MOBILE, Ala. – Jay Jay Chandler led the Jags with 14 points and Diante Smith knocked down a career-high four three-pointers as the University of South Alabama men's basketball team defeated Little Rock 77-46 on Thursday night at the Mitchell Center.
 
Jamal West added nine points, Manning Jr. finished with 8 points and five assists and Javon Franklin chipped in seven points to lead the Jaguar offense.
 
Little Rock's Isaiah Palermo posted a game-high 16 points to lead the Trojans.
 
Date: 2/10
Place: Mitchell Center
Final Score: South Alabama 77, Little Rock 46
Records: South Alabama (16-8) (6-5), Little Rock (7-14) (2-7)
 
GAME FACTS
- USA made seven of its first eight shots to take an early 14-6 lead.
- Little Rock answered with an 8-2 run to pull within one, 15-14, with just under 12 minutes left.
- The Jags scored 21 of the next 26 points to push the lead to 36-19, sparked by a three-point play from Chandler and a Lance Thomas three-pointer.
- Kayo Goncalves knocked down back-to-back three-pointers over the final minute to put South Alabama up 42-25 at the break.
- South opened the second half 5-for-6 from the field and 4-of-5 from three to stretch the lead to 26, 56-30.
- Jamal West hit a pair of free throws to extend the lead to 30, 65-35, with just over eight minutes left in the game.
- USA outscored Little Rock 36-18 in the point and 20-4 in points off turnovers.
 
NOTES
- South Alabama is now 31-23 all-time against Little Rock, including a 16-9 mark at home against the Trojans.
- The 31-point victory is tied for the biggest win against Little Rock in series history. The Jags previously beat the Trojans by 31 points, 79-48, on March 1, 1998.
- South improved to 11-1 at the Mitchell Center with the win. The 11-1 record at home is the best since the 2007-08 team finished the season 17-1 at home.
- USA is now 12-1 when scoring at least 70 points.
- The Jaguars are 9-0 this season when shooting 50 percent or better from the field in the first half.
- Chandler has scored 10 or more points in 22 consecutive games, tied for the third-longest streak by any player this season.
- Smith knocked down a career-high four three-pointers.
- Thomas pulled down a season-best six rebounds and tied a career-high with two assists.
- All 12 players for the Jags scored.
- Adam Sizemore knocked down his second three-pointer of the season.
- West tied a season-best with nine points.
 
THEY SAID IT
Head Coach Richie Riley
- Opening statement:
"Number one, it felt good to win. We treat every game like a game seven as a program. So, when we struggled on the road swing the way we did, they hurt really bad. It felt really good to win. Most of all, it felt good to me for our players because they came back and were beat down from the road swing. We not only prepared really hard for Little Rock, but we practiced to get better ourselves. We went as live as we have gone all year since the beginning of the season and we responded. It was one of those beautiful things where the guys that practiced well, played well. We started Diante Smith and Lance Thomas, who typically aren't in the starting lineup and they earned that opportunity. The beautiful thing about basketball is that it can reward you and it certainly rewarded them tonight. I thought the both of them helped us get off to a tremendous start. And then with the way Diante Smith shot the ball in the second half helped us extend the lead. Again, I'm really proud of our guys. As we go down the stretch run, we have to continue to get better and get contributions from multiple guys like we did tonight."
 
- On Arkansas State:
"They are as talented as anybody in this league. Norchad Omier is special and is good a player as anyone in this league. He is just really talented. Desi Sills from Arkansas is really talented and then the veteran guards that I feel like have been there since I've been here. They are really good. I'll watch the Arkansas State and Troy game later tonight. I'm sure it was a heck of a game because Troy and Arkansas State both have great teams. You don't get to enjoy these wins very long because you always have a really talented team and talented coach coming in 48 hours later. They are going to be ready to go. It's tight up top in the standings and there is five or six teams that can still win this thing. Each game matters and each game is a game seven. So, we have to get ready to go and expect them to be great."
 
UP NEXT
- USA will play Arkansas State at 6 p.m. (CST) on Saturday 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—