Game Notes

MOBILE, Ala. – One game after taking down the longest win streak in the Sun Belt Conference, the University of South Alabama men's basketball will take on the new active leader in Georgia State Monday night in a game televised on the American Sports Network.

Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. Check local listings for the American Sports Network in your area, or watch on ESPN3. Audio will be available on 99.5 FM in Mobile or on iHeartRadio.com. Updates will be provided via live stats on USAJaguars.com or on Twitter at @SouthAlaMBK.

"It's good to be coming off a win, especially at home and protecting our home court," USA head coach Matthew Graves said. "That's what we're going to try and do Monday night. We're arguably playing the hottest team in the league, winning five in a row, and they're healthy and clicking on all cylinders. It's going to be an unbelievable challenge for us."

South Alabama (10-11, 3-5 SBC) snapped a three-game losing streak Saturday against previously-unbeaten Georgia Southern, behind a defensive effort that forced misses on the Eagles' last 13 shots of the game.

"It's a big confidence win for us," Graves said. "We had a chance to beat them at their place and we didn't close it out. There were a couple of scary moments there late where they were missing 3s and we weren't coming up with the loose balls and the rebound and they kept firing away. Again, this is a confidence win for us, and I think it goes to show guys that anything is possible when you believe."

The Jaguars won the turnover battle Saturday for the third straight game, 16-12, and is plus-16 in that category over that span. They will be facing a Panther team that ranks last in the league in turnovers (14.3 pg), but forces 15.7 miscues per contest, which is third in the Sun Belt.

USA is second in the SBC in turnover margin (+3.38) and first in turnovers forced (17.0).

"I think the turnover margin is going to be huge, but probably more important than the margin will be, who's going to be able to convert those turnovers into points?" Graves said. "We need to be extremely active, get out in transition and score some baskets before their zone gets set up. Likewise, we can't allow them to turn us over and get points in the paint. Transition points will be a huge stat in the game."

Three of Georgia State's last five wins have come by double-digits, including a 20-point win over Coastal Carolina, the Panthers' second-largest victory over a Division I opponent this season. They enter Monday with a 13-7 record overall and a 6-2 mark in the conference, which is tied for second in the standings.

"I think first and foremost, they're very versatile," Graves stated. "They have a couple of guys that can beat you from the perimeter. Jeremy Hollowell is as good as any forward in this league, being able to score inside and out. They can bring a couple of shooters off the bench so they have a lot of different weapons they can use against you. With their ability to play zone and force you into quick, contested shots, it presents a great challenge."

Hollowell is GSU's leading scorer at 15.5 points per game, which is seventh in the league, but D'Marcus Simonds has been the Panther's hottest player of late, averaging 22.3 points in his last four games, and scoring 24 or more three times. He did not play against South Alabama on Jan. 7 in Atlanta due to injury.

"I think he gives them another versatile playmaker," Graves noted. "He's not only good at scoring the basketball, but he does a good job of getting others the ball and putting them in position to score. It just challenges your defense one step further and we're going to have to be extremely active on him and not allow him to get into any kind of rhythm."

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).

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