MOBILE, Ala. – Jay Jay Chandler posted a game-high 22 points and Charles Manning Jr. dished out a career-best six assists as the University of South Alabama men's basketball team defeated SIUE 84-69 Tuesday night at the Mitchell Center.
 
South Alabama (10-3) had four individuals finish in double figures. Manning Jr. finished with 19 points, Javon Franklin added 14 and Alex Anderson tied a career-high with 13.
 
Shamar Wright and Ray'Sean Taylor led SIUE (6-7) with 12 points each. Lamar Wright and DeeJuan Pruitt both finished with 11.
 
Date: 12/21
Place: Mitchell Center
Final Score: South Alabama 84, SIUE 69
Records: South Alabama 10-3, SIUE 6-7
 
GAME FACTS
- South opened the contest shooting 11-of-14 from the field to grab a 26-11 lead, as five different Jags scored over the first 10 minutes.
- SIUE answered with a 16-10 run to cut the Jag lead to nine (36-27) with 4:34 remaining in the half.
- USA outscored the Cougars 13-8 over the final four minutes to take a 49-35 lead into the break.
- SIUE started the second half on a 14-8 run to cut the deficit to eight, 57-49, as Shaun Doss scored six points during the stretch.
- The Jags responded by scoring the next 10 points to expand the lead to 18, 67-49, highlighted by four points each from Manning Jr. and Franklin.
- Franklin completed a three-point play to push the lead to 20, 78-58 with 6:28 remaining.
- South Alabama outscored SIUE 52-36 in the paint and converted 21 turnovers into 26 points.
 
NOTES
- With the win, USA has won two of the three meetings between the schools.
- South Alabama's 10 wins are the most before Christmas in program history and the 10-3 start through 13 games is the best since the 2007-08 team started 10-3.
- South improved to 7-0 at the Mitchell Center on the season.
- The Jags shot a season-best 69 percent from the field in the first half.
- South's 49 points in the first half were a season-high against an NCAA Division I opponent this season.
- The Jaguars scored a season-best 52 points in the paint.
- After forcing SIUE to turn the ball over 21 times, South has forced 10 or more turnovers in all 13 games.
- Chandler has scored in double figures in 10 straight contests.
- Manning Jr. dished out a career-high in assists and has scored in double digits in 10 of the last 11 games.
- Lance Thomas pulled down a season-high five rebounds and tied a season-best with two blocks.
- Anderson tied or set career-bests in points, blocks (3) and assists (3) and has scored 10 or more points in five consecutive contests.
- Franklin finished the night with a game-high nine rebounds.
 
THEY SAID IT
Head Coach Richie Riley
- Opening statement:
"First and foremost, I was really, really happy with our group's focus because I've heard them talking about going home for about a week, they're so excited about going home for Christmas; some of them haven't seen their family and friends back home since they got here this fall. For them to focus their energy on the 40 [minutes], that's what we kept talking about and that's what they did. We lost our edge at the end, which I didn't like — I wanted to play a complete 40 — but we were able to play pretty well for 30 minutes and build a lead. These games are hard when these guys get their mind set on something, and when it happens to be going home for four days it's hard to keep their focus where it needs to be so I was proud of our maturity level to get off to a better start."

- On the team heading into Sun Belt Conference play:
"I think we have a long way to go, but I do think we've made strides to getting closer to there. Our non-conference schedule ended up being really good because we played a lot of close games and saw the difference when we're locked in defensively on what we're doing versus when we are not, our guys have grown to understand that and the importance of being mentally ready to go and having our energy level where it needs to be. We were at Tarleton State last week and Charles Manning didn't play, we had to learn to play without him for a game and try our best to compete without him. We've had to play without Turbo [Tyrell Jones] and AP [Greg Parham], so we've had to play a lot of different lineups and guys have got valuable experience. Charles Manning is back tonight and I think everyone can see what a big difference that is, it makes a big difference out there, but even in a loss it was good for us to figure some things out."
 
- On the Sun Belt Conference race:
"In this league obviously talent matters — and I like where we are from a talent standpoint — but it comes down to who can be the most focused and show the most consistency throughout the grueling 18-game stretch. It's hard. You have to be able to win at home and then you have to be able to go steal a game on the road, which is something we've been able to do since we've been here. This is a really good league, it's drastically underrated. It has really good coaching and really talented players, so it'll be a fight and whoever wins this thing it will be a heck of an accomplishment. That's the goal for us, we want to be right there at the end and it's starts immediately because there are no games you can take off. You have to show up every night, and that's something I think have matured some with. Some of the games early on that ended up being a little closer than I would've liked in the non-conference schedule we weren't mentally ready to go, we showed up thinking it was going to be easy. No matter how many times we talked about how tough it was going to be or how good this opponent is, our guys had to see it for themselves and I think they learned that lesson. That will help us in league play, just to be ready to go with our preparation and our mindset going into games."
 
UP NEXT
- USA will open up Sun Belt play at UTA on Dec. 30 at 7 p.m. (CST).
 
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—