BUFFALO, N.Y.-- A dominant second-half surge pushed the South Alabama men's basketball team past Buffalo 70-56 in the MAC-SBC Challenge Saturday afternoon. The Jaguars picked up their first victory of the season, improving to 1-1, while Buffalo fell to 0-2.

After leading at halftime by four points, South Alabama exploded offensively and bolted out onto a 26-7 second half run to help secure the victory. The Jags had three players finish with double digits in scoring. Marcus Millender led the way with 15 points, three steals, and four assists. Isiah Gaiter scored 13 points on 4-7 shooting, and Maxwell Land added 12 points of his own. 

The Jaguars also had an impressive game defensively, holding the Bulls to just 36.4 percent from the field and 28.7 percent from three-point range.

Game Facts (How it Happened)  

• The Jaguars started the game fast as Gaiter muscled in two layups, and Judah Brown drained a three-pointer to give USA a 7-3 lead at the 17:15 mark. 
• Buffalo started to find its balance and pulled back within one point, 14-13, with 12:13 on the clock. 
• South stayed in rhythm and jumped out on a 12-6 spurt led by Maxwell Land's three-pointer and a tough Millender finish at the rim to take a 26-20 lead with 6:18 left to play. 
• The Jags kept that momentum and finished the half with a 33-29 advantage. 
• South Alabama exploded to start the second half as Thomas Howell hit two quick layups, and Gaiter and Samuel Tabe sank two jumpers near the rim to extend the Jags lead to 45-33 at the 14:57 mark. 
• South Alabama did not stop there as Millender hit a three-pointer and a layup before Marshall Kearing and Isiah Gaiter found space in the paint to help push South's advantage to 58-35 with 10:02 left in the quarter. 
• The Jags would increase their lead to the highest of the day, 65-40, with 4:14 left in the game. 
• Buffalo would continue to fight and pulled back within 12 points with under a minute a to play, but South Alabama was to strong  and secured the 70-56 victory.  

Notes

• South Alabama never trailed in this contest. 
• The Jags shot 75 percent from the field in the second half and 57.1 percent on the night. 
• Maxwell Land led the Jags from behind the arc, shooting 2-6 from three-point land. 
• USA controlled the paint the entire night. The Jags outscored Buffalo 44 to 27 inside the paint and won the rebounding battle 36 to 32. 
• South Alabama recorded 27 points from its bench compared to the Bulls 15. 
• This is the sixth win all-time and second win for Coach Riley over a MAC opponent. 

Quotable

Head Coach Richie Riley 

" Proud of our guys. It's obviously been a tough week, but I really believe in our guys. They showed tremendous fight when our backs were against the wall."  

Up Next

The Jags will travel up north to take on the Alabama Crimson Tide on Tuesday, Nov.14 at 7 p.m. CT. 

FOLLOW THE JAGS

For complete coverage of South Alabama men's basketball, follow the Jags on social media @SouthAlabamaMBB (Twitter), /SouthAlabamaJaguars (Facebook), @southalabamambb (Instagram), or visit the official home of South Alabama athletics at usajaguars.com.