MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama men's basketball team defeated Mobile 78-45 Saturday afternoon at the Mitchell Center.
 
Four different Jaguars (2-2) scored in double digits, led by Jay Jay Chandler's 15 points. Marshall Kearing earned his first start as a Jag and posted his first career double-double with 14 points and 16 rebounds. Charles Manning Jr. had 13 points and Alex Anderson added 11 points.
 
Mobile's Sage McKenna led all scorers with 16 points on 6-for-13 shooting.
 
Date: 11/20
Place: Mitchell Center
Final Score: South Alabama 78, Mobile 45
Records: South Alabama 2-2, Mobile 4-4 (exhibition)
 
GAME FACTS
- USA opened the game on a 11-5 run in the first 4:18, highlighted by back-to-back dunks from Kearing.
- Mobile responded with a 5-0 run to cut the deficit to one, capped off by a layup from Max Keebaugh.
- Leading 21-17 with 10:02 remaining in the half, the Jags held the Rams to one field goal and closed the half on a 16-3 run to take a 17-point lead into the break.
- South Alabama started the second half with a 26-6 run over the first 11 minutes to extend the lead to 63-26.
- South outscored Mobile 30-0 in points off turnovers.
- USA outrebounded the Rams 49-32 and scored 46 points in the paint.
 
NOTES
- South Alabama has won all eight contests between the two schools.
- Richie Riley improved to 4-0 vs. Mobile.
- USA has forced 20 or more turnovers in back-to-back games and only committed two turnovers as a team against Mobile.
- Kearing set career-highs in points (14), rebounds (16), assists (2), steals (3), field goals made (6), field goals attempted (11), free throws made (2) and free throws attempted (2).
- Kearing posted his first career double-double with 14 points and 16 rebounds. The 16 rebounds were the most by a Jaguar since Augustine Rubit pulled down 19 rebounds on Dec. 16, 2012.
- This is the third straight game a Jag has posted a double-double. Javon Franklin had back-to-back double-doubles at Wichita State and at Alabama.
- Manning Jr. set a career-high with five assists.
- Anderson earned his first career start and tied career-highs with 11 points and seven rebounds.
- Ten different Jags scored in the contest.
 
THEY SAID IT
Head Coach Richie Riley
- Opening statement:
"It felt like we went on a road trip that lasted a month. We had a couple tough losses on the road, but we really competed so it was good to be back home. We played a little bit uninterested in the first half, tonight. I give them a lot of credit too. They mixed in defenses and tried to slow us down which was a really good plan that Coach Archey had. He is a really good coach. They had a good plan, and it did slow us down a little. We struggled shooting the ball some. We got a lot of clean looks at the rim and from three that we just didn't make. We have to shoot the ball better. In the second half, our guys woke up and played pretty well. We were able to turn them over defensively, get out, run, and play like we like to play. We should have finished the game better. I took out our veterans and our high minute guys, and they needed it. They've been playing 40 minutes a night, with the injuries we're going through as a team. The one stat that really sticks out to me outside of Marshalls 14 and 16, which was an incredible night, is our turnovers. We had two of them, one in each half, and that is something I am proud of. In a game like this, you can try to get too cute or lose your focus, and that number can really grow. I was proud of our maturity to at least not turn the ball over."
 
- On being a good defensive team:
"We have shown that we can be a really good defensive team. I think potentially, when our mindsets are right, we are one of the better defensive teams in the country. We did a really good job at defending Wichita State and Alabama. We were able to hold Alabama to by far the lowest total of the year, and I think they have the best offense of the country. Today, we showed some moments of being really good defensively. It is just a mindset, and it is what we try to become. We're not a finished product, but when these guys decide to tighten it up and really play hard with maximum energy and maximum effort, we are really elite defensively. We've got a lot of good pieces defensively. If we can do that, our percentage offensively will go up a little bit because it will lead to more transitions and easy baskets. "
 
- On earning minutes and Javon Franklin's injury:
"The way that we do things is you earn everything in practice. When we don't do all the things we need to do in practice as far as energy and effort, the starting lineup changes. His finger is hurt, but he's cleared to play. We expect him to play a lot and do well on Monday, but everything in basketball is earned. Anything worth having, you have to go earn it. To me, it is worth having minutes on the floor and being on the starting lineup, and those things aren't just handed out. With the guys being on this team, we have some good players and we have some good players hurt too, but even with those guys out, we've got some good players. So, the competition in practice is good. To play a lot of minutes you've got to come out, be mentally ready to go every day, give maximum effort and energy and play the game the right way. We expect him to be much more effective on Monday."
 
- On Marshall Kearing starting and getting into the flow of the game:
"Marshall has been practicing really well, and he earned an opportunity. He made the most of it tonight by going out there and being great on the glass, using his size. He's got great touch around the rim, and he can really pass. His best basketball is ahead of him and he's going to be a good player here. He is getting use to the speed, the physicality, the daily grind of how we work, and he's making major strides right now. Marshall starting today was not anybody being punished, necessarily. It was the fact that he went out and earned that time during the two days of practice we had. I tell our guys that when you get a chance, make the most of it. I felt like he did that, and he earned a lot of trust from me the way he played today."

UP NEXT
- South Alabama will take on William Carey Monday night at 7 p.m. at the Mitchell Center.
 
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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