Game Notes
Game 25 • South Alabama Jaguars (12-12, 5-6) at Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns (14-11, 4-8)
February 13, 2017 • 7 p.m. • Cajundome (11,550) • Lafayette, La.
THE COACHES
South Alabama
Matthew Graves (Butler, 1998)
Record at USA: 49-72 (4th year)
Overall Record: Same
Record vs. ULL: 4-3
UL Lafayette
Bob Marlin (Mississippi State, 1981)
Record at ULL: 121-103 (7th year)
Overall Record: 346-234 (18th year)
LAST GAME
South Alabama snapped a seven-game losing streak to Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday, winning 66-63. Louisiana-Lafayette fell 100-88 at home to Troy.
NEXT GAME
The Jaguars will take on Appalchian State Saturday. The Ragin' Cajuns go to Georgia State.
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); Ragin' Cajuns All-Access (video)
RANKINGS (Through Feb. 11)
USA: #204 RPI, #223 Sagarin
ULL: #155 RPI, #166 Sagarin
THE SERIES
USA leads 26-23.
Current streak: Louisiana-Lafayette, won 1
USA's last win in series: 83-70 (2/27/16)
Last meeting: Louisiana-Lafayette 90, South Alabama 68 (3/11/16)
USA's last win at the Cajundome: 89-82 (1/17/15)
ULL's last win at the Cajundome: 92-82 (1/21/16)
USA's record at the Cajundome: 11-12
USA's record on the road: 12-12
USA's road streak: Lost 1
USA's longest winning / losing streak in series: 4 / 4
Notes: South Alabama had a four-game win streak in the series ended in 2013-14 with the largest loss ever to ULL (102-74)… The two teams traded wins in the 2008-09 (ULL) and 2009-10 (USA) seasons by the same 67-65 score… ULL has four wins vs. USA (three regular season, one SBC tournament) that were vacated due to NCAA penalties… The Ragin' Cajuns won the 2008-09 contest in Lafayette on a half-court shot by Randell Daigle… South Alabama's 88-64 win in 2012-13 broke a string of seven games in the series decided by six points or less, including two in overtime… Neither team has dominated the other for an extended period—the longest win streak by either school is four.
OPENING TIP
Under head coach Matthew Graves, South Alabama's four wins against Louisiana-Lafayette have been by an average of 8.0 points, and the three losses are by an average of 20.0 points.
USA has scored 80 points or more seven times in the last nine meetings with ULL.
On Saturday, South Alabama extended its streak of shooting 70 percent from the free-throw line to five games — its longest of the year — by converting a season-best 86.7 from the stripe.
The Jags set a new season high at ULM by shooting 50 percent (7-14) from 3-point land, and are shooting 38.8 percent from distance while converting 7.8 per contest in the last four games. The team is 11th in the Sun Belt in 3-point percentage on the year (.323).
The Jaguar defense, which is sixth in the Sun Belt at 70.5 ppg, will face the Sun Belt's top offense, scoring 81.8 ppg, and ranking fourth in field-goal percentage (.463). The Cajun defense is last in the league, giving up 76.5 ppg, including 100 on Saturday to Troy.
South Alabama has allowed its opponents to shoot 30 percent or less from 3-point range four times in the last five games — 26.4 percent in the last two — and ranks 27th in the nation in 3-point defense (.311).
The Jags are 17th in the nation in turnovers forced (16.42 pg), 30th in turnover margin (+3.0) and 54th in steals (7.5 pg). The Cajuns are sixth in the Sun Belt with 13.2 turnovers per contest.
Ken Williams scored his 1,600th career point Saturday with a game-high 21, his team-best fifth 20-point performance of the year. He went 4 for 6 from 3-point land, setting a new season high for made 3s in the process. He is eight triples away from tying Derek Turner's school career record of 249.
Williams is averaging 14.0 points, and shooting 54.5 percent from the floor and 55.6 percent from 3-point land in the second half of his last three games. The 14.0 average is more than double anyone else on the team over that span.
Williams has reached double-digit points in each of his last nine games, averaging 16.4 points with three 20-point performances over that stretch.
Williams is averaging 21.3 points in six career games against UL Lafayette, and two of his three 20-point games in the series have come in Lafayette. He did not play in last year's SBC Tournament game due to injury.
Williams needs one free throw to tie Jeff Hodge for sixth in South Alabama history with 324.
Williams has led the team in assists three times in the last four games, putting up 24 helpers with just six turnovers during that span. He had a team-high-tying six at ULM.
Josh Ajayi recorded his third double-double of the year Saturday with 13 points and 11 rebounds. He has hit double-digit points 10 times in 11 conference games, and two of his three double-doubles have come against league foes.
Ajayi is 7 for 12 from 3-point land in his last six games.
Don MuepoKelly had 11 points at ULM and a career-high five blocks. He is averaging 9.7 points and shooting 61.9 from the field in his last seven games, and has a 13.5 scoring average in his last two.
Trhae Mitchell is averaging 8.5 points and shooting 66.7 percent (8-12) from the floor in his last two games.
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—
