Game Notes

Game 22 • South Alabama Jaguars (11-10, 4-4) at ULM Warhawks (8-11, 2-6)
January 27, 2018 • 2 p.m. • Fant-Ewing Coliseum (7,000) • Monroe, La.

THE COACHES
South Alabama
Matthew Graves (Butler, 1998)
Record at USA: 62-88 (5th year)
Overall Record: Same
Record vs. ULM: 1-7

UL Monroe
Keith Richard (ULM, 1982)
Record at ULM: 85-153 (8th year)
Overall Record: 235-270 (17th year)

LAST GAME
South Alabama fell 76-57 at Louisiana Thursday. ULM edged Troy 76-71.

NEXT GAME
The Jaguars return to action Saturday at Troy. The Warhawks host Louisiana on Saturday.

ON THE AIR
Radio: 99.5 FM The Jag; J.D. Byars (pxp)
On the web: 995thejag.com/listen (audio); Warhawks All-Access (video)

RANKINGS (Through Jan. 25)
USA: #232 RPI, #231 Sagarin
ULM: #293 RPI, #270 Sagarin

THE SERIES
Tied 11-11.

Current winning streak: South Alabama, 1 win
ULM's last win in series: 66-59 (2/25/16)
Last meeting: South Alabama 66, South Alabama 63 (2/11/17)
USA's last win at Fant-Ewing Coliseum: 66-63 (2/11/17)
ULM's last win at Fant-Ewing Coliseum: 100-68 (1/23/16)
USA's record at Fant-Ewing Coliseum: 7-5
USA's road streak: Won 1
USA's longest winning / losing streak in series: 3 / 7

Notes: ULM's seven-game win streak from 2014-2016 was the program's longest against South Alabama… The Warhawks' 100-68 win in 2015-16 in Monroe was their biggest in the series, one shy of the Jaguars' 90-57 win in 2008-09… ULM leads the series 9-4 in the last 13 meetings… Four consecutive meetings from 2009-10 to 2012-13 were decided by a combined 12 points… ULM broke a seven-game losing streak to South Alabama during the 2009-10 season in Monroe 61-58, and won again in Mobile the next season 67-65… USA's average margin of victory in its seven-game win streak was 15.3 points… Freddie Goldstein tied his own school record with nine 3-pointers in USA's 88-86 win in Monroe in the 2011-12 season, to end a two-game skid to the Warhawks… The two schools played four times in 1975 and 1976 but didn't resume the series until 2005.

OPENING TIP
South Alabama snapped a seven-game losing streak to ULM last season. The Jaguars were 10-4 against the Warhawks prior to their win streak.

USA is shooting 20.3 percent from 3-point land in the last four games.

After going into the Appalachian State game ranked third in the nation in 3-point defense, South Alabama has allowed its last two opponents to shoot 48.9 percent from distance on 22 treys. The previous three opponents converted just 18.8 percent.

The Jaguars are ninth in the nation in 3-point defense (.301), and lead the Sun Belt. They are second in the conference in field-goal defense (.403) and blocks (4.5 bpg), and third in scoring defense (66.2 ppg).

Nationally, South Alabama is 32nd in field-goal defense, 56th in blocks and 55th in scoring defense.

Rodrick Sikes was held to six points on 1-for-10 shooting Thursday, ending his 19-game streak with at least 10 points. He is still sixth in the Sun Belt in scoring average (17.7 ppg), and third in 3-pointers (2.6 pg) and 3-point percentage (.370).

Sikes is now third in the league in scoring average in conference games (19.6 ppg).

Trhae Mitchell set new career highs against Louisiana with 16 points and seven field goals, and added a team-best eight rebounds and two steals. He shot 7 for 10 from the floor and made his only 3-point attempt.

Josh Ajayi scored 13 points Thursday and went 5 for 5 at the free-throw line. In his last three games, Ajayi is averaging 18.3 points and 8.3 rebounds.

Kevin Morris went 4 for 6 from the field for nine points Thursday. In his last five outings, Morris is averaging 8.6 points and converting 67.7 percent of his shots.

ULM snapped a five-game losing streak Thursday with a 76-71 win over Troy. The Warhawks were averaging 51.7 points in their previous three games.

Michael Ertel has led the team in scoring in three straight contests and is averaging 18.7 points over that span.

PREVIEWING SATURDAY
Head coach Matthew Graves on ULM
On getting back to action Saturday: "I'm glad we're able to get back on the court on a quick turnaround, because I thought our energy and effort (on Thursday) were good. We obviously we need to play better offensively and rebound the ball, but the fact that we can get back on the court quickly will be good for this team."

On how to get the team past Thursday's loss: "By having a good day of practice the day in between and getting back to focusing on things we can control. I thought we had a really good workout today and got better."

On ULM: "I think they're extremely well coached. Coach (Keith) Richard does a great job of putting his players in positions where they can be successful. They shoot the ball extremely well from the 3-point line, especially in transition. We've got to do a great job of getting back and finding shooters."

On preparing for the Warhawks: "The tough thing with Monroe is, I don't feel like they have just one guy that can hurt you. They have three or four guys – Travis Munnings, Sam McDaniel and Michael Ertel – that are capable of scoring in double digits. If you let them get out in transition and get really comfortable, they're really tough to beat, especially at home."

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).

Join the Jaguar Athletic Fund (JAF) Priority Fund, the unrestricted giving option of the University of South Alabama Athletics. Contributions to the Priority Fund directly support all 17 sports in addition to various support programming. For more information on how you can join visit: http://jaguarathleticfund.com/give

—USA—