Game Notes

Game 7 • South Alabama Jaguars (2-4) at Pepperdine Waves (5-2)
December 15, 2014 • 7 p.m. • Firestone Fieldhouse (3,104) • Malibu, Calif. • Gotham Classic

THE COACHES
South Alabama
Matthew Graves (Butler, 1998)
Record at USA: 13-24 (2nd year)
Overall Record: Same
Record vs. Pepperdine: 0-0

Pepperdine
Marty Wilson (Pepperdine, 1989)
Record at PU: 42-55 (4th year)
Overall Record: 45-65 (5th year)

LAST GAME
South Alabama lost at home in overtime to Middle Tennessee 68-67. Pepperdine gave up a 15-0 second-half run in a 81-74 loss to Arizona State.

NEXT GAME
The Jaguars continue play in the Gotham Classic at Richmond on Thursday. The Waves host Howard on Wednesday.

ON THE AIR
Radio: 710 AM WNTM; J.D. Byars (pxp)
On the web: www.iheart.com/live/newsradio-710-wntm-1 (audio)

RANKINGS (through Dec. 13)
USA: #319 RPI, #277 Sagarin
PU: #166 RPI, #95 Sagarin

THE SERIES
Tied 2-2.

Current winning streak: South Alabama, 1 win
Pepperdine's last win in series: 73-64 (12/11/76)
Last meeting: South Alabama 82, Pepperdine 64 (12/29/77)
USA's last win at Firestone Fieldhouse: N/A
PU's last win at Firestone Fieldhouse: 73-64 (12/11/76)
USA's record at Firestone Fieldhouse: 0-1
USA's record on the road: 0-2
USA's road streak: Lost 2
USA's longest winning / losing streak in series: 1 / 2

Notes: The two schools haven't met since 1977, a span of almost 37 years… The Jaguars have won both meetings in Mobile (1971 and 1977) but are 0-2 in Malibu.

OPENING TIP
South Alabama is making its first trip to the state of California since the 2008-09 season. USA competed in the Anaheim Classic, going 2-1 with wins over San Diego and Chattanooga, and a loss to Miami (Ohio).

USA is 8-7 all-time against current West Coast Conference schools, most recently losing 68-59 to Gonzaga last season.

Next week will mark the second time the Jaguars have played on opposite coasts in consecutive games. South Alabama plays at Pepperdine on Dec. 15 then at Richmond on Dec. 18. It last happened in 1971-72 when the Jags played at Georgia then at Pepperdine. However, those two games occurred 12 days apart. That season USA opened the year at Mississippi State, Michigan State, Georgia, Pepperdine and Arizona, and didn't play at home until Jan. 3.

The matchup with Pepperdine will mark almost 37 years since the last time they met, the second-longest stretch in school history. Before facing Tulane in the 2013 CollegeInsider Tournament, the Jags and Green Wave last met in 1974, a span of over 39 years.

USA has been outshot by every opponent this season.

The Jaguars shot a season-best 50.0 percent (12-24) from the floor in the first half vs. Middle Tennessee and scored 30 points before halftime for the first time since the season opener vs. Carroll. The team's overall conversion rate of 42.9 percent is the team's highest in a game since the Carroll game.

South Alabama has had a different player record a double-double in each of the last four games. Freshman Abdul Lewis is the most recent Jag to have a double-double after putting up career highs in points (17) and rebounds (12) his last time out vs. Middle Tennessee. The four players with a double-double are the highest total since five Jaguars recorded one in the 2011-12 campaign.

Lewis recorded double-digit rebounds for the second time this season and ranks in a tie for eighth in the conference with 7.0 per game. Senior Dionte Ferguson is tied for fifth at 7.5 per contest.

The Jags have outrebounded five of their six opponents this year and rank third in the Sun Belt in rebounding margin at plus-3.8. USA is one of two teams that have two players in the Sun Belt's top 10 in rebounding.

Freshman Taishaun Johnson reached the double-digit point plateau for the fourth straight game vs. Middle Tennessee with 10 points on 3 of 6 shooting from the floor. He also handed out a career-best six assists, with just one turnover, tying the most by a Jaguar in the last two seasons.