Game Notes

MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama men's basketball team will try to end a season-long three-game losing streak against the hottest team in the Sun Belt Conference Saturday afternoon in the Mitchell Center.

The Jaguars will take on Georgia State, who boast a conference-best five-game win streak, at 4:05 p.m.

Fans can listen to the game on 105.5 FM and WNSP.com or watch a live videostream on USA's Jaguars All-Access subscription service. Updates will also be provided via twitter at @SouthAlaMBK and live stats on USAJaguars.com.

South Alabama lost its conference opener 58-56 to Western Kentucky Thursday on a shot with 4.3 seconds left to fall to 6-8 overall.

"We've got to continue to come in with the mindset of getting the job done defensively," Jaguar head coach Matthew Graves said. "Against Western Kentucky we held them to about a 36 percent defensive field goal percentage and if you keep doing that, you're going to win. We have to have that mindset of grinding it out on the defensive end of the floor.

"At the other end we're taking good shots for the most part. We've got to have guys step up with confidence and shoot the ball knowing it's a good shot. We're going to continue to work on that. I think Saturday's test against Georgia State will really test us defensively. They have four guys that are capable of scoring 25-plus points in a game, so we have to be really gritty and have a toughness about us to defend them."

The game will be the first regular-season meeting between the two schools as conference foes since Feb. 20, 1981.

Not only does Georgia State bring in a five straight wins, it has the third-best scoring offense in the conference (78.9) and ranks first in field goal percentage (.478) and second in 3-point percentage (.377). It boasts two of the top five scorers in the league in Ryan Harrow (20.2 ppg, 3rd) and R.J. Hunter (18.1, 5th). Both went over 20 points in GSU's win over Troy Thursday, with Hunter leading all scorers with 25 and Harrow adding 20.

"You have to have a constant awareness about them," Graves said. "Harrow and Hunter can really get going and if you allow them to get in a rhythm and get comfortable you're going to be in for a long night. Their other guys, Devonte White and Manny Atkins, do a great job of playing off of Harrow and Hunter. If you lose sight of them, then they've reeled off four or five baskets in a row. We're going to have to be focused as an entire team."

In addition to the Panthers' ability to score, they also rank as one of the best teams in the nation in terms of holding on to the ball. GSU's 8.9 turnovers per game are the third-fewest in the nation and its plus-5.5 turnover margin is 13th in Division I.

The Jaguars are second in the league committing 12.9 miscues per contest after turning the ball over 16 times Thursday against Western Kentucky.

"You really have to admire what they do offensively," Graves stated. "They play four guards, basically, and they all have decent size. When you put four guards out there on the floor, you should take care of the ball. What we've got to do is take advantage on the other end of the floor, taking the ball to the basket, getting it inside, rebounding the basketball and utilizing our strengths to counter their four guards."

USA junior Mychal Ammons (Vicksburg, Miss.) paced the team Thursday with 15 points on 7 of 11 shooting from the floor and is averaging a team-best 13.8 over his last four games while converting 61.8 percent of his field goals. He ranks fifth in the league with a 42.4 shooting percentage from 3-point land.

"I'm really proud of how he's played these last few games," Graves said. "It really starts with his attitude in practice. He's done a great job in being consistent with his work ethic and playing hard in practice. He's really starting to thrive in some things that we thought he could earlier in the year. It's taken a little bit more time to do that, so I'm pleased with how he's progressing as a player."

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).

—USA—