Game Notes

Game 7 • South Alabama Jaguars (5-1) at Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles (3-1)
November 30, 2016 • 7 p.m. • Reed Green Coliseum (8,095) • Hattiesburg, Miss.

THE COACHES
South Alabama
Matthew Graves (Butler, 1998)
Record at USA: 42-61 (4th year)
Overall Record: Same
Record vs. USM: 0-3

Southern Miss
Doc Sadler (Arkansas, 1982)
Record at USM: 20-42 (3rd year)
Overall Record: 169-149 (11th year)

LAST GAME
South Alabama saw its five-game season-opening win streak ended with a 72-62 loss at Eastern Illinois. Southern Miss defeated Alabama A&M 63-55.

NEXT GAME
The Jaguars return home to host Middle Tennessee Saturday. The Golden Eagles go to Jackson State Sunday.

ON THE AIR
Radio: 99.5 FM The Jag; J.D. Byars (pxp)
On the web: www.iheart.com/live/995-the-jag-mobile-7117/ (audio)

RANKINGS (Through Nov. 28)
USA: #60 RPI, #162 Sagarin
USM: #300, #304 Sagarin

THE SERIES
USM leads 25-15.

Current streak: USM, 6 wins
Last meeting: Southern Miss 57, South Alabama 54 (12/14/15)
USA's last win: 76-73 OT (12/2/08)
USA's last win at Reed Green Coliseum: 76-73 OT (12/2/08)
USM's last win at Reed Green Coliseum: 68-59 (11/17/14)
USA's record at Reed Green Coliseum: 1-6
USA's record in Hattiesburg: 7-13
USA's road streak: Lost 2
USA's longest winning / losing streak in series: 6 / 8

Notes: Southern Miss is 14-3 in the last 17 games… The Jags' six-game winning streak came from 1971-74… USA won three straight from 2005-08 after losing eight in a row from 1996-2004…USM broke the three-game skid in 2009 in Mobile… Southern Miss'  93-58 win in 2010-11 was the 12th-worst loss in South Alabama history… USA is averaging 56.3 ppg in USM's six-game win streak, scoring no more than 59 points.

OPENING TIP
South Alabama is aiming to end a six-game losing streak to Southern Miss. The Golden Eagles are 14-3 in the last 17 meetings.

The Jaguars committed a season-high 23 turnovers Saturday, the most since the 2013-14 season, and had a season-low-tying 10 assists. Entering the contest, USA had posted a positive assist/turnover ratio in four of the team's first five games, and recorded 18 assists in each of the previous two contests.

Despite the high turnover output, the Jags still rank third in the Sun Belt in both turnover margin (+3.33) and assist/turnover ratio (1.1).

South Alabama also suffered its worst defensive effort of the year, allowing Eastern Illinois to shoot 43.9 percent from the floor, 45.0 percent from 3-point land, and make nine 3-pointers.

The Jags lead the conference in scoring defense (62.0 ppg) and field-goal percentage defense (.358), and is second in 3-point defense (.281). Those averages rank 29th, 10th and 29th in the nation, respectively.

After shooting no better than 62.5 percent from the free-throw line in the first five games, USA went 8 for 10 at the stripe at EIU, to improve to 57.3 percent on the season.

In the first half this season, South Alabama is averaging 32.2 points and shooting 38.9 percent overall and 25.4 percent from behind the arc. In the second half, the team is scoring 40.8 ppg (+8.6), and shooting 52.4 percent (+13.5%) from the floor and 37.7 percent (+12.3%) from 3-point land.

Georgi Boyanov led the team Saturday with eight rebounds, his highest total of the season. Eight more rebounds will give him 500 for his career.

Boyanov leads the SBC in 3-point percentage (.727) and is fourth in field-goal percentage (.610).

Don MuepoKelly blocked on shot at EIU, extending his blocks streak to nine, dating back to last season. He is first in the league and 44th in the nation in blocks (2.2 bpg).

Ken Williams recorded his second 20-point game of the season and 21st of his career with a game-high 24 points Saturday. He jumped up two spots to eighth in USA in career points (1,372), and is 33 points shy of seventh.

Williams grabbed three steals vs. Eastern Illinois, as did Josh Ajayi, who came into the game with two all season.

Nick Stover has alternated double-digit scoring performances in the last five games. He had 15 off the bench Saturday, shooting 4 for 6 from the floor, 2 for 3 from 3-point land, and 5 for 5 from the stripe.

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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