HATTIESBURG, Miss. | South Alabama men's basketball had its comeback fall just short, losing to Southern Miss on the road at the Reed Green Coliseum Thursday night, 76-72.
 
The Jaguars now sit at 8-11 and 2-5 in Sun Belt play, while the Golden Eagles improved to 16-4 (5-2 SBC).
 
 Isaiah Moore led the Jaguars in scoring for the 12^th game this season, notching 22 points. Austin Crowley contributed 25 for Southern Miss, and Felipe Haase made three free throws in the final minute to help secure the victory.
 
GAME FACTS (HOW IT HAPPENED)

• The Golden Eagles had a 10-5 advantage at the under-16 timeout thanks to eight quick points from Austin Crowley.
• After a hot shooting start, each team cooled off, and the Jags trailed, 20-14, with 7:38 to play in the first half.
• A three-pointer from Jamar Franklin tied the game at 22, and capped an 11-to-2 run with 5:20 to go.
• The teams were still tied, 26-26, with 2:55 to go in the first half. Kevin Samuel led the Jags with seven points.
• Franklin's transition 3-pointer after a Samuel block gave the Jags their first lead of the game, 31-28, with two minutes to go before halftime.
• Samuel's layup as time expired gave South Alabama the four-point lead heading into the break.
• After starting 0-of-8 from beyond the arc, the Jaguars made three of their next six attempts to end the half.
• The Eagles regained the lead, 43-41, with 15:49 to play.
• Southern Miss went on an 11-to-4 run from 15:35 to 11:50 to take a 56-48 lead.
• A 3-pointer from Greg Parham II with eight minutes to go gave the Jaguars the lead, 60-59.
• Samuel's rebound with 5:57 to play gave him his sixth double-double of the season.
• The teams continued to battle back-and-forth, and they were tied at 66 with 3:33 to play.
• Southern Miss made four free throws in the final minute.

 
NOTES

• This was Franklin's first career start.
• The Jaguar defense held the Eagles to only nine percent on their three-point attempts in the first half (1-11).
• Samuel has recorded 41 career double-doubles.
• Moore recorded his seventh game of 20+ points this season, and has led the Jaguars in scoring in 12.
• South Alabama is 0-10 when the opponent leads with five minutes to go.

 
QUOTABLE
Head Coach Richie Riley:
"Our margin of error is as small as I've ever had as a coach. We tried hard, we did some good things. To win against these guys, the margin of error is small, and we had too many mistakes…We didn't shoot the ball well, we left six free throws on the table. We gave up 40 points in the paint, and on the road it's hard. They went 19-of-21 from the free throw line, we went 13-of-19, and we lost by four…Every single possession matters, and they are all high-stakes possessions."

UP NEXT
The Jaguars travel east to take on the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (9-9, 3-4) Saturday afternoon.  The teams will tip-off at 1 p.m. central time at the HTC Center in Conway, S.C.
 
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