Game Notes
Game 20 • South Alabama Jaguars (7-12, 2-6) at Troy Trojans (6-13, 1-7)
January 26, 2016 • 7:30 p.m. • Trojan Arena (5,200) • Troy, Ala.
THE COACHES
South Alabama
Matthew Graves (Butler, 1998)
Record at USA: 30-53 (3rd year)
Overall Record: Same
Record vs. Troy: 3-1
Troy
Phil Cunningham (Campbellsville, 1990)
Record at Troy: 27-52 (3rd year)
Overall Record: Same
LAST GAMESouth Alabama lost 100-68 at Louisiana-Monroe Saturday. Troy fell 88-65 on the road to Louisiana-Lafayette.
NEXT GAMEThe Jaguars return home Saturday to take on Appalachian State. Troy faces App State Thursday.
ON THE AIRRadio: 710 AM WNTM;
J.D. Byars (pxp)
On the web:
www.iheart.com/live/newsradio-710-wntm-1 (audio)
RANKINGS (through Jan. 23)USA: #248 RPI, #273 Sagarin
Troy: #290 RPI, #270 Sagarin
THE SERIESUSA leads 18-7.
Current winning streak: South Alabama, 3 wins
Troy's last win in series: 79-74 (2/6/14) in Troy
Last meeting: South Alabama 96, Troy 93 (3/7/15)
USA's last win at Trojan Arena: 71-67 (2/12/15)
USA's record at Trojan Arena: 2-1
USA's record in Troy: 7-3
USA's road streak: Won 1
USA's longest winning / losing streak in series: 5 / 2
Notes: South Alabama has won eight of the last nine meetings... Despite the in-state rivals being separated by about 170 miles, the two schools have met just 25 times; all but two of the meetings came after Troy joined the Sun Belt in 2005... South Alabama won the two pre-Sun Belt clashes in 1993 and 1995... The Jaguars won the first five games in the series and seven of the first eight... A buzzer-beating shot gave USA a 69-67 victory in Mobile on Jan. 16, 2010... Freddie Goldstein set a new school record with nine 3-pointers in the 2011- 12 season at Troy... USA leads the series 2-1 in games played at the Sun Belt Tournament, including an 87-81 victory in 2011-12 in the first round... Troy snapped a five-game skid in 2013-14 in Troy.
OPENING TIPThe last eight games in the series have been decided by eight points or fewer, and the last two have been by seven points combined.
The lone Troy win in the last nine meetings was in Troy, in 2013-14.
The Jaguars are averaging 9.0 treys with a 42.2 shooting percentage in their last three games. It is the team's best 3-point run over three games all season.
Shaq Calhoun is averaging 11.3 points, 2.3 triples, and shooting 48.0 percent from the floor in his last three games.
Georgi Boyanov scored 13 points with eight rebounds to increase his rebounding average to a team-best 7.5 per game, which ranks sixth in the Sun Belt.
Boyanov converted 5 of 7 from the floor against ULM and is now shooting 57.3 percent for the season, second best in the league.
Since tying his career high with six 3-pointers vs. Texas-Arlington,
Ken Williams has made just 2 of 11 attempts from distance in his last two games. He is sixth in the SBC in 3s per game (1.9).
Williams led the team in scoring Saturday for the second straight game and 11th time all season with 14 points. He also dished out a team-high three assists to increase his USA-leading total to 51.
Barrington Stevens III has shot 50.0 percent from the floor over his last two games to average 10.5 ppg. He has hit three of his five 3-point attempts over that span and his seven assists top the squad.
John Brown is averaging 8.5 points and shooting 66.7 percent from the floor — 60.0 percent from 3-point range — in his last two games. He recorded a team-best two steals Saturday.
Under head coach
Matthew Graves, the Jaguars are averaging 81.8 points in four games against Troy, and racked up 96 in the 2014-15 regular-season finale.
Troy ranks last in the Sun Belt in scoring defense (77.7 ppg) and has given up 86.5 points in its last two outings, including 88 its last time out at Louisiana-Lafayette.
The Trojans are the only team with two players in the top eight in the league in scoring.
Wesley Person ranks seventh at 16.5 ppg and
Jordon Varnado is eighth at 15.6 ppg.
Varnado is tied with Boyanov for fourth in the league with five double-doubles.
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—
