Game Notes

MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama men's basketball team will take on a familiar face to Jaguar fans Monday night when former USA head coach Cliff Ellis brings his Coastal Carolina team to Mobile.

The contest is slated to begin at 7:05 p.m. Fans can watch for free on JagNationTV.com, listen on 95.5 FM or iHeartRadio.com, and get updates on Twitter at @SouthAlaMBK or via live stats at USAJaguars.com.

Winners of four games in the last six outings, the Jags have put together their best six-game stretch since November.

"I'm excited again to be in the Mitchell Center in on our home court," USA head coach Matthew Graves said. "We're trying to put together a win streak here and certainly we're going to have a tall task in front of us playing a very good Coastal Carolina team for the first time."

Ellis, who posted a 171-84 overall record in nine seasons in Mobile, led South Alabama to four postseason appearances and served as athletic director before departing for Clemson after the 1983-84 campaign.

"I think it's a great thing that we're going to honor what he accomplished here, both as a head coach and an athletic director," Graves said. "I think that's a wonderful thing, and hopefully we'll get a few more fans out to the game that haven't been here in a while.

"I think he's an outstanding coach and I'm looking forward to the challenge competing against his team."

USA is 4-2 in its last six games despite trailing by double-digits five times during that stretch. The Jags fell behind by 10 in the first half Saturday and was down six at halftime before going on a 15-3 run to take the lead for good.

"First and foremost, I think it says that our team likes to see if they can make its head coach lose any more of his hair and go into cardiac arrest," Graves said. "But it's nice to see the resiliency that we're showing. We've gotten down and battled back and won a few. I think it shows that our team is evolving; in the past, when we've gotten down, we haven't been able to come back and win those type of ball games. To show that we're doing that, I think it means we are getting better."

Coastal Carolina (13-14, 8-6 SBC) is also 4-2 in its last six outings, but is coming off an 87-78 defeat Saturday at Troy. Last weekend, the Chanticleers swept a two-game homestand against Sun Belt-leading Georgia Southern (82-70) and Georgia State (65-64).

"They're a very good basketball team," Graves stated. "They have the ability to spread you out offensively, really drive you and spread the court with shooters. Defensively, they do a good job of mixing up their defenses and try to keep you off-balance. On a one-day prep, it will certainly be a unique challenge for us."

CCU has a talented backcourt with Jaylen Shaw and Elijah Wilson, who average 13.7 and 13.3 points per game, respectively. Shaw leads the conference in free-throw percentage (.877) and is seventh in assists (3.5 apg), and Wilson is second in 3-pointers per game (2.7).

"Their backcourt has a lot of versatility and interchangeable parts," Graves said. "When you have several guys that can pass, dribble, shoot and create mismatches, it really stretches your defense. Our defense will very much be challenged tomorrow night."

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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