MOBILE, Ala. | South Alabama men's basketball returned to the win column in a big way, defeating rival Troy, 77-60, Saturday afternoon at the Mitchell Center.
 
The Jaguars (9-13, 3-7 SBC) were led once again by Isaiah Moore with 23 points and seven rebounds. Kevin Samuel recorded his eighth double-double of the season, contributing 10 points and 13 rebounds in addition to four blocks.
 
Christyon Eugene led the Trojans (13-10, 5-5 SBC) with 17 points. The Jaguars held the Trojans to 22 rebounds, a season-low for a Jaguar opponent.
 
GAME FACTS (HOW IT HAPPENED)

• Owen White scored the first five points of the game with a three-pointer and two free throws.
• Moore scored the next three points to give the Jags an 8-0 lead early in the game.
• South led 10-3 at the under-16 media timeout.
• A steal by Jones leading to a fast-break layup from Moore forced Troy's first timeout at the 12:11 mark with the Jags in front, 16-5.
• The Jags had double Troy's rebounds (14-7) with 6:50 to go before halftime, holding a 22-15 lead.
• Judah Brown knocked down three free throws to give the Jags a 10-point lead, 29-19, with 3:49 to go in the first half.
• A steal by Owen White in the final 30 seconds prevented the Trojans from scoring, and the Jags took a 37-25 lead into the break.
• The Jaguars came out of the break making three of their first five three-point attempts, creating a 16-point cushion, 50-34.
• A Brown three-pointer put the Jags up by 19, 58-39, with 11:50 to go.
• The Jags were able to maintain their lead over the next five minutes, leading 65-51 with six minutes to go.
• Samuel secured a double-double with an alley-oop with 6:03 to go, his eighth of the season.
• South led by 18 with four minutes to go.
• Jones's layup with 1:30 to play put the Jaguars up by 20.

 
NOTES

• This was the fifth time this season South Alabama scored on their opening possession.
• Head Coach Richie Riley is 8-1 against Troy, including 5-0 at the Mitchell Center.
• South Alabama never trailed.
• The Jags shot 50% in the first half, and led the rebounding battle, 21-9.
• Samuel's six offensive rebounds tied his season high.
• Samuel has 4+ blocks in five conference games.
• The Jaguars are 5-1 when out-rebounding their opponent this season.
• Six Jaguars played 28+ minutes.
• South scored 46 points in the paint, the most against a Division I opponent this season.

 
QUOTABLE
Head Coach Richie Riley:
"The guys responded better than they have all year. It was a team effort. Everybody that stepped foot on the court showed up. That was written on our board, 'show up'. And, if we show up every night, we give everything we have, then we eliminate some of these close losses that come down to the end. I was happy with what our guys did and how they responded…I was really proud of who we were as a team today. That looks more like the bunch that I feel like we have a chance to be moving forward."  

UP NEXT
The Jaguars go back on the road to take on the Arkansas State Red Wolves. Tip-off will be on Thursday at 7 p.m. in Jonesboro, Arkansas.
 
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