MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama men's basketball will tip off 2026 on the road Saturday, Jan. 3, facing archrival Troy at 3:33 p.m. CT in the Sun Belt Game of the Week at Trojan Arena.

Game Information

South Alabama Jaguars (11–4, 2–1 SBC) vs. Troy (9–5, 2–0 SBC)
Date: Saturday, January 3
Tip-off: 3:33 p.m. CT
Location: Troy, Ala. | Trojan Arena
Listen: Jags Radio Network
Stats: South Alabama StatBroadcast
Watch: ESPN+

Last Time Out

• South Alabama closed out the 2025 calendar year with a hard-fought road victory Wednesday afternoon, edging Louisiana 63–58 at the Cajundome.

• Adam Olsen led the charge with a game-high 26 points, shooting 7-of-13 from the field and a perfect 10-of-10 at the free-throw line.

• South Alabama shot 44.4 percent from the field and went 17-of-20 at the free-throw line, while holding Louisiana to 35.1 percent shooting overall. The Jaguars forced 16 turnovers and converted them into 10 points, while also holding a 12–0 advantage in fast-break scoring.

• With the game tied late, Olsen buried a transition three to swing momentum before Chaze Harris came up with a steal that led to a go-ahead layup. South Alabama sealed the win at the free-throw line in the final seconds, closing out another gritty road victory.

Scouting the Trojans

• Troy is coming off a dominant 100–80 victory over Texas State, shooting 61.4 percent from the field and 62.5 percent from three-point range.

• Thomas Dowd ranks among the national leaders, sitting 10th in total rebounds (140) and 17th in rebounds per game (10.0). The Dothan native is one of just nine players nationally averaging at least 15.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per contest.

• Troy is averaging 88.4 points per game this season, ranking 28th nationally and first in the Sun Belt.

Series History

South Alabama leads the all-time series 31–15. Head coach Richie Riley owns a 10–4 record against the Trojans during his tenure; however, Troy has won four of the last five meetings at Trojan Arena.

Notes You Need to Know

• The Jaguars edged the Ragin' Cajuns in yet another close contest, sealing the win with a 9–0 spurt over the final 1:30. South Alabama is no stranger to tight finishes, posting a 7–3 record in games decided by 10 points or fewer this season. Five of those contests have come down to the final possession, with the Jaguars holding a 3–2 mark in those games. Overall, 77 of South Alabama's last 140 games have been decided by eight points or fewer.

• Adam Olsen (22.0) and Chaze Harris (24.0) have driven South Alabama's success in conference play, with both averaging over 20 points per game against Sun Belt opponents this season.

• Olsen leads the Jaguars in overall scoring at 17.0 points per game and has recorded eight 20-point performances this season. He also paces the Sun Belt in three-point shooting, connecting at a 38.5 percent clip while averaging 3.0 made threes per game (42 total). Over his last five contests, Olsen is averaging 17.8 points, has knocked down 13 three-pointers, and is nearly flawless at the free-throw line, shooting 26-for-27.

• Harris has scored in double figures in 13 of South Alabama's 16 games this season. Over the last five contests, he is averaging 21.0 points (105 total), 5.0 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game while shooting 52.2 percent from the field. He ranks among the Sun Belt's top five players in both scoring and assists per game. According to KenPom, Harris leads the conference in percentage of possessions used (35.5 percent), accounting for 30.3 percent of South Alabama's total shot attempts.

• South Alabama's defensive identity has revolved around shutting down the paint and forcing opponents to rely heavily on the three-point line. The Jaguars currently rank first in the nation in three-pointers attempted against, forcing opponents to average 38.7 attempts per game—eight more than any other team in the country—while limiting opponents to 31.6 percent shooting from beyond the arc.

• South Alabama has played 10 of its last 12 games away from home. According to TeamRankings.com, the Jaguars are tied for the most road wins (8) and most true road wins (5) in the nation. South Alabama holds an 8–4 record away from home, including true road wins at Louisiana, Jacksonville State, UTSA, Toledo, and ULM, while going undefeated at neutral sites against Central Michigan, Coppin State, and New Mexico State. Over its last seven road games, the Jaguars have traveled approximately 8,450 miles across six states.

• The Jaguars have controlled the paint all season, outscoring opponents 632–356. This interior presence has helped South Alabama rank as the top shooting offense in the Sun Belt, shooting 47.0 percent from the field.

Follow the Jags

For complete coverage of South Alabama men's basketball, follow the Jaguars on social media at @SouthAlabamaMBB on X and Instagram, /SouthAlabamaJaguars on Facebook, or visit USAJaguars.com.