Game Notes

Game 13 • South Alabama Jaguars (7-5) at Ole Miss Rebels (8-3)
December 22, 2016 • 8 p.m. • Pavilion at Ole Miss (9,051) • Oxford, Miss.

THE COACHES
South Alabama
Matthew Graves (Butler, 1998)
Record at USA: 44-65 (4th year)
Overall Record: Same
Record vs. Ole Miss: 0-0

Ole Miss
Andy Kennedy (UAB, 1991)
Record at UM: 220-129 (11th year)
Overall Record: 241-142 (12th year)

LAST GAME
South Alabama used a strong second half to defeat Spring Hill 71-50 Monday. Ole Miss downed Bradley 66-49.

NEXT GAME
The Jaguars return after the new year and open Sun Belt play Jan. 2 against Troy. The Rebels commence their SEC schedule Dec. 29 vs. Kentucky.

ON THE AIR
TV: SEC Network; Richard Cross (pxp), Mark Wise (color)
Radio: 99.5 FM The Jag; J.D. Byars (pxp)
On the web: www.iheart.com/live/995-the-jag-mobile-7117/ (audio); http://es.pn/2hc9oOV (video)

RANKINGS (Through Dec. 19)
USA: #217 RPI, #216 Sagarin
UM: #41 RPI, #86 Sagarin

THE SERIES
Ole Miss leads 4-1.

Current streak: Ole Miss, 3 wins
Last meeting: Ole Miss 89, South Alabama 71 (11/18/08)
USA's last win: 70-54 (12/30/75)
USA's last win at the Pavilion: N/A
USA's last win on the road: N/A
USA's record at the Pavilion: 0-0
USA's record on the road: 0-2
USA's road streak: Lost 2
USA's longest winning / losing streak in series: 1 / 3
Notes: The series started in the 1969-70 season, USA's second as a varsity program… The Jaguars' one win came in the 1975-76 season, in Mobile… The first three games took place in Mobile, either part of the Senior Bowl (1969-70, 1975-76) or the Coors Classic (2006-07)… The Rebels have scored at least 80 points in each of their last three wins.

OPENING TIP
South Alabama has posted a positive assist/turnover ratio six times in seven wins this season. The team had 14 assists and 13 turnovers Monday vs. Spring Hill, and is plus-27 in victories, and is minus-28 in five losses.

Spring Hill is the first Jaguar opponent to shoot under 10 percent from 3-point land since Texas State on March 6, 2014, and its 6.3 percentage from 3-point land tied the lowest by an opponent since Louisiana-Lafayette converted 1 of 18 (.056) on Jan. 21, 1999.

USA is holding the opposition to 22.1 percent and 4.1 3-pointers in seven wins this season, but allowing 7.6 triples and 39.6 percent in losses.

Spring Hill's 31.0 shooting percentage in the second half ends a run of four straight games where USA's opponent shot 50.0 percent or better after intermission. The Badgers, who hit 33.9 percent from the floor, are the seventh South Alabama opponent to shoot less than 40 percent from the floor this season

The Jaguars rank second in the Sun Belt in scoring defense (64.8 ppg), and third in field-goal percentage defense (.398) and 3-point defense (.295).

Ole Miss is fourth in the SEC in scoring (80.1 ppg) and third in 3-pointers (8.5 pg).

USA forced a season-high-tying 19 turnovers Monday, and are second in the conference in both turnover margin (+3.58) and turnovers forced (17.1 pg).

The Jaguars have shot 50 percent or better from the floor in the second half eight times this year.

Georgi Boyanov has scored in double-digits in his last six games, and is averaging 15.0 points while shooting 64.6 percent from the floor and 63.6 percent from 3-point territory over that span, team bests in all three categories.

Boyanov leads the Sun Belt in 3-point percentage (.682) and is second in field-goal percentage (.629).

Shaq Calhoun led all players Monday with 17 points, four assists — a new career high — and three steals. He is averaging 18.5 points in his last two games.

Josh Ajayi has scored in double-digits three consecutive outings and is averaging 11.0 ppg while shooting 60 percent from the floor (12-20) and 3-point land (3-5) over that span. He came off the bench to pour in 13 on Monday.

Don MuepoKelly did not have a block or a steal vs. Spring Hill for the first time since March 3, a span of 14 games. He is tied for second in the Sun Belt in blocks (1.3 pg) and tied for ninth in steals (1.4 pg).

The 2017 Sun Belt Conference Men's and Women's Basketball Championships are scheduled for a week of March Madness in the Big Easy.  New Orleans will once again be home to the two championships that will take place at Lakefront Arena from March 7-12 and ticket books can now be purchased from your school's ticket office.  For more information, visit the Sun Belt Conference's championship central websites - Men's Championship – Women's Championship – and be sure to follow the #FunBelt on social media - @SunBelt.

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—