JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – Charles Manning Jr. scored a game-high 22 points as the University of South Alabama men's basketball team defeated Jacksonville State 74-64 Saturday night at the Pete Mathews Coliseum.
 
The Jags (8-2) had four individuals finish in double figures. Javon Franklin posted 15 points, Alex Anderson added a career-high 13 and Jay Jay Chandler finished with 12.
 
Darian Adams paced Jacksonville State (3-4) with 17 points, while Demaree King had 12 and Kayne Henry chipped in 11.
 
Date: 12/4
Place: Pete Mathews Coliseum
Final Score: South Alabama 74, Jacksonville State 64
Records: South Alabama 8-2, Jacksonville State 3-4
 
GAME FACTS
- USA jumped out to an early 8-5 lead over the first four minutes.
- Jacksonville State answered with a 9-2 run to grab a 14-10 lead with just under 13 minutes in the half.
- South scored the next 12 points to take a 22-14 lead with seven minutes left, highlighted by five points from Manning Jr.
- JSU closed the half on a 13-6 run as Jalen Gibbs hit a three-pointer as time expired to cut the lead to one at the break, 28-27.
- Kayo Goncalves hit a three-pointer and Anderson followed with a layup on the first two possessions of the second half to extend the lead to six, 33-27.
- Both teams traded baskets over the next five minutes until Manning Jr. converted a three-point play and Franklin hit a layup to put the Jags up 44-35 with 13 minutes remaining.
- South Alabama pushed the lead to 11, 51-40 after Goncalves hit his second three-pointer.
- The Gamecocks responded with seven straight points to cut the deficit to four, 51-47 with just over eight minutes left in the contest.
- Manning Jr. converted on a three-point play to extend the lead, 56-50.
- JSU's Demaree King hit a three-pointer to make it 57-55 with 5:11 remaining.
- USA finished the game on a 17-9 run and went 13-of-13 from the charity stripe over the final 3:29.
- South Alabama outscored Jacksonville State 38-28 in the paint and 25-15 in points off turnovers.
 
NOTES
- South is now 2-2 against JSU.
- USA has won seven straight games.
- The Jaguars have forced 15 or more turnovers in nine of 10 contests this season.
- South Alabama shot a season-high 89.5 percent (17-19) from the free throw line.
- USA is off to its best start through 10 games since the 2005-06 team started 8-2.
- Manning Jr. has scored 20 points or more in four of the last five contests.
- Chandler has scored in double digits in six straight, and he also tied a season-best with seven rebounds.
- Goncalves has hit at least one three-pointer in 23 consecutive games dating back to last season.
- Franklin has posted back-to-back games in double figures.
 
THEY SAID IT
Head Coach Richie Riley
- Opening statement:
"It was a big win for us against a really good team. They are really well coached and are going to win a lot of games this year. It was big for us to get a win in a true road environment like this. It was loud in here and our guys really responded. We won off of our defense and our ability to make some shots. I was also proud of how we finished the game by making free throws. I thought some guys really stepped up and were clutch at the end."
 
- On Jay Jay Chandler:
"He didn't play as well offensively as he is capable of playing. He's a talented player and he's really scored the ball for us all year. He struggled a little bit and I know he was frustrated, but I told him to come up big in the biggest moments. He stepped up and went 8-for-8 from the line and got seven rebounds, which is tremendous for a guard. I've challenged him to rebound the ball more and he welcomed that tonight."
 
UP NEXT
- USA returns home to face Tarleton State on Dec. 14 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).

Join the South Circle, the unrestricted giving option of the University of South Alabama Athletics. Contributions to 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—