COMMERCE, Texas – Myles Corey scored 27 points, and three other Jaguars finished with double figures as the South Alabama Men's Basketball team (7-3) overcame a slow start and powered to an 81-72 victory over East Texas A&M (1-10) Sunday afternoon in The Field House. 

The Jaguars came out of the gates slow and trailed throughout the first 14 minutes of the game, but South Alabama would grab the lead at the 6:13 mark behind 17 first-half points from Corey and 51.2 percent shooting from the field never to look back to earn the win. 

Corey posted his fourth 20-point game of the season, shooting 9-of-18 from the field with three triples and five assists. Barry Dunning Jr. turned in a gritty performance, finishing with 14 points, five rebounds, three assists, and two steals. 

John Broom and Judah Brown finished with 11 points apiece. Broom knocked down three triples, pulling down four rebounds and swiping four steals. Brown went 2-for-3 from behind the arc and threw down a rim-rattling dunk in the second.  

East Texas A&M gave the Jags everything they could handle to start the game as they leaped out to a 19-8 advantage fueled by five straight possessions with a three-pointer to open the game.

The Lions kept their lead 25-18 at the 8:49 mark, but the Jaguars would find an answer as Corey hit back-to-back triples, and Broom and Brown knocked two triples of their own to snatch a 34-28 lead with under three minutes left in the half. 

South Alabama would have a 38-32 advantage heading into the break.  

The Jags would carry their lead into the second half, but ETAMU would not go away easily as they trimmed their deficit to 48-46 with 14:13 left in the game. That would be the closest the Lions would get as South shot 54.1 percent from the floor in the second half and forced 20 turnovers to score 21 fast break points and 19 points off turnovers to help secure the win. 

Game Notes 

• The Jags had several elite numbers throughout the afternoon. As a team, the Jags shot 51.7 percent from the field and 45.9 percent from behind the arc. 
• South dished out 18 assists as a team and only committed seven turnovers while forcing 20 Lion turnovers. 
• South Alabama swiped 16 steals, marking the third time this season the Jags have recorded 12 steals or more. 
• Despite being -3 in the rebounding battle, USA owned the paint, scoring 36 points compared to 12 from East Texas A&M. 
• Corey's 27-point performance marks the eighth time this season he has led the Jaguars in scoring and the tenth double-figure scoring game. 
• The Jags extended their win streak of Southland teams to three with this victory. 
• JJ Wheat continues to distribute the ball at a dominant level for the Jaguars, recording seven assists in today's contest. Wheat finished with seven points, a game-leading seven assists, and seven rebounds. 
• Dunning Jr. logged his fifth game in scoring double figures this season and tied his career with 14 points for the third time this year. 

Up Next 

The Jags will prepare for a match up with TCU tomorrow Monday, Dec.16 at 7 p.m. CT at Schollier Arena in Fort Worth. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.

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