Game 15 • South Alabama Jaguars (7-7, 4-2) at Louisiana at Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns (6-11, 2-4)
January 10, 2013 • 7 p.m. • Cajundome (11,550) • Lafayette, La.

THE COACHES
South Alabama
Jeff Price (Pikeville, 1981) - Interim
Record at USA: 2-2 (1st year)
Overall Record: 295-188 (18th year)
Record vs. ULL: 0-0

La.-Lafayette
Bob Marlin (Mississippi State, 1981)
Record at ULL: 36-42 (3rd year)
Overall Record: 261-173 (15th year)

LAST GAME
South Alabama’s late rally against Middle Tennessee fell short Saturday in a 60-56 home loss. Louisiana at Lafayette dropped a 75-70 road decision to Florida International.

NEXT GAME
The Jaguars stay on the road and play at North Texas Saturday. The Ragin’ Cajuns host Arkansas State.

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

RANKINGS (Through Jan. 6)
USA: #213 RPI (RealTimeRPI), #191 Sagarin
ULL: #245 RPI (RealTimeRPI), #218 Sagarin

THE SERIES
USA leads 21-20.

Current streak: South Alabama, won 1
ULL’s last win in series: 76-70 OT (1/30/11)
Last meeting: South Alabama 70, Louisiana at Lafayette 65 (1/12/12)
USA’s last win at the Cajundome: 70-65 (1/12/12)
ULL’s last win at the Cajundome: 67-65 (1/24/09)
USA’s record at the Cajundome: 9-10
USA’s record on the road: 10-10
USA’s road streak: Won 1
USA’s longest winning / losing streak in series: 3 / 4

Notes: The two teams traded wins in the 2008-09 (ULL) and 2009-10  (USA) seasons by the same 67-65 score… ULL has four wins vs. USA (three regular season, one SBC tournament) that were vacated due to NCAA penalties… The Ragin’ Cajuns won the 2008-09 game on a half-court shot by Randell Daigle… The last seven games have been decided by six points or less, including one in overtime… Neither team has dominated the other for an extended period—the longest win streak by either school is four.

OPENING TIP
South Alabama rebounded from committing a season-high-tying 25 turnovers at Louisiana at Monroe by committing just 11 Saturday vs. Middle Tennessee. The 11 miscues are the third-fewest by the Jaguars this season and the team posted a positive assist-to-turnover ratio for the fourth time in 2012-13 (12 assists).

Louisiana at Lafayette is second in the conference in scoring (70.7 ppg), one place ahead of South Alabama (70.2 ppg). ULL has scored 70 or more in each of its last five games.

Thursday’s game will match the Sun Belt’s top two players in double-doubles. USA’s Augustine Rubit, currently on a career-long streak of six, has nine on the season, one more than ULL’s Shawn Long. Rubit extended his run with 10 points and 14 rebounds against Middle Tennessee and ranks eighth in Division I in double-doubles. His double-double streak helped him garner Sun Belt Player of the Week honors on Monday.

Rubit’s scoring total of 10 was his lowest since putting up a season-low eight vs. New Mexico State on Dec. 4. With Mychal Ammons posting a game-high 15 points against MTSU, Rubit failed to lead the team in scoring for the first time in five games, but he still is second in the conference at 19.3 ppg. His eight field goal attempts were his fewest this season. He had scored 19 or more in his previous five games (23.6 ppg).

Rubit has reached double-digits in rebounds in seven straight games—10 times in his last 11—besting his previous long of five set in his freshman campaign. He has grabbed 13 or more boards in four of his last five outings and has led the team in rebounding in 11 consecutive games. He is ninth in the nation in rebounds per game (11.2).

Rubit moved into 12th place at USA in career scoring (1,078) and third place in career rebounds (733), and entered the top 25 in Sun Belt history. He needs five boards to take second place at USA from Ed Rains.

Ammons, the Sun Belt’s most accurate 3-point shooter at 48.6 percent, went 3-for-6 from beyond the arc vs. MTSU, equaling his 3-point total from the previous five games combined.

Senior Javier Carter blocked two MTSU shots to extend his blocks streak to eight. He is third in the SBC in blocks per game (2.2). He just missed a double-double in last season’s matchup at ULL with 14 points and nine boards, and added six blocks.

ULL’s Elfrid Payton leads the conference in assists (5.2 apg) and steals (2.3). He had zero assists and steals with four turnovers in 10 minutes last season against USA.