MOBILE, Ala. – The 45th meeting between South Alabama and Troy will take place on Saturday, Jan.18 at 3 p.m. CT in the Mitchell Center and on ESPN+.
Game Information
South Alabama (13-5, 5-1) vs. Troy (11-6, 4-2)
Tip-off: Wednesday, Jan. 18, 3 p.m. CT
Site: Mitchell Center, Mobile, Ala.
Live Stats ESPN+
Last Time Out
Southern Miss had a solid opening to the game as South Alabama missed five straight shots at one point, but the Jags would lock down as nine out of 10 active players logged points in the game, and they held USM to 33 percent shooting from the field and 23.3 percent from three-point range to lift themselves to victory to a 75-62 win.
Notes You Need to Know
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Junior UAB transfer Barry Dunning Jr. has had a dominant start to conference play, averaging 14.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game, while shooting 48.9 percent from the field in six Sun Belt games. The Mobile native set a new career-high against Georgia State, scoring 22 points on 9-of-17 shooting from the field with nine rebounds. He has logged double figures in scoring in 10 straight games and Dunning ranks seventh in the Sun Belt field goal percentage, shooting 45.6 percent.
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South Alabama is off to its best start to Sun Belt play since 2008 with five straight double figure conference victories and an average win margin of 16.8.
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The Jags are 13-2`when scoring 70 points or more this season and 0-3 when scoring less than 70 points. USA is also 11-5 when limiting their opponent to under 40 percent shooting from the field.
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South is ranked in the top 100 in the country in defensive efficiency on the Kenpom rankings. The Jags rank 97th with an efficiency score of 102.4 (points allowed per 100 possessions).
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South Alabama leads the conference and ranks 15th in the country in steals per game with 9.8. Four Jaguars rank in the top 15 in the SBC in steals per game (John Broom 1.8, JJ Wheat 1.7, Myles Corey 1.6 and Dylan Fasoyiro 1.4).
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The Jaguars are ranked third in the country in turnovers per game averaging 9.0 per contest. The Jags have yet to log a negative assist-to-turnover ratio this season and have committed eight turnovers or less in four of the last six games.
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Graduate forward Judah Brown has been lights out from behind the arc since returning for his fifth year of college basketball and third year with the Jags. Brown, a Bermuda Dunes, Calif. native, is averaging 10.8 points per game while leading the Sun Belt and ranking 13th in the nation in three-point percentage (45.1). Brown has knocked down 51 total three-pointers this season and the Jags are 11-3 when he makes two three-pointers or more in a game. Brown surpassed his career-high against Mobile, logging 24 points on 7-of-9 shooting from behind the arc.
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USA leads the Sun Belt in assists per game, contributing 16.29 per contest. Three players average two or more assists per game -- Myles Corey (4.5), JJ Wheat (2.9), and Randy Brady (2.9). As a squad, has tallied 14 games with 15 or more assists this season.
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The Jags are 13-2`when scoring 70 points or more this season and 0-3 when scoring less than 70 points. USA is also 11-5 when limiting their opponent to under 40 percent shooting from the field.
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Dylan Fasoyiro logged 17 points with four three-pointers against Southern Miss .
All-Time Series History
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South Alabama leads the all-time series 30-14. The Jags have won seven of the last 10 matchups against Trojans, but have fallen in three of the last four. South has won six straight games over Troy in the Mitchell Center and owns a 16-5 record at home. Head coach Richie Riley also owns a 9-3 record over Troy throughout his time with South Alabama.
About Troy
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Troy was picked to finish third in the Sun Belt in the preseason coaches poll. The Trojans are one of four teams tied for second in the league, a game behind South Alabama.
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Scott Cross is in his sixth season at the helm for Troy men's basketball, and his 18th as a Division I men's basketball head coach. While at Troy He has put together an 91-82 record, which includes three straight seasons of 20 or more wins.
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Tayton Conerway leads the conference in steals per game (3.1), and second in assists per game (4.9).
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Troy's last road trip saw it go 2-0 with wins over App State and Marshall. Conerway was named the Sun Belt Men's Basketball Player of the Week after the strong showing.
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
