CONWAY, S.C. – Kayo Goncalves connected on a three-pointer as time expired and the University of South Alabama men's basketball team defeated Coastal Carolina 71-68 on Thursday night at the HTC Center.
 
Jay Jay Chandler posted a team-high 17 points and Charles Manning Jr. and Diante Smith both added 15 to power the Jag offense.
 
Coastal Carolina's Rudi Williams scored a game-high 24 points, Wilfried Likayi, Josh Uduje and Vince Cole each chipped in 10 for the Chanticleers.
 
Date: 2/17
Place: HTC Center
Final Score: South Alabama 71, Coastal Carolina 68
Records: South Alabama (18-8) (8-5), Coastal Carolina (13-12) (5-8)
 
GAME FACTS
- Coastal Carolina opened the game by going 2-of-4 from beyond the arc to take an early 10-5 lead.
- South answered with a Goncalves three-pointer and a Chandler layup to tie the game at 10-10, with 13:30 left in the half.
- The Chanticleers went on a 7-2 run to regain the lead, 17-12.
- The Jags scored the next seven points to go up 19-17, with just over seven minutes to go.
- Likayi knocked down a three-pointer and a layup to put Coastal Carolina back in front, 22-19.
- South Alabama responded with a 12-3 run to retake the lead, 31-25, with less than two minutes in the half.
- Coastal Carolina closed the half by scoring the final three points to cut the Jaguar lead to three, 31-28.
- Both teams traded points over the first six minutes of the second half and Marshall Kearing knocked down a pair of free throws to put USA up, 37-33.
- The Chanticleers responded with an 18-7 run to extend the lead to seven, 51-44, with 8:42 to go.
- Smith knocked down his fifth three-pointer of the night and Manning Jr. connected on a three-point play to pull the Jags within one, 56-55.
- Javon Franklin's dunk put South Alabama in front, 59-58, with 5:05 remaining.
- Chandler hit two free throws and Manning Jr.'s dunk stretched the USA lead to two, 65-63.
- Coastal answered with a 5-0 run to retake the lead, 68-65, with just over a minute left in the contest.
- Chandler drove to the rim and connected on a three-point play to tie the game at 68-68 with 37 seconds remaining in the game.
- Goncalves hit the game-winning three-pointer as time expired as South Alabama won 71-68.
 
NOTES
- USA has won four of the last six matchups against Coastal Carolina, including the last three meetings.
- The Jags finished the first half shooting 11-for-22 (50 percent) from the field and have shot 50 percent or better in the first half in three straight games.
- South improved to 11-0 this season when shooting at least 50 percent in the first half.
- USA had eight assists on 11 made field goals in the first half.
- South Alabama is now 14-1 when scoring at least 70 points this season.
- The Jaguars finished a perfect 12-for-12 from the charity stripe in the second half.
- South finished with 16 assists on 23 made field goals.
- Smith set a career-high with five three-pointers.
- Franklin's 11 first-half rebounds were a season-high. Franklin finished with eight points and 14 rebounds, coming up just two points short of his seventh double-double.
- Chandler has scored at least 10 points in 24 straight games. The 24 straight games with double-figures are tied for the third-longest streak in the country.
- Chandler dished out a career-high eight assists.
- Goncalves' game-winner was the second of his career, with his first coming in a win over Southern Miss last year.
- Goncalves has hit at least one three-pointer in 14 straight contests.
 
UP NEXT
- USA will stay on the road to take on App State on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. (CST).
 
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—