MOBILE, Ala. – Jay Jay Chandler posted a game-high 22 points and the Jaguars shot a season-best 57.9 percent from beyond the arc as the University of South Alabama men's basketball team defeated Arkansas State 70-51 Saturday night at the Mitchell Center.
 
Charles Manning Jr. scored 13 points and Kayo Goncalves finished with 12 on 4-of-6 shooting from three to power the Jag offense.
 
Marquis Eaton had 10 points, while Norchad Omier and Antwon Jackson both chipped in nine for Arkansas State.
 
Date: 2/12
Place: Mitchell Center
Final Score: South Alabama 70, Arkansas State 51
Records: South Alabama (17-8) (7-5), Arkansas State (15-8) (6-5)
 
GAME FACTS
- USA jumped out to an early 23-14 lead, making nine of its first 13 shots from the field over the first eight minutes.
- Diante Smith and Manning Jr. connected on back-to-back treys to push the lead to 13, 29-16, with 9:17 left in the half.
- Arkansas State answered with a 9-4 run to cut the lead to single-digits, 33-25.
- The Jags closed the half on a 12-0 run, highlighted by a Chandler triple to extend the lead to 45-25 at the break.
- Both teams traded buckets over the first nine minutes of the second half and Goncalves' second three-pointer of the game stretched the lead to 57-34.
- The Red Wolves responded with seven straight points to cut the Jag lead to 16, 57-41, with 8:37 to go.
- South Alabama outscored Arkansas State 13-10 over the final eight minutes to secure the 70-51 victory.
 
NOTES
- USA has won six of the last eight meetings against Arkansas State.
- The Jaguars improved to 12-1 at the Mitchell Center this season. The 12-1 record at home is the best start since the 2007-08 team finished the season 17-1 at home.
- South limited Arkansas State to just 51 points, tying the lowest point total of the season for the Red Wolves.
- The Jags finished the first half 17-for-27 (63 percent) from the field and have shot over 50 percent in the first half in back-to-back games.
- South is now 10-0 this season when shooting at least 50 percent in the first half.
- USA improved to 13-1 when scoring at least 70 points.
- Chandler has scored at least 10 or more points in 23 straight contests. The 23 straight games in double figures are tied for third for the longest streak in the country.
- Chandler has posted at least 20 points in 10 contests this and season and has led the team in scoring a team-high nine times.
- Goncalves has hit at least one three-pointer in 13 straight games.
- Javon Franklin pulled down a team-high eight rebounds.
 
THEY SAID IT
Head Coach Richie Riley
- Opening statement:
"It was a really good win for our team. I was proud of the way that we played, especially in the first half. I thought we were really good in the first half and did a good job of sharing the ball. We shot almost 64 percent and had eight assists and just five turnovers. Defensively, we were incredibly active and made a lot of good plays in transition. I told our team we have to learn from the second half. We got a little bit lazy and a little bit bored and you can't do that. We have to mature. The game is never over until it is over and we have to do a better job of finishing. I can't tell you how proud of our guys for the home sweep that we were able to accomplish. I said it on Thursday night coming off that road swing, that we were probably at rock bottom this season. We were tired and beat down and we just didn't play well. We played our worst basketball in that two week stretch that we spent on the road. So, we came back and went to work and focused on the mission ahead. We got better Monday through Wednesday and it showed on Thursday. And then we got better on Friday and it showed on Saturday. They appreciate the work maybe more than they did before we went through that stretch on the road."
 
- On the defense:
"We played zone the whole game. We wanted to pressure some and disrupt some rhythm. We wanted to use our length in the zone to try and limit Omier. He's a handful and a great player. So, we wanted to try to limit his touches in the paint and then we got him into foul trouble. Anytime you can do that against a player of that caliber, it is huge for your team. I credit our offense for attacking to be able to do that. We have a team that can really play zone because of our length and athleticism. We've never had a team with this kind of length and athleticism. In the lineup that we start, nobody out there is under 6'4. They are fast and athletic and great anticipators. I loved our plan and thought we had a really good plan. I thought our kids really bought in and did a great job executing, holding them to 32 percent from the field and 15 percent from three is an incredible number for as good offensively they have been."
 
- On the three-point shooting:
"When we make the three-ball, we are really dangerous. I came into the season saying that I felt that this was the best shooting team that we've had. I thought this team would really shoot the three-ball and our told our staff that we were going to start hitting them and we have as of late. Some of it is the quality of shots we are taking. We are doing a good job of getting the ball in the paint and spraying the ball around and we are getting really good shots. Our approach has been much better. I was excited to see Turbo [Jones] go 2-for-2 from three because he can make them. He's trying to feel his way back in because he was out so long, so that is a huge confidence boost for him. I was excited to see Kayo go 4-for-6. We all know how well he shoots the ball. He's had moments this season where he hasn't shot the ball like we know he can but we all know that he is an elite shooter. Anytime Jay Jay [Chandler] can go 2-for-3, it's huge because he's so dynamic off the deck. If he is hitting the three, he's really hard to defend, almost impossible to defend. And Chuck [Manning Jr.] hit one too. We've got really good shooters throughout the lineup."
 
UP NEXT
- USA travels to take on Coastal Carolina at 6 p.m. (CST) on Thursday.
 
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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