Game Notes

Game 14 • South Alabama Jaguars (5-8, 0-2) at Georgia Southern Eagles (4-8, 0-2)
January 7, 2016 • 7:30 p.m. EST • Hanner Fieldhouse (4,325) • Statesboro, Ga.

THE COACHES
South Alabama
Matthew Graves (Butler, 1998)
Record at USA: 28-49 (3rd year)
Overall Record: Same
Record vs. GS: 0-2

Ga. Southern
Mark Byington (UNC Wilmington, 1998)
Record at GS: 41-36 (3rd year)
Overall Record: 48-40 (4th year)

LAST GAME
South Alabama gave up big second-half runs in an 89-67 loss to Arkansas State. Georgia Southern dropped a 92-72 decision at Texas-Arlington.

NEXT GAME
The Jaguars head to Atlanta to take on Georgia State Saturday. The Eagles host Troy.

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. 4)
USA: #272 RPI, #273 Sagarin
GS: #276 RPI, #302 Sagarin

THE SERIES
South Alabama leads 6-3.

Current streak: GS, 2 wins
Last meeting: Georgia Southern 80, USA 74 (2/21/15)
USA's last win in series: 70-57 (12/19/11)
USA's last win in Hanner Fieldhouse: 68-58 (12/18/10)
GSU's last win in Hanner Fieldhouse: 80-74 (2/21/15)
USA's record in Hanner Fieldhouse: 3-1
USA's road streak: Lost 1
USA's longest winning / losing streak in series: 4 / 2

Notes: The two school's met in a home-and-home series in 2010-11 and 2011-12, both Jaguar victories… The 2010-11 game was the first between the two schools since 1980… Three of the five games in Mobile have taken place in Jag Gym… USA won the first three games in Statesboro, taking all three games by an average of 13.3 points, putting up 81.0 points per game… The first five games in the series took place between Jan. 12, 1978 and Feb. 12, 1980… The Eagles swept the season series in 2014-15, earning their first victory in Statesboro.

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

USA is averaging 12.5 turnovers after averaging 21.5 in wins over Samford and Rice. Georgia Southern is second in the league in turnover margin (+4.42) and turnovers forced per game (17.1), and first in steals (9.3 spg).

USA is 0-8 this season when being outshot by its opponent and 5-0 when winning the shooting battle. Under head coach Matthew Graves, the Jaguars are 22-7 when outshooting their opponent and 6-42 (2-21 vs. Sun Belt schools) when not.

After scoring 38 points in the paint in each of back-to-back wins vs. Samford and Rice, the Jaguars have scored just 18 and 24 in losses to Little Rock and Arkansas State, respectively, the second-lowest total in two games this season.

South Alabama is shooting 38.0 percent (19-50) from 3-point range, and 31.9 percent (23-72) from inside the arc in its last two games. The 19 triples are the most by the team in a two-game span this year.

Arkansas State shot 70.4 percent (19-27) in the second half Saturday; the last time that happened by a USA opponent was Dec. 22, 2007 by Middle Tennessee.

Georgi Boyanov was held to five points and six rebounds Saturday, ending his three-game double-double streak, the longest by a Jaguar since Javier Carter in March 2013. He closed out December by averaging 14.0 points and 11.3 rebounds, and shooting 61.5 percent from the floor.

Boyanov converted just two of his six attempts vs. Arkansas State, marking the third time this season he hit below 50 percent from the floor. He fell to third in the league in field-goal percentage (.564).

Boyanov has three double-doubles this season, and six in his career. He tops the team in 2015-16 and is the program's active leader as well.

Ken Williams led all scorers Saturday with a season-high 23 points. He hit 8 of 16 from the floor and 4 of 5 from 3-point land. He had totaled just six points in his previous two games combined. The 23 points are the most by a USA player this season.

Williams moved into sole possession of fourth place for career 3s at South Alabama with 165, breaking a tie with Richard Law.

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—