CHARLESTON, Ill. – The University of South Alabama men's basketball team committed a season-high 23 turnovers and was held without a point for over seven minutes in the second half as Eastern Illinois defeated the Jaguars 72-62 Saturday afternoon at Lantz Arena.

The loss ends the Jags' season-opening five-game win streak and drops them to 5-1. The Panthers go to 4-2 on the year.

"I'm certainly disappointed with the outcome," USA head coach Matthew Graves said. "I felt like turnovers were a big reason for the loss. We shot the ball well enough overall – 44.6 percent – to be in the game, but when you turn the ball over 23 times, especially on the road, you really limit your opportunities to be successful."

The 23 turnovers are the most by the Jaguars in a non-overtime game since committing 26 vs. Louisiana-Lafayette on Jan. 16, 2014.

"This was our second road game, so we should be familiar with how to play and respond on the road, but unfortunately we came out flat, especially defensively," said Graves. "When you allow them to go 9 for 20 from 3, our defensive intensity just wasn't what it had been in the previous five games. We know and understand that, and we have to get back to work on Monday."

Despite leading for almost the entire game, the Panthers didn't take control until an eight-minute stretch midway through the second half. EIU went on a 10-2 run and held USA without a field goal for a span of 8:11.

Eastern Illinois led by two after a 3-pointer from Jaguar senior Nick Stover (Los Angeles, Calif.) when the run started. Back-to-back buckets stretched the lead to six, and after two free throws from USA senior Ken Williams (Houston, Texas), Montell Goodwin hit a triple for a seven-point advantage.

Cornell Johnston converted a free throw, and after a nearly four-minute scoreless stretch by both teams, EIU's Patrick Muldoon made a layup for a 56-46 lead, EIU's largest of the night.

The Jags went 0 for 5 from the floor and had six turnovers during the field-goal drought, and allowed six Panther offensive rebounds.

"We just never got in a rhythm offensively and you have to give Eastern Illinois credit – they did a good job of forcing us to drive or pass where we really didn't have anything, and got into gaps," Graves said. "We got in trouble and that's why we were turning the ball over way too much."

South Alabama won the battle of the boards 36-33, but Eastern Illinois converted its 13 offensive rebounds into 17 points, compared to eight second-chance points on 12 offensive rebounds for the Jaguars.

"They did a great job of once they got the offensive rebound, they were able to finish," Graves stated. "We missed some opportunities around the rim and got spread out a little bit, but it came down to them playing with a lot more energy and effort. That's something I have to correct."

Williams led all scorers with 24 points, shooting 10 for 18 from the floor, and added a game-high-tying three steals. He moved into eighth place on USA's career scoring list with 1,372.

Stover was the second Jag in double-digits as he came off the bench to pour in 13 points with seven rebounds. Senior Georgi Boyanov (Lovech, Bulgaria) grabbed a team-best eight rebounds.

Ray Crossland shot 6 for 9 from the field for a team-high 15 points in a reserve role for EIU, leading a group of five in double figures. Goodwin had 14 on three 3-pointers, Muusa Dama added 12 with a game-high nine rebounds, and Demetrius McReynolds and Johnston had 10 points each.

The Jaguars will attempt to snap a six-game skid against their next opponent, Southern Miss, on Wednesday in Hattiesburg, Miss.

NOTES: A win would have assured the Jaguars of their first-ever 6-0 start in school history… Eastern Illinois' 43.9 shooting percentage, 45.0 3-point percentage and nine 3-pointers are season highs by a Jaguar opponent… The Jags made eight of their 10 free-throw attempts for a season-best 80.0 percent… USA had posted a positive assist/turnover ratio in four of its five games this year, and tied a season low with 10 assists… The Jaguars found themselves trailing at halftime for the first time all season… USA converted 50 percent from the floor in the first half for the first time in 2016-17… Williams scored 20 points or more for the 21st time in his career… Freshman Josh Ajayi (El Monte, Calif.) was credited with three steals; he had two all season coming into the contest… Senior Don MuepoKelly (Fontana, Calif.) extended his blocks streak to nine games – dating back to last season – with one rejection, but saw his eight-game run with at least one steal snapped.

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).

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