MOBILE, Ala. – The South Alabama Men's Basketball team returns to the Mitchell Center on Saturday, Nov.16, for an afternoon battle with the Mercer Bears. Tip-off is slated for 3 p.m. CT, and the game will be broadcast on ESPN +.
Game Information
South Alabama (1-2) vs Mercer (2-1)
Tip-Off: Saturday, Nov.16 | 3 p.m. CT
Site: Mobile, Ala. | Mitchell Center
Live Stats ESPN +
Last Time Out
Despite holding Ole Miss to 33 percent shooting from the floor, South Alabama struggled to find consistency on the offensive end and fell to the No.25, ranked Rebels 64-54 in Oxford. Judah Brown led the Jags with a new season-high 16 points on 6-of-14 shooting from the field with four three-pointers. Myles Corey had a strong second half, scoring 14 points with five assists.
South Alabama Notes
- Corey, an Ontario, Calif. native, has averaged 17.3 points and 8.0 assists in the Jags' first three contests, including a 20-point, 11-assist performance in the season opener against Central Michigan.
- Brown has been lights out from behind the arc this season. A Bermuda Dunes, Calif. Native has put up 15 points or more in every game this season, knocking down a Sun Belt-leading 14 total three-pointers. Brown set a new season-high against Ole Miss with 16 points on 4-of-11 shooting from deep.
- South Alabama has played solid defense throughout the 2024-25 season. The Jags rank first in the Sun Belt in field goal percentage defense, holding opponents to 38.5 percent shooting from the field and fourth in scoring defense, limiting teams to 67.5 points per game.
- South ranks second in the Sun Belt Conference in assist-to-turnover ratio, owning a 1.24 margin.
- Three Jags average double figures in scoring– Corey (17.3), Brown (15.3), Dylan Fasoyiro (10.7).
- John Broom has been dominant on the boards this season for South Alabama, averaging 7.3 rebounds per contest.
The Series
- South Alabama leads the all-time series 4-1 with a 3-0 record at home against Mercer. Saturday's matchup also marks the second battle in the last two years. Before last season, the last time these teams met was in 1975.
- The Jags dominated the Bears last season in Macon, Ga. 83-62 on Dec.6. Elijah Ormiston was one of five double-figure scorers, putting up 12 second-half points with three rebounds and an assist.
- South Alabama owns a 23-6 overall record against teams currently in the Southern Conference.
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
12/30/23 W 83-62
About Mercer
- In the first season under head coach Ryan Ridder, Mercer opened season, defeating Virginia-Lynchburg 125-54, breaking the all-time school record for most points scored in a game.
- The Bears have also defeated Trinity Baptist 101-34 and dropped a road contest to Depaul 96-64.
- Mercer was picked to finish seventh in the SoCon preseason coaches poll.
- Five different Bears average double figures in scoring per game– Angel Montas Jr. (14.0), Tyler Johnson (13.3), Alex Holt (10.0), Ahmad Robinson (10.7), Marcus Overstreet (10.0).
- Holt also leads the SoCon in field goal percentage at 83.3 percent.
Cliff Ellis Book Signing
Former Jags head coach Cliff Ellis will be in attendance on Monday, Nov.18 at our home game against Spring Hill. Coach Ellis recently finished a book entitled "Life's a Dance" and will have signed copies available ($25.00) for fans with 35 percent of proceeds going towards Jags Impact, our NIL Collective.
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.
