Game 23 • Troy (10-10) (4-6) at South Alabama Jaguars (12-8) (6-5)
February 11, 2021 • 6 p.m. • Mitchell Center (10,000) • Mobile, Ala.

THE COACHES
South Alabama    
Richie Riley (Eastern Kentucky, 2005)
Record at USA: 49-36 (3rd year)
Overall Record: 84-64 (5th year)
Record vs. Troy: 4-0

Troy    
Scott Cross (UT-Arlington, 1998)
Record at Troy: 19-32 (2nd year)
Overall Record: 244-193 (14th year)

LAST GAME
South Alabama won over Georgia State 70-67 at the GSU Sports Arena. It was the first win in Atlanta since "The shot that rolled the Tide" in the 1988 NCAA Tournament and the first win over GSU in Atlanta since Jan. 29, 1982. Troy fell to Georgia Southern 79-64 at Statesboro, Ga.

NEXT GAME
Both teams will meet again Saturday in Troy, Ala., at the Trojan Arena.

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
USA: # 199 Sagarin, NET #206
Troy:  #139 Sagarin, NET #278

THE SERIES
South Alabama holds a 25-to-11 advantage in the all-time series with rival Troy with multiple five-game win streaks. The current streak is four to USA but the three prior to that, all during the 2017-18 season with one in the conference tournament, favor the Trojans. If the Jaguars take the win in Thursday night's contest, it will be the third five-game win streak over the Trojans, the longest for either team in the series.

NOTES
Both teams enter Thursday's game on a good set of form, with the Jaguars winning four straight and the Trojans winning four of their last five games. South has controlled the series but with a shortened bench, enters game number four in seven days. Adding a make-up game Tuesday, the Jaguars travelled to Atlanta and left with a win Tuesday afternoon.

With the four wins from four games, South has surged to third in the Sun Belt East Division, tied with Coastal Carolina, separated by overall win percentage. Both squads trail Appalachian State by a single loss, but the Mountaineers have played one fewer game then both teams. Every team in the East division is at or above .500 win percentage in their overall records.

The Jaguars have won the previous three games by a combined 13 points.

Three of South's four wins came at the Mitchell Center with a Saturday win over Georgia Southern followed by a home sweep over Coastal Carolina. The Jags have posted a 9-3 record at home this year, with two losses coming in Sun Belt play.

USA completed its non-conference slate without any changes. The nine games without changes is the most in the nation, but in a four-way tie with Louisiana Tech, Toledo and UNC Wilmington. No other Sun Belt team has more than six, and one opponent, Auburn, also made the list with eight games.

With the completion of the regular season series against Georgia Southern, USA has played the same opponent four times in the same season for the first time in program history. While that will potentially be commonplace at the conclusion of the schedule, the first time was set over the course of 23 days.

Michael Flowers has scored 424 points on the season taking the second-place position in points-per-game and third in total points, trailing Iowa's Luke Garza who is the leader in both categories. Over the last five games, Flowers has dropped 107 points including a season-high 32 points on Georgia Southern in the Friday game on Jan. 23. The following game, Flowers became the focal point of the Eagles' defensive scheme, and the Southfield, Mich., native recorded his first double-double in a Jaguar uniform with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Flowers was named the Mid-Major Conference Player of the Week for the Sun Belt Conference by College Sports Madness on Feb. 8.

While scoring 32 points against Georgia Southern, the Senior etched his name on a couple South Alabama single-game records. The effort tied the record of three-point attempts with 17, equaling a record held by Michael Gerren set against USF on Feb. 10, 1983. Flowers also put up 29 field goal attempts which tied the second-place position, which was set by Eugene Oliver against Southern Miss on Feb. 14, 1974, however, the record of 30 attempts in a game was set in the previously mentioned USF game in 1983 by Gerren.

In addition to the NCAA rankings and despite the shortened non-conference schedule, Flowers could potentially shake up the single-season record book at USA with a pace to make the top 10 in points, points-per-game and made three-point baskets. While the percentages have a chance to drop, Flowers could also etch his name in the field-goal percentage and three-point field-goal percentage categories.

Sam Iorio led the Jaguars and game in scoring for the first time since donning a South Alabama jersey with 18 points against the Panthers in Atlanta last time out. The transfer from American has become more comfortable and confident within his role according to head coach Richie Riley and has lead the team in rebounds in two of the last three games.

Joining Flowers in various three-point offensive categories is Kayo Goncalves. Standing at six feet eight inches, Goncalves has sank 50 threes on the year, with an accuracy in the top 50 of division one NCAA men's basketball. The 50 made threes is third in the Sun Belt to Flowers' 58 and UL's Cedric Russell. The pair are top 12 in the Sun Belt for accuracy with Flowers connecting with 43.3 percent of his attempts and Goncalves trailing with 41.8 of his attempts going in.

Stepping into a bigger role, Tyreke Locure has become the second option behind Flowers, scoring 14.8 points per game (sixth in the Sun Belt). Scoring 20 on Friday, Locure equaled his career high with 22 points on Saturday in the four-point win over the Chanticleers. Locure led the game in scoring for the fourth time in his career with the 22-point effort. The sophomore has eclipsed 250 points on the season following the 42-point performance over the weekend.

John Pettway earned his first career double-double in a 10-point 10-rebound effort on Saturday against the Chanticleers. Entering the contest, Pettway was one of the most accurate shooters from the floor connecting on almost 55 percent of his attempts, the senior set a new career high with the 10 rebounds.

Adding another accolade likened to Josh Ajayi, Jamal West pulled down 13 rebounds in the Jan. 15 contest against the Mountaineers with a total of 23 after both games concluded. The 13 boards equaled the single-game high last year set by Ajayi against Pikeville and equaled in conference play against UT-Arlington. West started the first four games this season, becoming the first freshman to start the first four games since the aforementioned Ajayi. The freshman has also grabbed 10 or more rebounds in four Sun Belt Conference contests; two against Appalachian State in back-to-back days, a 12-rebound performance against Georgia Southern on Jan. 2 and against the Chanticleers last time on the court.

KK Curry has fallen short of a double-double four times this season. The sophomore has fell one rebound shy of a double-double with three of the four efforts coming in Sun Belt Conference play and two of the three resulting in Jaguar wins. Stepping up his production in against SBC competition, Curry is averaging 10.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game in his first six appearances in conference play. While a presence on the post, the sophomore sank 19 free throws after earning 25 trips to the charity stripe over the same span.

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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