MOBILE, Ala. – Trailing by four with under a minute remaining, South Alabama forced overtime and edged Arkansas State, 91–87, Thursday night in front of a raucous crowd at the Mitchell Center. The Jaguars improved to 13–5 overall, and 4–2 in Sun Belt play, while the Red Wolves fell to 12–6 (4–2 SBC).

Key Stats

• Chaze Harris poured in a season-high and career-high, matching 38 points, shooting 14-of-25 from the field, 10-of-15 from the free throw line, while adding six rebounds and five assists in 40 minutes.

• Adam Olsen finished with 14 points, knocking down the game-tying three with 1.7 seconds left in regulation.

• Jayden Cooper added 11 points, while Hantz Louis-Jeune chipped in 10 points.
• Randy Brady scored five points but delivered a game-changing effort with nine rebounds, three assists, a key charge drawn, and multiple clutch loose-ball plays late.

• South Alabama committed just five turnovers while forcing 19, converting those miscues into 24 points.

• Arkansas State connected on 13 three-pointers to erase multiple South Alabama runs and keep the game tight throughout regulation.

• Arkansas State held a 51–33 rebounding edge, including 16 offensive boards, but the Jaguars offset it with defensive pressure and efficiency.

• The Jaguars outscored Arkansas State 50–34 in the paint and finished with 15 fast-break points.

Key Moments

• The Red Wolves surged ahead 79–75 with under a minute remaining after a late three, putting the Jaguars in a four-point hole without possession.

• With 28 seconds left, Randy Brady stepped in to draw a critical offensive charge, immediately shifting momentum back to South Alabama.

• On the ensuing possession, Brady knocked down a clutch three-pointer to cut the deficit to 79–78 with 17 seconds remaining.

• After Arkansas State hit two free throws to go back up three, Brady secured an offensive rebound on a missed shot and kicked the ball to Adam Olsen, who buried the game-tying three with 1.7 seconds left on the clock.

• Arkansas State nearly won it at the buzzer, but its desperation hit the backboard and rimmed out before falling away, sending the game to overtime tied at 81.

• In overtime, the teams traded baskets early before Chaze Harris attacked the paint for a go-ahead layup with 1:42 remaining, giving the Jaguars the lead for good.

• Harris added a free throw with 28 seconds left to extend the margin to two, then South Alabama delivered consecutive defensive stops.

• Adam Olsen iced the game at the free-throw line with 9.1 seconds remaining as the Jaguars closed on a 6–0 run to finish overtime.

Quotable 

Head Coach Richie Riley

"We found a way against a really good team. We found a way when things didn't necessarily go our way. We had capable shooters missing pretty clean looks and got beat up on the glass really badly. And they made some big shots in key moments to kind of stretch the lead,  but we never stopped, and never wavered. And that's what we're about. I want to give a shout-out to our students and our community — that crowd made a massive difference. That's what a home-court advantage is. That's what it feels like. I could feel it. They gave me chills a couple of times when we came out late, and the students were swag-surfing. That's what it's supposed to look like, and they made it happen for us tonight. They helped us win that game."

Up Next 

South Alabama returns to the Mitchell Center on Saturday, Jan. 17 at 3 p.m. CT to face Louisiana for the second time this season.

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