Game 4 • South Alabama Jaguars (2-1) at Chattanooga Mocs (2-1)
November 15, 2019 • 6 p.m. • McKenzie Arena (11,638) • Chattanooga, Tenn.
THE COACHES
South Alabama
Richie Riley (Eastern Kentucky, 2005)
Record at USA: 19-18 (2nd year)
Overall Record: 54-46 (4th year)
Record vs. Chattanooga: 1-0
Chattanooga
Lamont Paris (Wooster, 1996)
Record at UTC: 24-44 (3rd year)
Overall Record: Same
LAST GAME
South Alabama rallied to take a late lead Tuesday against Auburn, but fell 70-69 on a last-second shot. Chattanooga came back from a 12-point deficit at halftime to defeat Troy 74-68.
NEXT GAME
The Jaguars will return home to host city rival Spring Hill on Tuesday. The Mocs open the Emerald Coast Classic on Wednesday at Florida State.
ON THE AIR
Radio: 99.5 FM The Jag; J.T. Crabtree (pxp)
Web: 995thejag.com/listen (audio); SoCon Digital Network (video)
RANKINGS (RPI ratings through Nov. 12)
USA: #243 RPI, #171 Sagarin
UTC: #169 RPI, #206 Sagarin
THE SERIES
USA leads 2-1.
Current winning streak: USA, 2 wins
UTC's last win in series: 85-69 (12/30/93) in Chattanooga
Last meeting: South Alabama 73, Chattanooga 54 (11/16/18)
USA's last win at McKenzie Arena: N/A
UTC's last win at McKenzie Arena: 85-69 (12/30/93)
USA's record at the McKenzie Arena: 0-1
USA's road streak: Lost 1
USA's longest winning / losing streak in series: 2 / 1
Notes: Neither of the first two meetings took place in Mobile — the Mocs won the first game in Chattanooga in 1993, and the Jaguars won the second in Anaheim at the Anaheim Classic.
OPENING TIP
South Alabama and Chattanooga have played three times in their history, and all three have taken place in a different venue. The first meeting took place on Dec. 30, 1993 in Chattanooga, the second was on Nov. 25, 2007 in Anaheim, Calif., and last year the two schools faced off in Mobile. The Jags lead the series 2-1, with the loss coming in Chattanooga.
USA has allowed its last two opponents to shoot 50.9% from the floor for an average of 38.0 points in the first half, but after halftime, have held them to just 40.0% for 31.5 points. The Jaguars are being outscored by 4.0 points in the first half but have outscored their opponents by 6.5 points in the second.
South Alabama entered the Auburn game holding their opponents to 22.9% from 3-point land, but permitted the Tigers to shoot 41.7%, including 50.0% in the first half alone. Chattanooga is converting 33.3% on the season.
The Jags were credited with eight steals Tuesday, giving them 31 on the year. That's the seventh-most in the first three games of any season in school history. The team ranks 40th in the nation in steals per game (10.3).
Trhae Mitchell dished out a team-high four assists Tuesday, giving him 239 in his career, the most of any active USA player. He needs two assists to tie Michael Gerren in 14th in school history.
Andre Fox led all players vs. Auburn with 23 points, shooting 9 for 17 from the floor and 3 for 5 from 3-point land. He scored 11 of those points in the final four minutes of the game, almost singlehandedly leading the Jaguar comeback, recording 11 of the team's final 13 points.
Fox also recorded his second career double-double with a career-high-tying 10 rebounds.
Josh Ajayi just missed a double-double himself with 15 points and 9 rebounds. He converted 6 of 10 from the field and made both of his free-throw attempts.
Ajayi leads the Sun Belt in rebounding at 9.7 per game and is second in field-goal percentage (.700) and fourth in scoring (19.7 ppg).
Ajayi passed Virgil Stanescu to move into sixth in USA history in career rebounds (649), and tied Demetric Bennett for 10th in career field goals (475).
Head coach Richie Riley on Chattanooga
On rebounding from the Auburn loss: "First of all, it's always challenging on the road. Chattanooga has a really good team; they just beat a team in our league, at Troy, and are undefeated at home this year. They brought in a couple of transfers from high-major schools and are drastically improved. Any time you go on the road, it's hard, but especially when you're playing a quality team.
Coming off the Auburn game, it was really emotional. It's been hard for the last 48 hours to get our guys' attention shifted to the task at hand. I think we've done a good job as a staff of that and I think we have a resilient group. Our kids have embraced that and moved on. Any time you lose a game of that magnitude like that and that much emotion goes into it, it's hard to rebound. I do think, because of our effort and focus on getting it turned around in the last 48 hours, I think we're in a good place heading into Chattanooga."
On Chattanooga: "They're almost a completely different team. A lot of guys graduated or transferred out that played for them last year. (David-Jean) Baptiste is back for them; he was a double-figure scorer last year and is playing at a high level this year. He can really score on all three levels and is a strong, physical guard. Their leading scorer, Matt Ryan, is a graduate transfer from Vanderbilt; he started his career at Notre Dame. He can really shoot it, is creative and has great size. It's going to be a test to get him slowed down because he's a focal point of their offense. They have other really good players throughout their lineup. It's at their place and I'm sure they're going to be ready. We won the game last year and I'm sure (head coach) Lamont (Paris) will have them ready to go."
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/WeAreSouth_JAGS. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
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—USA—
