MOBILE, Ala. – South Alabama men's basketball is set to square off with Georgia State in a key conference clash on Saturday, Jan.31 at 7 p.m. CT in the Mitchell Center. 

Game Information

South Alabama (15–6, 6–3 SBC) vs. Georgia State (9-13, 6-4)
Date: Saturday, Jan. 31
Tip-off: 7 p.m. CT
Location: Mobile, Ala. | Mitchell Center
Listen: Jags Radio Network
Stats: StatBroadcast
Watch: ESPN+

Last Time Out

• The Jags erased a nine-point halftime deficit and leaned on a stifling defensive effort in the second half to secure a 53–48 victory over Coastal Carolina on Thursday night at the Mitchell Center. 

• South Alabama was held to just 15 points in the opening half before responding with a 38-point second half, shooting 56.0 percent from the field after the break to improve to 15–6 overall and 6–3 in Sun Belt Conference play.

• The Jaguars shot 56.0 percent (14-of-25) from the field after halftime.

• USA held Coastal Carolina to 28.8 percent shooting for the game and just 27.6 percent in the second half.

• Adam Olsen led the Jaguars with 16 points and eight rebounds, scoring 14 points in the second half.

Scouting the Panthers 

• After winning five of their last six conference games, Georgia State dropped an 82-72 decision to Louisiana in Lafayette on Thursday. 

• Redshirt Sophomore Jelani Hamilton earned Sun Belt Player of the Week on Jan. 27 after big games against Southern Miss and Arkansas State, averaging 30.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg and 2.5 spg throughout two contests.

• Malachi Brown is second on the team in three-point scoring, knocking down 38 treys and connecting at a 36.2 percent clip. He scored a career-high 25 points against Louisiana (Jan. 29).

• The Panthers rank third in the entire country in free throw shooting (79.7%). 

Series History 

• Georgia State leads the series 22-18 and have controlled the series winning seven out of the last 10 against the Jaguars. 

• South Alabama is 10-10 in the series at The Mitchell Center and handled the Panthers in their last matchup a year ago winning 77-51 in Atlanta. 

Notables

•  After going five Division 1 games with inconsistent scoring numbers, Jayden Cooper has finished with double figures in four straight contests, contributing 12.75 points and 2.5 rebounds, while shooting 46 percent from the field in that stretch. 

• South Alabama has emerged as one of the premier defensive teams in the country, consistently setting the tone on the defensive end. The Jaguars lead the nation in fewest fouls per game (11.5), rank fourth nationally in field-goal percentage defense (37.7%), and sit 45th in scoring defense (67.8 points per game). South Alabama is 12–3 this season when holding opponents to 70 points or fewer and has limited teams to 40 percent shooting or below in 14 of its 20 games.

• South Alabama's defensive identity is built on eliminating the paint and forcing opponents to live on the perimeter. That approach has dramatically reshaped how teams attack the Jaguars, as opponents are taking 62.4 percent of their field-goal attempts from three-point range — one of the most extreme shot profiles in the country, according to college basketball analyst Joe Jackson. On the season, teams have attempted 840 three-pointers against the Jags, with just 259 made.

• The Jaguars currently rank first in the nation in three-pointers attempted against, forcing opponents to average 39.0 attempts per game — seven more than any other team in the country — while holding them to just 30.9 percent shooting from beyond the arc.

• A win would mark Richie Riley's ninth straight season with 15+ wins as a Head coach. He has had a winning season all eight years at the helm of the Jags and won 21 games in his second year as Head coach at Nicholls. 

• In eight seasons at the helm of the Jaguar program, Richie Riley has led his teams to a dominant 88-32 record at home inside the Mitchell Center. The Jags are currently 6-2 at home this season after going 13-4 at home during the 2024–25 campaign. 

• South Alabama has thrived in tight contests this season, posting an 10–4 record in games decided by 10 points or fewer. Six of those matchups have come down to the final possession, with the Jaguars owning a 4–3 mark in those games — including two overtime victories. 81 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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