MOBILE, Ala. – South Alabama men's basketball will look to get back in the win column on the road as they face the ULM Warhawks on Saturday, Jan.27 at 6:30 p.m. CT at Fant Ewing Coliseum.
Game Information
South Alabama (14-6, 6-2)) at ULM (4-17, 0-8)
Tip-off: Saturday, Jan. 27, 6:30 p.m. CT
Site: Monroe, La., Fant Ewing Coliseum.
Live Stats ESPN+
Last Time Out
South Alabama struggled in its second straight game against Troy, committing 15 turnovers while losing the rebounding battle 41-35 with 20 offensive rebounds, leading to their second conference defeat 65-55 in Trojan Arena. Jayden Cooper finished with double figures as he scored a season-high 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting from the field and 4-of-8 from three-point range.
Notes you Need to Know
- The Jags have made a living this season by applying intense zone pressure schemes to opposing offenses. South Alabama ranks seventh in the nation in field goal percentage defense (37.5), 10th in scoring defense (61.6), and 14th in steals per game (9.8).
After leading the entire country in the fewest turnovers committed per game for two straight weeks, the Jaguars have faltered recently. South Alabama has committed 30 turnovers in the last two games combined. These two games also mark the only time this season that USA has logged a negative assist-to-turnover ratio in a game.
- South Alabama's back-to-back matchups against Troy and ULM mark the first time the Jaguars will play consecutive games against the same two teams since the 2019-20 season. The COVID-19 pandemic required each program to play its conference games in consecutive matchups that season.
- 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 is averaging 10.5 points per game while leading the Sun Belt and ranking 20th in the nation in three-point percentage (43.7). Brown has knocked down 55 total three-pointers this season, and the Jags are 12-3 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.
- The Jags are 13-2`when scoring 70 points or more this season and 1-4 when scoring less than 70 points. USA is also 12-6 when limiting their opponent to under 40 percent shooting from the field.
- South Alabama is off to its best start to Sun Belt play since 2008, with five double-figure conference victories. Since the start of conference play, South ranks first in scoring defense (58.7) and field goal percentage defense (34.8), second in three-point percentage defense (27.1), and scoring margin (11.7+). The Jaguars fell to second place in the Sun Belt Conference with Saturday's loss and trail Arkansas State by one game.
- Head Coach Richie Riley has started 17 out of 20 games this season with the same starting five (Corey, Fasoyiro, Broom, Dunning Jr, Brady). The only time the Jags lineup changed this season was when Elijah Ormiston filled in for three games when Randy Brady was sidelined with an injury.
-It's been extremely apparent this season that the Jaguars have one of the most impressive defensive units in conference and the country, but since starting conference play, the Jaguars have ranked in the top five in the conference games in several offensive categories. The Jags are first in assists (16.3), third in field goal percentage (43.9), and fourth in three-point percentage (35.2).
Series History vs. Troy
-South Alabama leads the all-time series 18-15 over ULM. The Jags have won six of the last seven matchups over the Warhawks and post a 9-8 record in games at Fant Ewing Coliseum.
About ULM
- ULM men's basketball coach Keith Richard announced on Friday (Dec. 20) his intention to retire after the 2024-25 season. Richard will complete his 15th season as the head coach of ULM men's basketball. Richard inherited a program saddled with APR sanctions and guided the Warhawks to four postseason appearances in five years. Richard previously served as the head coach of Louisiana Tech from 1998-2007 and was an assistant at LSU from 2008-10 before being named ULM's head coach and has accumulated over 300 victories as a head coach.
- The Warhawks welcome back 10 players from the 2023-24 roster, including starters Tyreese Wat- son, Jalen Bolden, and Jerry Ngopot. Key role players, including Jacob Wilson, Makai Willis, and AD Diedhiou are also back after playing in more than 10 games last season.
- Coltie Young has been a sharpshooter from behind the arc this season for the Warhawks, as he owns the sixth most three-pointers in the conference this year.
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
