Game Notes

Game 13 • South Alabama Jaguars (2-10, 0-2) at Arkansas-Little Rock Trojans (5-7, 0-2)
January 5, 2015 • 7:30 p.m. • Jack Stephens Center (5,600) • Little Rock, Ark.

THE COACHES
South Alabama
Matthew Graves (Butler, 1998)
Record at USA: 13-30 (2nd year)
Overall Record: Same
Record vs. UALR: 0-2

UALR
Steve Shields (Baylor, 1988)
Record at UALR: 184-167 (12th year)
Overall Record: Same

LAST GAME
South Alabama fell behind early at Texas-Arlington Saturday and couldn't catch up, losing 99-87. Arkansas-Little Rock fell 82-69 at Georgia State.

NEXT GAME
The Jaguars return home to face Appalachian State Thursday. The Trojans travel to Texas State.

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 Jan. 2)
USA: #347 RPI, #313 Sagarin
UALR: #284 RPI, #268 Sagarin

THE SERIES
USA leads 25-16.

Current winning streak: UALR, 2 wins
USA's last win in series: 70-66 (2/2/13) in Little Rock
Last meeting: UALR 62, South Alabama 58 (2/1/14)
USA's last win in Little Rock: 70-66 (2/2/13)
UALR's last win in Little Rock: 65-60 (1/9/14)
USA's record in Stephens Center: 3-2
USA's record in Little Rock: 9-10
USA's road streak: Lost 1
USA's longest winning / losing streak in series: 6 / 3

Notes: The Jaguars' victory in Little Rock in 2012-13 was the program's first since 2007-08… The Trojans' 75-50 win in 2011-12 was the second-biggest win by UALR in the series… UALR swept the season series last year for the first time since 1995-96… UALR's win in Mobile on 1/22/09 ended a four-game USA winning streak in the series… USA won 10 of 11 from 3/2/97 to 3/3/01… The Jags are 6-1 vs. the Trojans in the SBC Tournament, including 3-1 at neutral sites… The lone loss came in 2010-11 (82-68) in the first round… South Alabama advanced to the SBC championship game in 2009 with a 54-44 win in Hot Springs.

OPENING TIP
South Alabama is 0-2 in the Sun Belt Conference for the third time in the last four years.

The Jaguars' seven-game losing streak is the program's longest since 2004-05.

The last time USA gave up 90 points or more, March 2 at Louisiana-Lafayette (102 points), the team allowed just 53 in a home win vs. Texas State.

After not losing the rebounding battle six times in seven games earlier this season, the Jags have been outrebounded twice in their last three outings, with a minus-14 margin Dec. 23 vs. Howard and a minus-15 margin—tying a season low—Saturday at UT Arlington. The Mavericks had 15 offensive rebounds to the Jaguars' 17 defensive boards.

USA set new season highs Saturday at Texas-Arlington with 87 points, 18 assists, 51.9 percent shooting in the first half, 53.6 percent in the second and 52.7 percent overall. Five Jaguars, including four starters, reached double-digit points and the team had 11 3-pointers to tie its season high (Miami).

The team hit the 80-point plateau for the first time since scoring 83 in the season opener vs. Carroll. South Alabama last scored 87 or more in regulation on Dec. 2, 2013 vs. Spring Hill.

Junior Barrington Stevens III had 12 points and set a new career high with seven assists against UTA, the most by a USA player since Dre Conner had nine in 2012-13. Stevens is fifth in the Sun Belt in assist/turnover ratio at 2.0 and tied for seventh in assists at 3.2. Stevens went 4-for-4 from the free-throw line after entering the contest 1-for-2 from the line on the year.

Senior Dionte Ferguson failed to block a shot Saturday for the first time in seven games. He had multiple rejections four times during that run, including a career-high five vs. Arkansas State. Ferguson does have a steal in five consecutive outings, and in seven of his last eight.

Ferguson was held to three rebounds vs. UT Arlington—tying his season low—after averaging 10.0 rebounds in his previous three outings. He ranks fifth in the conference with 7.5 rebounds per game.

Freshman Abdul Lewis is one spot behind Ferguson in the SBC rankings at 7.3 per contest. The Jaguars are the only school in the league with two players in the top six.

Sophomore Ken Williams led all scorers Saturday with 18 points off the bench on 7-for-17 shooting overall and 4-for-9 from 3-point land. He also tied his season high with four assists and added one block and steal each.

Freshman Taishaun Johnson went for 15 points vs. UTA and is averaging 16.8 points over his last four games. He has scored 10 or more 10 times in 12 outings.

Johnson leads the team with 52 free-throw attempts and a 76.9 free-throw percentage. His free-throw percentage ranks 11th in the Sun Belt.