MOBILE, Ala – The South Alabama men's basketball team will return to the Mitchell Center this week, looking to get back in the win column against Georgia Southern on Wednesday, Feb.7 at 7 p.m. before taking on Northern Illinois in the second round of the MAC-SBC Challenge on Saturday, Feb.10 at 2 p.m. 

GAME INFORMATION

South Alabama vs. Georgia Southern

Date: Wednesday, Feb.7

Tip-off: 7 p.m. CST

Site: Mitchell Center | Mobile, Ala. 

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South Alabama vs Northern Illinois

Date: Saturday, Feb. 10

Tip-off: 2 p.m. CST 

Site: Mitchell Center | Mobile, Ala. 

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Last Time Out

South Alabama dropped its fifth game in a row to the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns 80-60 in the Cajundome on Saturday. Tyrell Jones led the Jags for the fourth straight game, finishing with 18 points, four assists, and three rebounds. Elijah Ormiston joined Jones in double figures, scoring 10 points, grabbing five rebounds, and swiping two steals. Louisiana dominated the boards, holding a 49-30 overall rebounding margin and an 18-4 advantage on the offensive glass. The Ragin Cajuns also had three players finish with a double-double with 15 or more points and ten or more rebounds. 

Notes 

• South Alabama has lost five straight games for the first time since Richie Riley's first season as Head Coach in 2018-19. 
• The Jaguars have been incredibly efficient from the free-throw line this year. South ranks second in the Sun Belt in free throw percentage, shooting 74.3 percent from the charity stripe. Through 23 games, this ties for the fourth-highest free-throw percentage in program history. 
• Tyrell Jones has been a bright spot for the Jaguars through the last four games. He is averaging 17.75 points, four rebounds, four steals, and 3.2 assists in that stretch. Jones finished with 16 points, two rebounds, two steals, and an assist against Texas State before scoring 18 points, dishing out four assists, and grabbing three rebounds at Louisiana. He also leads the Sun Belt conference in free throws made with 91. 
• Thomas Howell has been a reliable force on the boards for the Jaguars this season, ranking 10th in the Sun Belt in rebounds per game (6.6). Howell grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds against Georgia State and secured a new season-high in scoring at Troy, finishing with 18 points on 2-of-3 shooting from behind the arc. 
• Isiah Gaiter has scored double figures in 17 out of 23 games this season. After a tough road trip, Gaiter still ranks Top-10 in several statistical categories. He is third in minutes per game (33.3), sixth in free throw percentage (84.3), third in 20-point games (6), eighth in field goal percentage (45.7), and 10th in points per game (14.6).  
• Elijah Ormiston has put up double figures in four of the last five games. 
•  South Alabama has picked up two wins over teams in first place in the Sun Belt conference. They defeated Marshall 91-85 on Jan.13 in Huntington and knocked off Troy at home 74-71.
• South ranks sixth in turnover margin, posting a 0.83 margin. 
• After falling behind by 22 points in the second half of their first Sun Belt matchup of the season against Old Dominion, South Alabama outscored ODU 34 to 10 in the final 14 minutes to secure the dramatic 61-59 victory. This also tied for the largest comeback in the Jags' history. The Jags mounted a 22-point second-half comeback to secure a 54-52 victory over Denver in February 2010.

Georgia Southern Notes (5-18; 5-6)

• After losing 12 non-conference games in a row to open up the season, Georgia Southern ranks eighth in the Sun Belt Conference and has picked up wins over Coastal Carolina, Old Dominion, Southern Miss, Georgia State, and ULM. 
• Tyren Moore has fueled the Eagles' offense throughout this season. Moore ranks fourth in the conference in points per game, putting up three 30-point games and seven 20-point games this season. 
• The Eagles have been red-hot from behind the arc this season, ranking second in the Sun Belt in three-point percentage (35.6).  

Georgia Southern All-Time Series

• South Alabama leads the all-time series 16-11. 
• Georgia Southern has won four of the last six matchups against the Jaguars. 
• The Jags are 9-4 in the Mitchell Center in the all-time series. 

First Matchup: 1/22/76: W 81-66

Last Matchup:  12/31/22: L 68-58

Northern Illinois (7-14; 1-8)

• Northern Illinois ranks 11th in the Mid-American Conference, losing eight conference games before beating Eastern Michigan last Saturday afternoon. 
• David Coit and Zarique Nutter lead the Huskies offensively. Coit ranks fourth in MAC, averaging 19.1 points per contest, and Nutter contributes 15.4 points per game. 
• The Huskies are at the top of the conference in blocks, averaging 5.29 rejections each game. 

Northern Illinois All-Time Series 

• This will be the first matchup between NIU and South Alabama. 

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