MOBILE, Ala. – South Alabama men's basketball returns to the Mitchell Center on Thursday, Jan. 29, as the Jaguars host East rival Coastal Carolina in a key Sun Belt Conference matchup. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. CT.

Game Information

South Alabama (14–6, 5–3 SBC) vs. Coastal Carolina (13–9, 6–4 SBC)
Date: Thursday, Jan. 29
Tip-off: 7 p.m. CT
Location: Mobile, Ala. | Mitchell Center
Listen: Jags Radio Network
Stats: StatBroadcast
Watch: ESPN+

Last Time Out

• South Alabama used a dominant second half to pull away from James Madison, securing a 90–83 road victory Thursday night inside Atlantic Union Bank Center.

• Adam Olsen led all Jaguars with 26 points, shooting 8-of-16 from the field while knocking down four three-pointers. JJ Wheat added 17 points off the bench, Jayden Cooper finished with 14 points, and Chaze Harris posted an all-around performance with 15 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and four steals.

• The Jaguars outscored James Madison 54–43 in the second half after trailing 40–36 at the break. South Alabama opened the second half on an 11–4 run to take its first lead since the opening minutes and pushed the advantage to as many as 16 points with 5:23 remaining. When James Madison cut the deficit to single digits late, the Jaguars answered with stops on three straight possessions and went 16-of-20 at the free-throw line over the final 10 minutes to close out the win.

Scouting the Chanticleers

• Coastal Carolina enters the matchup riding a five-game winning streak following an 85–67 victory over Southern Miss on Saturday at the HTC Center. The win matched a program record for consecutive Sun Belt Conference victories.

• Eight of Coastal's last 10 games have been decided by six points or fewer, with the Chanticleers posting a 6–2 mark in those contests. During the five-game winning streak, Coastal has shot 87-of-112 (.777) from the free-throw line, while opponents have gone 73-of-105 (.695).

• Joshua Beadle has scored 18 or more points in each of the last six games, averaging 23.5 points per game during that stretch. AJ Dancler has also delivered on the road, scoring 20-plus points in each of Coastal's last three road games, including 26 at Marshall and 21 at Saint Joseph's.

Series History

• South Alabama trails Coastal Carolina 10–8 in the all-time series, but has protected home court against the Chanticleers, holding a 5–3 advantage at the Mitchell Center. Thursday's matchup marks Coastal's first trip to Mobile in four years and its first regular-season appearance at the Mitchell Center in five seasons. The Chanticleers last visited South Alabama during The Basketball Classic in March 2022, escaping with a 69–68 win.

Notes You Need to Know

• South Alabama has been one of the most efficient teams in the Sun Belt at handling the ball, committing fewer than 10 turnovers in 11 games this season.

• The Jaguars placed four players in double figures against James Madison, led by Olsen (26), Wheat (17), Harris (15), and Cooper (14).

• According to EvanMiya analytics, South Alabama leads the nation in margin percentage of 10–0 runs, owning a .61 rate while allowing just .28, resulting in a +.33 margin.

• South Alabama has emerged as one of the premier defensive teams in the Sun Belt Conference. The Jaguars lead the nation in fewest fouls per game (11.5), rank sixth nationally in field-goal percentage defense (37.9%), and sit 60th in scoring defense (68.5 points per game). South Alabama is 11–3 this season when holding opponents to 70 points or fewer and has limited teams to 40 percent shooting or below in 13 of its 20 games.

• The Jaguars' defensive identity is built on eliminating the paint and forcing opponents to live on the perimeter. Opponents are attempting 62.4 percent of their field-goal attempts from three-point range against South Alabama—one of the most extreme shot profiles in the country, according to college basketball analyst Joe Jackson. On the season, teams have attempted 797 three-pointers against the Jaguars, with just 249 made.

• South Alabama ranks first nationally in three-pointers attempted against, forcing opponents to average 39.0 attempts per game—seven more than any other team—while holding them to just 30.9 percent shooting from beyond the arc.

• The Jaguars have also thrived in tight contests, posting a 9–4 record in games decided by 10 points or fewer. Six of those games have come down to the final possession, with South Alabama owning a 4–3 mark in those situations, including two overtime victories. Overall, 80 of South Alabama's last 144 games have been decided by eight points or fewer, underscoring the program's ability to execute in high-pressure moments.

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