Game 9 • South Alabama Jaguars (6-2) vs. Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles (4-3)
December 1, 2021 • 7 p.m. (CST) • Mitchell Center • Mobile, Ala.
 
THE COACHES
South Alabama
Richie Riley (Eastern Kentucky, 2005)
Record at USA: 60-41 (4th year)
Overall Record: 95-69 (6th year)
Record vs. Southern Mississippi: 2-0
 
Southern Mississippi                
Jay Ladner (Southern Mississippi, 1988)
Record at Southern Miss: 21-42 (3rd year)
Overall Record:  97-130 (8th year)
Record vs. South Alabama: 0-2
 
LAST GAME
South Alabama defeated Texas A&M-Commerce 69-66 Monday night at the Mitchell Center. Southern Mississippi lost 74-62 to Montana at the Zootown Classic on Friday.

NEXT GAME
USA will head back on the road to play Jacksonville State on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. (CST).
 
ON THE AIR
Radio: Sports Talk 99.5: J.T. Crabtree (pxp) Joe McNulty (color)
Web: http://sportstalk995.iheart.com/listen (audio)
ESPN+ (Internet Streaming): J.D. Byars (pxp), Pat Greenwood (color)

RANKINGS (NET reflects end of 2020-21 season)
USA: #148 Sagarin, NET #203 (last year)
Southern Miss: #283 Sagarin, NET #265

THE SERIES
One of South Alabama's longest running series, the Jaguars trail Southern Mississippi 19-26 overall. However, USA has won four out of the last five meetings between the two schools.

NOTES
- The Jags have won five straight games and are 4-0 at the Mitchell Center this season.
 
- The last time South Alabama and Southern Miss met, Kayo Goncalves hit a game-winning three as time expired to clinch the 76-75 win for the Jaguars in Hattiesburg.
 
- South has rallied from double-digit deficits to win two of its last three games, including a 15-point comeback against Texas A&M-Commerce.
 
- USA forced Texas A&M-Commerce to turn it over 19 times on Monday night, as the Jags have forced 15 or more turnovers in seven of eight games this season.
 
- South Alabama is ranked 34th in the NCAA in scoring defense, giving up just 59.8 points per game.
 
- The Jags lead the Sun Belt in scoring defense, scoring margin (16.6), turnover margin (7.3) and total rebounds (273).
 
- The Jaguars are among the lowest percentage of minutes returning in the country for the 2021-22 season. USA brings back just 28.6 percent of minutes played from last season, which ranks as the eighth fewest in the NCAA. Only UT-Martin, Creighton, Missouri, Duquesne, Iowa State, Robert Morris and Boston College return fewer. Newcomers have accounted for 85.9 percent of the scoring in South Alabama's first eight games. Seven of the top eight scorers are newcomers.
 
- With last Thursday's victory over Hawaii in the Las Vegas Classic championship game, the Jaguars won their first regular-season tournament title since the Red Diamond Roundball Classic during the 2016-17 season.
 
- Charles Manning Jr. has scored 20 or more points in three straight games while reaching double figures in seven consecutive contests; he also set a career-best with five blocks against Texas A&M-Commerce. The 6-foot-4 guard was named the SBC POTW on Tuesday.
 
- Goncalves has made at least one three-pointer in 21 consecutive games dating back to last season.
 
- Jay Jay Chandler has scored in double figures in five consecutive contests, including a career-best 22 points against William Carey.
 
- Diante Smith tied career-highs with three three-pointers and seven rebounds against Texas A&M-Commerce.
 
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).

Join the South Circle, the unrestricted giving option of the University of South Alabama Athletics.  Contributions to the South Circle directly support all 17 sports in addition to various support programming. For more information on how you can join visit: http://jaguarathleticfund.com/give

—USA—