MOBILE, Ala. – Charles Manning Jr. scored a game-high 20 points and tied a career-best with six assists. Javon Franklin secured his fourth double-double of the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds as the University of South Alabama men's basketball team defeated Georgia State 74-65 on Thursday night at the Mitchell Center.
 
Jay Jay Chandler added 14 points and Lance Thomas finished with a season-best 12 as four Jags (11-5) ended the night in double-figures.
 
Kane Williams paced Georgia State (6-7) with 12 points. Corey Allen and Justin Roberts each had 11, while Eliel Nsoseme chipped in 10 for the Panthers.
 
Date: 1/13
Place: Mitchell Center
Final Score: South Alabama 74, Georgia State 65
Records: South Alabama 11-5 (1-2), Georgia State 6-7 (0-2)
 
GAME FACTS
- Georgia State jumped out to an early 14-6 lead, sparked by six points from Williams through the first six minutes.
- USA answered with 10 straight points to grab the lead, 16-14, as Manning Jr. added four points and Thomas hit a three pointer during the run.
- Both teams traded buckets over the next five minutes and a Manning Jr. three-pointer and pull-up jumper helped put the Jags back out in front by four, 27-23, with 4:23 remaining in the half.
- The Panthers closed the half on an 11-2 run to take a 34-29 lead into the break.
- South started the second half by scoring 16 of the first 24 points to take back the lead, 45-42, highlighted by three straight three-pointers from Thomas.
- With the game tied, Kayo Goncalves connected on a corner trey and Manning Jr. converted a three-point play to extend the Jaguar lead to six, 55-49, with 8:06 left in regulation.
- South Alabama hit four straight shots to extend the lead to 10, 66-56, with 4:32 remaining in the game.
- After Georgia State responded with four straight points to cut the lead to six, South finished the game on an 8-5 run to secure the 74-65 victory.
- South outrebounded Georgia State 41-27.
 
NOTES
- South improved to 8-1 at the Mitchell Center this season.
- Richie Riley earned his 100th career win as a head coach.
- After forcing Georgia State to turn the ball over 12 times, USA has forced at least 10 turnovers in every contest this year.
- South Alabama shot 59.3% in the second half, which was a season-best against an NCAA Division 1 opponent this season.
- Manning Jr. has scored 20 points or more in seven games this year and has led the team in scoring in seven contests as well.
- Chandler has scored in double figures in 13 straight games.
- Alex Anderson tied a career-high with 3 assists.
- Lance Thomas set a season-best in points, three-pointers made (4), minutes (22) and three-pointers attempted. Thomas tied a season-best with five rebounds, two blocks and a steal.
 
THEY SAID IT
Head Coach Richie Riley
- Opening statement:
"Most of all, I am so happy for our dudes. It's been a long two-and-a-half weeks, we've had a lot of guys out in protocol. We had only lost twice but it felt like we had lost 10 in a row only playing one game a week and not having guys around. We were down to four guys for a lot of days, it takes a toll on our kids. That's the biggest thing, I am so happy for them. I just wanted them to come out and give every single thing — emotionally, physically, mentally — they had to it, that was the challenge. And they did. I am just happy for them that they were able to play, get out there and find a way to win."
 
- On how much fun the game was:
"It was a lot of fun. It's hard to explain how much it takes a toll on you going what we went through with guys being out and playing shorthanded, when you really care about it. And our program really cares about it, being successful for our fan base, our university and for our guys. These losses wear on me more for our dudes than they do on my record, these guys hurt when they lose; I know a lot of people don't really think that, but they do. I challenged them to pour everything into it, don't be afraid to hurt, because after playing the last two games with six guys you can be a little timid and afraid to give everything you have because you don't want to feel that pain. Our kids gave everything they had tonight, we weren't perfect — we turned the ball over a bunch, we made some errors that we wish we could have back — but they punched adversity in the face and kept going. When bad things happened out there, the eye contact they had with me and the assurance they gave me that we were ok, we hadn't had that in a long time. Tonight we had that, we made some mistakes and fought through it, and made plays that were winning plays that led to us eventually winning the game. I'm proud of this one because we beat an unbelievable team — they're good, they are picked to win this league for a reason, Coach [Rob] Lanier is a tremendous coach."
 
- On Lance Thomas' three-point shooting:
"He can really shoot, out in Vegas he hit some against San Diego that was real similar to that. He has had some really bad luck, I feel so bad for him because he is an unbelievable kid, he loves hoops, he's had a lot of adversity in his life and in basketball. He has been trying to get healthy, but he is a gamer, moments when we've needed him he has come through. He hasn't been out there a lot in practice because of injuries, now he is getting some game experience; he saw the ball go in, he rebounded the ball really well. I think he is going to be a factor moving forward, at some time or another he is going to catch that wave and start playing really well. I hope tonight ignited that for him because we need him and I genuinely want to see him be successful. I think tonight was huge for his confidence."
 
- On if he has seen a total team effort like tonight this season:
"I don't know if we have. Everybody contributed in some way, shape or form to help us win that game. To be honest, I don't know if we win the game without the individual contributions of all seven; if we only had six I don't know that we would've won. It's huge. Tonight, we had a look about us that we haven't had very often this year, of just focus. We were going to play through adversity and our mistakes, whatever we had to do to find a way to win the game. It wasn't one of those games where we just came out from the tip and played unbelievable; sometimes when you're home that happens. We fought through a lot of plays we wished we had back and then found a way at the end to just make that run and keep it going. To be able to step up and close the game against a team with that type of talent and ability to pressure you was really encouraging."
 
UP NEXT
- USA will take on Georgia Southern on Saturday at 4 p.m. (CST) 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).

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—USA—