Game Notes

Game 27 • South Alabama Jaguars (9-17, 7-8) at Georgia State Panthers (17-8, 10-4)
February 19, 2015 • 7 p.m. EST • Georgia State Sports Arena (3,800) • Atlanta, Ga.

THE COACHES
South Alabama
Matthew Graves (Butler, 1998)
Record at USA: 20-37 (2nd year)
Overall Record: Same
Record vs. GSU: 0-3

Georgia State
Ron Hunter (Miami [Ohio], 1986)
Record at GSU: 79-45 (4th year)
Overall Record: 353-264 (21st year)

LAST GAME
South Alabama got a big lead then held off Texas-Arlington 97-91. Georgia State won 53-41 at Texas State.

NEXT GAME
The Jaguars travel to Statesboro to take on Georgia Southern. The Panthers stay in Atlanta to host Appalachian 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 Feb. 17)
USA: #301 RPI, #295 Sagarin
GSU: #81 RPI, #97 Sagarin

THE SERIES
USA leads 13-8.

Current winning streak: GSU, 4 wins
USA's last win in series: 70-66 (11/26/09)
Last meeting: GSU 65, USA 54 (2/7/15)
USA's last win at the GSU Sports Arena: 75-50 (1/29/82)
GSU's last win at the GSU Sports Arena: 85-65 (2/3/14)
USA's record at the GSU Sports Arena: 5-4
USA's road streak: Lost 3
USA's longest winning / losing streak in series: 10 / 4

Notes: The last meeting in Atlanta was delayed two days due to snow… South Alabama's 10-game win streak in the series lasted from 1979 to 2003, when Georgia State won 88-56 in Atlanta… USA leads the series 7-4 in Sun Belt games… Georgia State's current four-game win streak is its longest in the series… The Jags' 70-66 win in 2009-10 was their closest win vs GSU since the first meeting (78-77) on Feb. 16, 1976; the next closest win was nine (70-61) on Jan. 7, 1980… The Panthers' last win in Mobile prior to last season's 73-63 victory, was in 1977.

OPENING TIP
South Alabama is going for its first three-game win streak of the season.

USA is averaging 84.0 points in SBC wins and 62.8 points in losses. South Alabama is averaging 53.2 points in its last five defeats.

The Jaguars' 97 points Saturday are their second-most of the season. The program last had two games with 97 points or more in the same season in 2002-03.

After averaging 20.0 points before halftime in three straight games, the Jags are averaging 42.5 in the last two, including a season-high 49 Thursday.

USA also set new season highs vs. Texas-Arlington with a 20-point lead at halftime, 34 free throws and 46 free-throw attempts. UTA's 32 points off turnovers and 50 bench points are the most by a USA opponent this season, and the 62 points in the second half tied the most by an opponent.

Sophomore Ken Williams set new career highs Thursday in points (29), rebounds (8) and free throws (9), and tied his personal best in 3-pointers (6) and free-throw attempts (11).

Williams moved up to ninth in school history in career treys (122) and is five triples away from setting a new sophomore class record for a single season (currently has 67).

Williams' 29 points are the most by a Jaguar this season. He moved up to sixth in the Sun Belt in scoring (15.4 ppg) and in 3-point percentage (37.2%), and third in 3-pointers per game (2.6).

Sophomore Georgi Boyanov came off the bench and tied his career high vs. UTA with 17 points, putting up 12 before halftime. He is averaging 16.0 points and 7.5 rebounds in his last two outings—shooting 6 of 9 from the floor in each game—with no turnovers.

Freshman Abdul Lewis recorded double-digit rebounds Saturday for the second time in three games. He leads the team with six double-digit rebounding games this season.

Freshman Taishaun Johnson recorded 11 of his 16 points vs. UTA from the foul line in 16 attempts. The 11 free throws are tied for third in Mitchell Center history and the most by a USA player this season. Johnson is averaging 16.7 points in his last three games.

Senior Dionte Ferguson has blocked a shot in six straight games—2.5 per outing over that span—and is third in the SBC with 1.5 per contest for the season.

Georgia State's R.J. Hunter averages 24.5 points in four career games against South Alabama with three games of 24 or more. He scored 19 earlier this year, his lowest vs. the Jags. He is shooting 50.0 percent from the floor, 53.6 percent from distance, and 96.9 percent from the free-throw line vs. USA.