Game 17 • South Alabama Jaguars (11-5) (1-2) vs. Georgia Southern Eagles (8-6) (1-2)
January 15, 2022 • 4 p.m. (CST) • Mitchell Center • Mobile, Ala.
 
THE COACHES
South Alabama        
Richie Riley (Eastern Kentucky, 2005)
Record at USA: 65-44 (4th year)
Overall Record: 100-72 (6th year)
Record vs. Georgia Southern 4-4
 
Georgia Southern   
Brian Burg (Mt. Mercy, 2003)
Record at Georgia Southern: 21-19 (2nd year)
Overall Record: Same
Record vs. South Alabama: 2-4

LAST GAME
South Alabama defeated Georgia State 74-65 on Thursday night at the Mitchell Center. Georgia Southern took down UTA 74-73 in OT on Jan. 8.

NEXT GAME
USA will hit the road and take on Louisiana Thursday at 7 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:: J.D. Byars (pxp) Pat Greenwood (color)

RANKINGS
USA: #149 Sagarin, NET #134
Georgia Southern: #231 Sagarin, NET #208

THE SERIES
Overall: USA leads 15-9
Longest USA streak: 4
Longest Georgia Southern streak: 3
Current Streak: USA - 1
First Meeting: 1/12/78, 81-66 W
Last Meeting: 1/23/21, 62-48 W

NOTES
- South's 11-5 start is the best since the 2009-10 team started 11-5.
 
- South Alabama's 10 wins are the most entering conference play since the 1985-86 team won 10 games.
 
- The Jaguars are 8-1 at home at the Mitchell Center this season.

- South Alabama shot 59.3% in the second half against Georgia State, which was a season-best against an NCAA Division 1 opponent this season.
 
- Richie Riley earned his 100th career win on Thursday night as a head coach.
 
- After forcing Georgia State to turn the ball over 12 times, the Jaguars have forced at least 10 turnovers in every game this season.
 
- South Alabama is 5-0 when shooting 50 percent or better for the game.
 
- South is ranked 62nd in the NCAA in scoring defense, giving up just 63.7 points per game.
 
- The Jags lead the Sun Belt with 5.4 blocked shots per game and rank 22nd nationally in blocks per game.
 
- USA is ranked in the top 3 of the Sun Belt in scoring margin (11.3), turnover margin (3.2), blocked shots per game and turnovers forced (16.44).
 
- South Alabama features two of the top six scorers in the Sun Belt. Charles Manning Jr. leads the conference with 17.4 points per game and Jay Jay Chandler is sixth, averaging 15.4 per game.
 
- Chandler has scored in double figures in 13 consecutive games and scored a career-high 23 points at Tarleton. Chandler added 14 points and seven rebounds in the win over Georgia State on Thursday.
 
- Manning Jr. posted a career-best 26 points against UTA and has scored 20 points or more in seven games this season. He has led the Jags in scoring in nine contests this year.
 
- Javon Franklin collected his fourth double-double of the season on Thursday against Georgia State. Frankilin scored 15 points on 7-of-8 shooting and pulled down 10 rebounds in the win. Over his last seven games, Franklin is shooting 45-of-56 (80.3 percent) from the field.
 
- Kayo Goncalves ranks fourth in the Sun Belt with 34 three-pointers this season.
 
- Lance Thomas set season-highs in points (12), three-pointers made (4), three-pointers attempted (7) and minutes (22) against Georgia State on Thursday. He also tied season-bests in blocks (2), steals (1) and rebounds (5).
 
Fans in attendance will be required to supply and wear masks to gain entry into the arena as well as when they are not able to socially distance from other individuals, and pregame and halftime access to the John Counts Room will not be available.  People who would like to disperse and practice social distancing will be able to move to seats in the upper level if desired.

A limited number of masks will be available upon entry at the Mitchell Center if needed.
 
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 the 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—