MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama senior Rodrick Sikes led all players with a season-high 30 points and the Jaguars converted 13 times from behind the arc in a 79-58 defeat of Southeast Missouri Monday night at the Mitchell Center.

Sikes broke out of a three-game shooting slump with a 10-for-22 shooting night and six 3-pointers in 37 minutes of work. Junior Jordan Andrews came off the bench to shoot 5 for 7 from distance for 15 points and junior Trhae Mitchell just missed a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds.

After a tight first 19 minutes, Mitchell and Sikes hit back-to-back triples just before halftime to give the Jaguars a 39-30 lead going into the break.

Up 56-45 four minutes into the second half, four different Jags contributed to a 12-0 run, capped off with a trey from Andrews for a commanding 68-45 advantage. USA led by no fewer than 16 the rest of the way.

GAME FACTS
- Sikes opened the scoring with a '3' but missed his next six shots; he found his stroke at the 6:40 mark with the score tied at 18-18 and accounted for 13 of the team's final 21 points of the first half
- Sikes hit a triple with 6:40 left before intermission starting his outburst, shooting 5 for 6 from the floor and 3 for 4 from behind the arc
- The scoring streak continued at the outset of the second half as Sikes made all three of his free-throw attempts after being fouled to give the Jags their first double-digit lead of the contest
- Two free throws from sophomore R.J. Kelly at the 13:48 mark started a run of 12 consecutive points, with Mitchell converting an old-fashioned three-point play, and Kelly and junior Herb McGee hitting layups on back-to-back possessions
- Andrews nailed another '3' at the 10:35 mark to go up 68-45
- McGee finished the contest with a career-high 11 assists and just one turnover

NOTES
- The last time South Alabama had two 10-assist performances in the same season was 2006-07, and the last time it happened by two different players was 2000-01
- McGee is the first Jaguar to have a plus-10 assist/turnover ratio since Daon Merritt had 13 assists and three turnovers against Troy on Feb. 10, 2008
- Sikes scored more points tonight than he did in the previous three games combined (23)
- South Alabama's 13 treys are a new season high and the most by the program in a regulation game since hitting 13 at Texas on Nov. 12, 2013
- Andrews' 15 points are his most against a Division I opponent since putting up 19 on Georgia State on Dec. 29, 2017
- In three wins, USA is outscoring its opponent by an average of 23.3 points, with all wins coming by at least 19 points
- South Alabama outscored Southeast Missouri 18-4 in points off turnovers and 19-6 on fast break points, but lost second-chance points 14-3 thanks to 16 SEMO offensive rebounds
- USA's 19-8 assist/turnover ratio is a season high and ties the best against a DI opponent since Feb. 14, 2009
- The Jaguars have a minus-27 rebounding margin in the last two games

THEY SAID IT
Head Coach Richie Riley
Opening statement: "I was on our guys pretty heavy after the last game. I told them it was probably the worst night of my head coaching career; I was so disappointed. After the game tonight, I told them I've never been more proud as a head coach. We came into the game with eight guys, and eight was enough. That's what I told them before the game: eight is going to be enough. We're going to find a way to win with eight. You eight are good enough, but we have to band together as brothers and do everything we can to help us win this game with our energy, effort, and passion for the game. As much as we didn't do that a couple nights ago, we went above and beyond in those areas tonight. They played with such a passion and togetherness. When things weren't going well early and they weren't making shots, they just kept playing. I'm so proud of them."

On the numbers: "Statistically, there are things that stick out. Obviously 19 to eight is an incredible (assist/turnover) ratio for us. We've cut our turnovers down but our assist numbers haven't been up because we haven't been shooting the ball very well. We took advantage tonight of some open looks, especially once we got into a rhythm. Nineteen to eight is incredible, led by Herb McGee's 11 to 1. That's as good as it gets. Thirteen made 3s is great at 38 percent. Trhae Mitchell had nine rebounds. Jordan Andrews was five of seven from three. That's what we want him to do. Everybody is always asking me about his shooting. That's what he's capable of doing. He's a really good shooter. When he believes in himself and is shot-ready and prepared to make shots before the ball gets to him, then he makes those. He did a nice job of that tonight."

On the role emotion plays: "It's the biggest part. Energy, emotion, and passion to play wins games. I told Jordan (Andrews) after the game, 'You dove on the floor two or three times in this game and got some crazy rebounds, and that's why you banked in a 3.' The game gives back to you. It's given me so much in my coaching career because I've always worked as hard as possible so that I can be at this podium right now. I tell our kids if they work relentlessly every day in practice and play with energy and passion for this game, it's going to give back to you. Tonight it did. When we tipped off and once people found out Josh Ajayi wasn't playing, I'm sure nobody in there thought we were going to win the game, especially with how we started. We just kept plugging, fighting, and playing with incredible energy and togetherness. I really believe that's why we won. I believe that's why you win games and that's why you win championships. We have to get to where we can consistently do that. We're not there right now; we showed that a couple nights ago. Hopefully tonight is a step in the right direction that shows us we have to be that every single night. We have to be at that energy level. Does that mean we win every single game? Probably not. But if we have that energy level and that much passion for the game of basketball, it puts us in a position to have a good chance to win most of our games."

On Sikes: "He was slumping early tonight too and I told him, 'Keep shooting. I'm going to keep getting you open and we're going to keep getting you actions and looks.' With him it's easy to get him looks because he's a tough-shot maker. He needs a little bit of space. He's got a quick trigger and he really elevates on his shots, so he makes some tough ones. We kept getting him into spots where he was open and one time he turned it down early because he hadn't made some. I told him, 'Let them rip. I don't care if you take 20-plus tonight. Just let them go.' I think that made him feel good. I think sometimes I think he should make every shot because in practice he does make a lot of shots. When he misses, I'm surprised and sometimes a little disappointed. Tonight I told him we had to set the pace. We've got eight guys and we're going to shoot a bunch of threes. When he scores 30 points and plays with that much energy, things get overlooked. He had two steals. Both were breakaways and huge momentum plays for us. He did so much more than just make 3s. Thirty points is going to stick out, but he guarded their two best guards all night long, full court. He did a nice job of bothering them. He was a huge key to us winning the game."

UP NEXT
South Alabama goes out on the road Friday to Texas A&M for a 6:30 p.m. start.

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—USA—