Game Notes

MOBILE, Ala. – After a close loss on Thursday, the University of South Alabama men's basketball team will try to end the home portion of its schedule on a high note Saturday when it hosts Louisiana-Lafayette at the Mitchell Center.

Tip-off is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. Fans can follow the action via live stats on USAJaguars.com, Twitter at @SouthAlaMBK, audio on 710 AM or www.iheart.com/live/newsradio-710-wntm-1, or video on JagNationTV.com.

"We're excited that we're playing our last home game," USA head coach Matthew Graves said. "There should be a lot of energy and excitement with our seniors playing their final home game. I believe that we're going to come out, play extremely hard. Obviously the last game we played with Louisiana-Lafayette was a battle, so I look forward to an intense, hard-fought game."

The Jaguars will say goodbye to three players – Barrington Stevens III (Allen, Texas), John Brown (Charlotte, N.C.) and Tafari Whittingham (Brooklyn, N.Y.) – who will be playing in their last home game, in a ceremony prior to tipoff.

"I think it's very important for us to send these guys out on a winning note, because it's something that they'll remember for the rest of their lives," Graves said. "You always remember your last game that you played. To get a win in that game, just makes it that much more special."

Despite the defeat to Louisiana-Monroe, the South Alabama defense held the hottest 3-point shooting team in the Sun Belt to five 3-pointers and 25.0 percent shooting, including 0 for 7 in the second half alone. The Jags have the third-best 3-point defense in the conference at 32.3 percent.

"I think we've made great strides defensively this season," Graves stated. "The last several games we've had opportunities to win games with our defense, which we've done, and last night's game, we got a lot of defensive stops in the second half to get back in the game. Overall, our defensive intensity, especially in the last month, has taken a big step forward."

The defense will be called upon to stop the SBC's top scoring team in Louisiana-Lafayette, who averages 80.1 points per game, thanks to the third-leading scorer in Shawn Long (18.9 ppg).

"We've got to continue doing what we've been doing, which is keeping teams out of transition," Graves said. "They're an outstanding team in the open court, and in transition they're a very difficult team to defend."

Long leads the Sun Belt in rebounding and blocks with 12.9 and 1.8 per game, respectively. While he had arguably his worst game against South Alabama earlier this season in Lafayette with 11 points and five rebounds, he averages 17.0 points and 11.6 rebounds vs. USA in his career.

"Our low-post defense has got to be really engaged and locked in, because Long will be the player of the year in the league, and he's coming off a 29 (point) and 20 (rebound) game,"Graves said. "We've got to be physical, not allow him to get deep post touches, and make every shot he takes difficult.

"He leads all active players in double-doubles, and with his size, ability to play inside and out, and his motor for rebounding, he's a very difficult matchup. You're not going to shut him out; your hope is to get him in foul trouble and break his rhythm because once he's in a rhythm, you're going to be in for a long night."

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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