MOBILE, Ala. – Samuel Tabe exploded for a season-high 35 points. However, it was not enough as the South Alabama men's basketball team fell in a 76-73 heartbreaker to Arkansas State Saturday afternoon in the Mitchell Center. The Jags fell to 13-14 on the season, and 5-9 in Sun Belt play, while Arkansas State improved to 13-14 on the year and 8-6 in conference play. 

Samuel Tabe dominated in the paint the entire night, shooting 15-for-24 from the field and 5-of-6 from the free-throw line while leading the team with six rebounds. Elijah Ormiston had an electric night from behind the arc, finishing with 18 points on 3-of-3 shooting from downtown and four rebounds. Marcus Millender added 13 points and six assists. 

Arkansas State controlled the boards throughout the night, posting a 42-31 advantage on the glass and securing 21-second chance points compared to South's five. South outshot the Red Wolves from the field and behind the arc and ended up on the losing end. The Jags shot 50 percent from the floor and 33.3 percent from downtown, while A-State recorded a 40.9 field goal percentage and shot 26.3 percent from three-point range. 

Tabe's season-high was the most points scored by any player in Head Coach Richie Riley's six seasons. Only Rodrick Sikes has eclipsed the mark, scoring 38 points in a 2018 contest against ULM. 

South Alabama had the ball with six seconds remaining in regulation, trailing 75-73. After collecting a pass inside the paint, Tabe turned and went up strong for a layup, but his shot was too short and ricocheted off the front of the rim and into Arkansas State's possession, ending the game. 

Game Facts (How it Happened) 

• The Jags got off to a fast start, hopping out to a 6-2 lead off two Tabe layups and an Ormiston fastbreak finish to give the Jags the advantage at the 17:06 mark. 
• Arkansas State answered with a 19-4 spurt to take its first lead, a 21-10 advantage with 11:47 left in the half. 
• After trading jabs back and forth, South began to find momentum with 3:24 left in the first half. The Jags jumped out onto a 10-4 run highlighted by two tough layups inside from Millender and Jones and a flurry of free throws to cut the lead to 36-31 at halftime. 
• Following two quick buckets from A-State, South Alabama started to heat up after Ormiston splashed back-to-back three-pointers and a layup to trim the deficit to 42-39 with 16:32 on the clock. 
• The Red Wolves would respond with an 8-4 spurt to stretch its lead to 50-43 with 14:04 left in the game. 
• South Alabama rocketed back out on a 15-3 run off an Ormiston triple and 12 consecutive points from Tabe to regain the lead 57-53 with 9:06 remaining in the game. 
• A-State found an immediate answer, retaking the lead 64-62 with 5:08 left in the game.
• Both teams continued to battle as Tabe scored nine straight points down the stretch to trim the Red Wolves' lead to 72-71 with 1:38 left on the clock. 
• After both teams went scoreless in the next two possessions, Ark State splashed a three-pointer with 36 seconds left to take a 75-71 lead. 
• Millender immediately answered with a mid-range jumper on the next possession to bring the score to 75-73 with 21 seconds on the clock. 
• South Alabama fouled immediately and sent Arkansas State to the free-throw line for one-and-one with 19 seconds remaining. 
• The Red Wolves would miss the first free throw, and South came barreling back down the court. 
• Tabe would collect a pass in the paint and go up strong for a layup, but his shot was too short and ricocheted off the front of the rim and into Arkansas State's possession with three seconds left. 
• Arkansas State would go to the line and make the first free throw. The second free throw rimed off wide and fell to Tyrell Jones. Jones hauled back down the court and attempted to heave up one last shot attempt, but he could not get it off in time, securing a 76-73 victory for Ark State. 

Notes

• Tonight marks the second time this season that South Alabama has outshot its opponent and lost the game. 
• Tabe's 35 points are the most scored by any player in the Richie Riley coaching era. 
• Isiah Gaiter went scoreless for the second time this season. He did not attempt a shot in tonight's game. 
• Millender has dished out 24 assists in the last four games. 
• After having nine out of 10 players score in Thursday's game, the Jags did not receive any bench points tonight. 
• The Jags held their opponent under 30 percent from three-point range for the third straight game. 
• South played with an elite tempo throughout the night, scoring 13 fastbreak points compared to three from Arkansas State. 

Up Next

The Jags will hit the road for the final time this regular season, taking on Southern Miss on Thursday, Feb.22 at 7 p.m. before facing off against Arkansas State on Saturday, Feb. 24 at 2:30 p.m. CT.