MOBILE, Ala.-- The South Alabama men's basketball team (4-5) will wrap up a three-game road stretch on Wednesday, Dec. 6, as they face off against the Mercer Bears at 10 a.m. at Hawkins Arena in Macon, Georgia.
GAME INFORMATION
Tip-off: 10 a.m. CST
Site: Hawkins Arena| Macon, Ga.
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Last Time Out
A slow first half offensively consisting of the Jaguars shooting 22 percent from the field and 20 percent from three-point range was too much to overcome as they never found rhythm in the second half and fell 70-52 to the Jacksonville State Gamecocks.
The Series
South Alabama leads the all-time series against Mercer 3-1. The last time these teams met, the Jags defeated the Bears 83-70 in February 1976.
Full Series History
1/20/75 W 95-94
2/14/75 L 67-76
1/24/76 W 97-84
2/12/76 W 83-70
About Mercer
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Mercer holds a 2-5 record this season. In the past six games, the Bears have picked up wins over Chicago State and Tennessee State before falling to Morehead State, Western Michigan, and SEC opponents Alabama and Georgia.
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Greg Gary enters his sixth season coaching Mercer with a record of 67-67.
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The Bears have been impressive shooting the three ball this season, averaging 6.9 triples a game, with Jake Davis leading the way in that category with 13 three-pointers.
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Redshirt senior Jayln McCreary fuels the Bear's offense, averaging 13.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.
Notes
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The Jags currently average 70.7 points per contest, while Mercer scores 65.4.
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Both teams are evenly matched on the boards as the Jaguars pull down 31.28 rebounds per game compared to the Bears' 29.4.
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South Alabama is ranked #229 in the Kenpom rankings, while Mercer is #259.
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Isiah Gaiter (15.0), Julian Margrave (11.2), and Maxwell Land (10.1) each average double figures in scoring for the Jaguars.
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Gaiter has been a difference-maker this season for South Alabama. The transfer senior has recorded seven double-figure scoring games this season and is ranked eighth in the Sun Belt in points per game (15.0) and fifth in field goal percentage (51.1).
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Marcus Millender leads the Sun Belt Conference in total assists with 35. The Jags are 3-1 in games this season when Millender has more than four assists.
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Margrave has been electric from behind the arc this year for South Alabama. He recorded a new career-high against SIUE when he hit six three-pointers to finish with 22 points. He currently ranks third in the conference in three-point field goals with 15.
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As a team, the Jaguars are efficient from the free throw line, shooting 72.7 percent, which is ranked third in the Sun Belt. Against Maryland, the Jaguars shot perfect from the free throw line for the first time since January of 2021 against Georgia Southern.
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South gave up a season-low of six turnovers against Maryland and SIUE.
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The Jaguars are rank sixth in the conference with a 43.6 field goal percentage.
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The Jags have totaled two double-doubles so far this season. Marcus Millender logged 23 points and ten assists against Nicholls, finishing one rebound shy of a triple-double, grabbing nine rebounds. Thomas Howell secured his first double-double in a Jaguar uniform and the sixth in his career against Denver, scoring 14 points and 11 rebounds.
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South Alabama is 3-2 at home and 1-3 on the road this season.
FOLLOW THE JAGS
For complete coverage of South Alabama men's basketball, follow the Jags on social media @SouthAlabamaMBB (Twitter), /SouthAlabamaMBB (Facebook), @southalabamambb (Instagram), or visit the official home of South Alabama athletics at usajaguars.com.
