Men's Basketball 11/1/2026 8:08:00 AM

South Alabama Opens Season Against Ohio Monday at the Mitchell Center

Game 1
South Alabama (0-0, 0-0 SBC) vs. Ohio (0-0, 0-0 MAC)
Date: Monday, Nov. 2
Tip-off: 7 p.m. CT
Location: Mobile, Ala. (Mitchell Center)
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: Jags Radio Network
Social: @SouthAlabamaMBB

NOTES

South Alabama opens the 2026–27 season after finishing 21–12 overall and 11–7 in Sun Belt play last season. The Jaguars have posted back-to-back 20-win campaigns and earned their first NIT appearance since 2007 last year.
Richie Riley begins his ninth season with a 152–106 record at South Alabama and a 187–134 career record. Riley ranks third in program history in victories and has guided the Jaguars to a .500 record or better in each of his first eight seasons.
South Alabama welcomes 10 newcomers to its 14-player roster. Samuel Shoptaw, Desmond Williams, Stephen Williams and Peyton Law return, with Shoptaw and Desmond Williams coming off redshirt seasons.
The Jaguars were picked fourth in the Sun Belt Preseason Coaches Poll with 136 points. Law earned first-team preseason all-conference honors, while Jalen Langsy was selected to the third team.
Langsy joins South Alabama after earning NAIA and NABC First-Team All-America honors at Northwestern College. He averaged 27.3 points and made a school-record 152 three-pointers last season, ranking second in the NAIA in scoring and free-throw percentage (90.9) and third in three-point percentage (51.0).
Stephen Williams appeared in all 33 games last season, averaging 6.4 points and 4.7 rebounds while shooting a team-best 65.7 percent from the field. Law averaged 12.8 points in 10 games before a season-ending knee injury.
Aaron Goldstein averaged 21.2 points at the College of Staten Island last season, while Davaughn Hueitt earned American Midwest Conference Freshman of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors at Hannibal-LaGrange.
South Alabama features six players standing 6-foot-8 or taller, compared to two last season. Nine Jaguars are at least 6-foot-6, led by 7-foot freshman Alexey Sereda.
The Jaguars own a 95–35 home record under Riley, including a 10–4 mark last season. South Alabama has won six of its eight home openers during his tenure.
South Alabama defeated Mississippi Christian 99–83 in its exhibition at the Mitchell Center on Oct. 29.

ABOUT OHIO

Ohio was picked fifth in the 2026–27 Mid-American Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll with 82 points.
Jeff Boals leads the Bobcats, who return two preseason All-MAC selections in forward Javan Simmons and guard Jackson Paveletzke. Simmons earned first-team recognition, while Paveletzke was named to the second team.
Paveletzke led Ohio with 17.3 points and 5.3 assists per game last season while shooting 46.9 percent from the field and 80.5 percent from the free-throw line. He scored in double figures 26 times, including a career-high 37 points against Miami.
Simmons averaged 15.1 points and 5.7 rebounds while shooting 53.6 percent from the field last season. He started 31 games, recorded three double-doubles and reached double figures in scoring 26 times.

SERIES HISTORY

Monday marks the first meeting between South Alabama and Ohio.
South Alabama owns a 10–6 record against Mid-American Conference opponents and a 4–2 mark in the MAC–SBC Challenge.
The Jaguars won both MAC–SBC Challenge matchups last season, opening with a 76–74 victory at Toledo before defeating Buffalo 81–69 at the Mitchell Center.

FOLLOW THE JAGS
For complete coverage of University of South Alabama athletics, follow the Jaguars on social media @SouthAlabama (Twitter), /SouthAlabamaAthletics (Facebook) and @SouthAlabama (Instagram), or visit USAJaguars.com.

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Players Mentioned

#0 Samuel Shoptaw: G; 6' 2"; Sophomore

#4 Stephen Williams: F; 6' 9"; Junior

#9 Peyton Law: F; 6' 7"; Graduate Student

#3 Desmond Williams: G; 6' 3"; Sophomore

#1 Jalen Langsy: G; 6' 1"; Junior

#21 Aaron Goldstein: G; 6' 0"; Senior

#24 Davaughn Hueitt: F; 6' 9"; Sophomore

#35 Alexey Sereda: F; 7' 0"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#0 Samuel Shoptaw
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: G

#4 Stephen Williams
: 6' 9"; Junior
: F

#9 Peyton Law
: 6' 7"; Graduate Student
: F

#3 Desmond Williams
: 6' 3"; Sophomore
: G

#1 Jalen Langsy
: 6' 1"; Junior
: G

#21 Aaron Goldstein
: 6' 0"; Senior
: G

#24 Davaughn Hueitt
: 6' 9"; Sophomore
: F

#35 Alexey Sereda
: 7' 0"; Freshman
: F