Game 25 • South Alabama Jaguars (16-8) (6-5) vs. Arkansas State Red Wolves (15-7) (6-4)
February 12, 2022 • 6 p.m. (CST) • Mitchell Center • Mobile, Ala.
 
THE COACHES

South Alabama        
Richie Riley (Eastern Kentucky, 2005)
Record at USA: 70-47 (4th year)
Overall Record: 105-75 (6th year)
Record vs. Arkansas State: 3-2
 
Arkansas State
Mike Balado (St. Thomas [Fla.], 1998)
Record at Arkansas State: 66-76 (5th year)
Overall Record: Same
Record vs. South Alabama: 2-4

LAST GAME
South Alabama defeated Little Rock 77-46 on Thursday at the Mitchell Center. Arkansas State fell 79-77 at Troy on Thursday night.

NEXT GAME
USA will go on the road to take on Coastal Carolina on Thursday at 6 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 (pxp)

RANKINGS
USA: #131 Sagarin, NET #126
Arkansas State: #180 Sagarin, NET #155

THE SERIES
Overall: Arkansas State leads the series 27-23
Longest USA streak: 5
Longest Arkansas State streak: 4
Current Streak: Arkansas State - 1
First Meeting: 12/7/70, 69-59 W
Last Meeting: 1/23/20, 75-71, L

NOTES
- The 50 games against Arkansas State are the third most among current Sun Belt members.

- South has won five out of the last seven contests against the Red Wolves. The two teams didn't meet last year due to COVID scheduling.

- South improved to 11-1 at the Mitchell Center with the win over Little Rock on Thursday. The 11-1 record at home is the best start since the 2007-08 team finished the season 17-1 at home.
 
- The 31-point victory on Thursday 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.
 
- The Jags set a season-high by shooting 60 percent (30-50) from the field against Little Rock.
 
- USA shot 60 percent from the field against Little Rock, including a 56.7 percent clip in the first half. The Jags are 9-0 when shooting over 50 percent in the first half and 7-0 when shooting over 50 percent for the game.
 
- South Alabama is ranked 124th in the NET, the highest ranking among Sun Belt teams.
 
- The Jaguars are 12-1 this season when scoring at least 70 points.
 
- South is ranked 40th in the NCAA in scoring defense, giving up just 63.5 points per game.
 
- The Jaguars lead the Sun Belt with 5.1 blocked shots per game and rank 25th nationally in blocks per game.
 
- South Alabama is ranked in the top 3 of the Sun Belt in scoring offense (73.5), scoring margin (10.0), turnover margin (3.1), field-goal percentage (46.3), field-goal percentage defense (40.6), blocked shots per game, free throw attempts (453), free throws made (317), three-point field goal defense (30.1) and turnovers forced (15.83).
 
South Alabama features two of the top five scorers in the Sun Belt. Charles Manning Jr. is fourth with 16.4 points per game and Jay Jay Chandler is fifth, averaging 16.3 per game.
 
- Chandler has scored 20 or more points in nine games and has scored at least 10 points in 22 consecutive contests. The 22 straight games with 10 or more points are tied for third for the longest streak in the country.
 
- Javon Franklin is averaging 13.6 points per game and 8.5 rebounds in Sun Belt action. Franklin posted his sixth double-double of the season at Troy.
 
- Lance Thomas tied a career-high with six rebounds and a career-best two assists against Little Rock on Thursday.
 
- Diante Smith knocked down a career-best four three-pointers in the win over Little Rock.
 
- Kayo Goncalves ranks third in the Sun Belt with 52 three-pointers this season. After scoring nine points against App State, Goncalves has eclipsed the 1,000-point mark for his NCAA career. Out of the 1,067 points he has scored, over 75 percent has come from beyond the arc (810).
 
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—