NEW ORLEANS – A four-game homestand will mark the opening of the 2020-21 Sun Belt Conference schedule, released by the league office on Thursday, for the University of South Alabama men's basketball program.

The Jaguars will play seven of their first nine conference contests at the Mitchell Center as part of the Sun Belt's 18-game slate.

The conference schedule will see the Jags open with a match-up against Louisiana in Mobile on Dec. 31, with home dates following against ULM (Jan. 2), UTA (Jan. 7) and Texas State (Jan. 9).  South is set to play host to rival Troy on Martin Luther King Day (Jan. 18) to begin a three-game stretch at home, wrapping up the opening half of the league slate with games against Georgia State and Georgia Southern on Jan. 21 and Jan. 23, respectively.

In between, the Jaguars will make a trip to face Appalachian State (Jan. 14) and Coastal Carolina (Jan. 16).

The second half of the Sun Belt schedule — which features seven of nine contests on the road — begins with games at UTA (Jan. 28) and Texas State (Jan. 30).  Following a visit to Arkansas, where the Jaguars will take on Arkansas State (Feb. 4) and Little Rock (Feb. 6), USA returns to the Mitchell Center to play Appalachian State (Feb. 11) and Coastal Carolina (Feb. 13).

A three-game road trip to close out the regular season includes match-ups with Georgia State (Feb. 18), Georgia Southern (Feb. 20) and — after a week off — Troy (Feb. 27).

The Sun Belt Conference Tournament, which is set to be held in Pensacola, Fla., will take place March 5-8.

The league format will include divisional standings for the first time dating back to the 2012-13 season, with the East Division comprised of South, Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, Georgia State and Troy.

The Jaguars recorded their first 20-win campaign since 2008-09 last year after closing out the regular season with eight victories in a row, finishing 20-11 overall and as the second seed at the Sun Belt Tournament before the event was cancelled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

USA's 2020-21 non-conference schedule, as well as season ticket information, will be announced at a future date and time.

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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