Game Notes

MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama men’s basketball team will aim for its 11th Sun Belt Conference victory Saturday when it welcomes Florida Atlantic to the Mitchell Center in a contest televised on the Sun Belt Network.

Tom Dore and Bob Donewald will call the action starting at 7:30 p.m. Fans outside the Sun Belt Network viewing area can watch the game online on ESPN3.com while subscribers of Jaguars All-Access can also watch online at USAJaguars.com. The game can be heard on 105.5 FM WNSP or WNSP.com and fans can follow the action via live stats on USAJaguars.com or updates on Twitter @SouthAlaMBK.

The two teams enter Saturday’s game trending in opposite directions. The Jaguars (13-9, 10-4 SBC) have won five of their last six, including a 65-62 victory over Troy Thursday night, while the Owls (11-14, 6-8 SBC) have lost five of their last six, and dropped an 84-65 decision last night at Florida International.

“Like I always say, in conference play there’s some merit to who’s playing well and who isn’t, but really, things tend to even out,” interim USA head coach Jeff Price said. “Like any conference game, we’re going to have to show up and I know they’re going to come in here ready to play. Coach (Mike) Jarvis does a great job. He’s got them defending well and they are a very efficient offensive team.”

South Alabama has won three straight over Florida Atlantic and will be going for its second straight season sweep. The Jags opened the conference season all the way back on Nov. 29 in Boca Raton and earned a 77-66 victory.

“They haven’t changed a whole lot,” Price said of FAU. “They're playing some different guys and getting them more minutes, but their philosophy hasn’t changed. They try to be a very sound defensive team. They’re not real aggressive and they protect the basket and help each other. They’re a very efficient offensive team; they are second in the league in field goal percentage in conference games. They take good shots and they run their offense.

“Our team is much different. We played well down there and shot it well. But our team is different and our makeup and the way we play is a lot different. We’re just not as explosive because of the losses we’ve had on the offensive end. Our guys have learned to lock in on defense; we’re more defensive oriented now and we’re doing what we have to do to win.”

The game will feature the top two scorers in the Sun Belt: FAU senior Greg Gantt and USA junior Augustine Rubit (Houston, Texas). Gantt paces the league and ranks eighth in Division I with 21.0 points per game while Rubit is second in the conference and 29th in the nation at 19.0 per game.

“Greg Gantt is a tremendous scorer that can score from all over the floor and in all types of different ways,” Price said. “He scores a third of their points and anybody that does that has to be a really big focal point of who you need to defend.

“Obviously Aug is at the top of any team’s scouting report because of his ability to score the ball and affect the game in ways more than just scoring. It’s a great opportunity, in my opinion, for people to see two of the best players in the country.”

Gantt poured in 29 points against the Jaguars in November and has reached double-digits in all but one game this season and 22 in a row. He had 20 or more points 11 straight times, but has yet to do in his last five outings.

Rubit broke out of a sub-20 point slump Thursday with a team-high 21 points and game-best 12 rebounds vs. Troy.

Gantt and Stefan Moody combine for 35.1 of the team’s 63.8 points per game. Moody came off the bench to pour in 16 in the first meeting vs. South Alabama but was held to eight points Thursday at FIU.

“You try to limit their touches and stay close to them as you can,” Price said about defending the duo. “You help your teammates as much as you can—whoever is guarding them—and you just have to know where they are at all times, including in transition. If you can do that and focus on those two guys, you have a good chance. They’re going to put up their shots; they’re aggressive offensive players and you just make sure you contest every shot they take.”

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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