Game 14 • South Alabama Jaguars (10-3) at UTA Mavericks (4-7)
December 30, 2021 • 7 p.m. (CST) • College Park Center • Arlington, Texas
 
THE COACHES
South Alabama
Richie Riley (Eastern Kentucky, 2005)
Record at USA: 64-42 (4th year)
Overall Record: 99-70 (6th year)
Record vs. UTA: 1-1
 
UTA          
Greg Brown (Howard Payne, 1986)
Record at UTA: 4-7 (1st year)
Overall Record: Same
Record vs. South Alabama: 0-0

LAST GAME
South Alabama defeated SIUE 84-69. UTA beat Howard Payne 95-46 on Dec. 22.

NEXT GAME
USA will play at Texas State on Jan. 1 at 4 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):

RANKINGS
USA: #130 Sagarin, NET #112
UTA: #236 Sagarin, NET #262

THE SERIES
South Alabama leads the all-time series with UTA 9-7. USA won the last matchup at UTA 66-54 on Jan. 6, 2020.

NOTES
- 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.
 
- The Jaguars are 23-21 in Sun Belt openers and are 3-0 in SBC openers under Richie Riley.
 
- USA has already had an eight-game winning streak this season. Dating back to the 2019-20 season, South Alabama has had an eight-game winning streak each year.
 
- The Jags set several season-highs in an 84-69 win over SIUE. South shot a season-best 69 percent from the field in the first half. USA's 49 points in the first half were a season-best against an NCAA Division I opponent this season and the Jaguars scored a season-high 52 points in the paint against the Cougars.
 
- With a win on Thursday, Riley will reach 100 wins for his career.
 
- South is ranked 41st in the NCAA in scoring defense, giving up just 61.0 points per game. The Jaguars have held teams under 70 points in 12 out of 13 games this season.
 
- USA is ranked in the top 3 of the Sun Belt in scoring defense, scoring margin (14.0), turnover margin (4.0), blocked shots per game (5.2), total rebounds (481), turnovers forced (17.23) and free throws made (165).
 
- Jay Jay Chandler posted a career-high 23 points on 9-of-15 shooting, including 4-for-6 from three in the loss at Tarleton. Chandler finished with 22 points against SIUE. Chandler has scored in double figures in 10 consecutive games.
 
- After tying a career-high with 13 points against SIUE, Alex Anderson has scored 10 or more points in five straight contests.
 
- Charles Manning Jr. is the leading scorer in the Sun Belt, averaging 17.3 points a game.  
 
- Javon Franklin is shooting 30-of-38 (78.9 percent) from the field over the last five games.
 
- Kayo Goncalves is fourth in the Sun Belt with 25 made three-pointers.
 
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—