Game 4 • Emmanuel (Ga.) (0-0) at South Alabama (2-1)
December 1, 2020 • 6 p.m. • Mitchell Center (10,000) • Mobile, Ala

THE COACHES
South Alabama
Richie Riley (Eastern Kentucky, 2005)
Record at USA: 37-28 (3rd year)
Overall Record: 72-56 (5th year)
Record vs. Emmanuel: 0-0

Emmanuel (Ga.)
T.J. Rosene (Reinhardt)
Record at Emmanuel: 297-131 (13th year)
Overall Record: 320-169 (15th year)

LAST GAME
USA fell to Jacksonville State, 77-73. Emmanuel lost in the semifinals of the Conference Carolinas post-season tournament to Belmont Abbey, 82-72. Emmanuel will play at Stetson prior to facing the Jaguars.

NEXT GAME
South Alabama will travel to Auburn, Ala., for the first road game of the season against the Tigers. Emmanuel will play Augusta University at Augusta, Ga.

ON THE AIR
Radio: Sports Talk 99.5; J.T. Crabtree (pxp); Joe McNulty (color)
Web: http://sportstalk995.iheart.com/listen (audio); ESPN+ (video); J.D. Byars (pxp), Pat Greenwood (color)

RANKINGS
USA: #169 NET*, #171 Sagarin
Emmanuel (Ga.): (No rankings, D-II)
*NET ranking through March 20, 2020

THE SERIES
This will be the first meeting between Emmanuel and South Alabama on the hardwood.

Off a 2-1 start in the Goldie and Herman Ungar Memorial Tournament, the Jaguars are playing their fourth game in six days. After winning 10-consecutive games, dating back to the end of last season, USA suffered its first defeat in 309 days at the Mitchell Center Sunday evening against Jacksonville State, falling 77-73.

Replacing 84.5 percent of their scoring, Jaguar newcomers Michael Flowers, Kayo Goncalves, David Walker and Jamal West contributed with 134 of South's 236 points scored over the three games. Returners John Pettway and Tyreke Locure with first-year player Sam Iorio made up the bulk of the remainder with 99 points between the three.

After a tenuous offseason, Flowers made an immediate impact scoring 20 points in his first game in a Jaguar uniform. As USA trailed in the final minute of the contest, the guard out of Southfield, Mich., led the Jaguars to an opening-night victory draining a three with 1.0 remaining in regulation.

Iorio debuted with Flowers after sitting out a year, notching 16 points on 5-of-6 shooting. The Allentown, Pa., product was efficient with only one missed shot from the field, while remaining perfect from three-point range and from the free throw line. In the two minutes played against Mobile, Iorio sank both free throws attempted and grabbed a defensive rebound.

Pettway set a new single-game high with 22 points against Mobile on 10-for-15 shooting from the field with two free throws. The redshirt-senior was two rebounds shy of a double-double that night.

Locure set a new single-game career high with six steals against Mobile. The sophomore leads the squad with 10 steals with 34 points. Locure is the only underclassman averaging double digit points per game with 11.3.

Goncalves has been a marksman from behind the arc sinking eight of 13 attempts for 62 percent. The only player above him on the team is Iorio draining 2-of-2. The Rio de Janiero, Brazil, native is third on the club in field goal percentage behind Iorio and Pettway.

West has hit the season running, starting the first three games of the year. The last freshman to start the first three games of a campaign was Josh Ajayi during the 2016-17 season. Out of St. Frances Academy, West is averaging 27.3 minutes per game with 16 points and 18 rebounds.

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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