South Alabama vs. UALR Game Notes
Two of the top teams in the Sun Belt Conference square off Saturday when South Alabama travels to Little Rock to face UALR at the Jack Stephens Center.
The Jaguars (14-3, 6-0) relied on a familiar name and a newcomer to fight back Florida International 85-73 on Wednesday. Demetric Bennett scored 30 points and Daniel Hayles turned steals into layups at three key times as USA won its 10th straight game.
UALR (12-5, 4-2) held off a pesky Louisiana-Monroe team, 59-57, at home on Thursday. De'Andre Eggins led the Trojans with 14 points.
Other storylines for tonight’s game:
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South Alabama’s 10-game winning streak ranks tied for eighth on the school’s all-time list. It also stands tied for fifth among the nation’s active streaks.
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The Jaguars made a season-high 12 steals and forced 20 Golden Panther turnovers.
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South Alabama is looking to win its 10th straight home game, a feat accomplished eight previous times.
The Series
South Alabama has won three straight games against UALR and now holds a 19-11 lead in the all-time series. Last year, the Jaguars posted a 68-54 victory at home on Jan. 13.
USA won six of 14 games played in Little Rock, but won the last time the teams played there, 68-58 on Feb. 2, 2006.
A look at the last 10 games in the series:
Date Site W/L Score
Mar. 4, 2001 Little Rock W 74-58
Feb. 14, 2001 Little Rock W 84-81
Mar. 3, 2001 Mobile W 85-62
Jan. 19, 2002 Little Rock L 72-65
Jan 30, 2003 Mobile W 65-59 (ot)
Feb. 5, 2004 Little Rock L 86-53
Feb. 3, 2005 Mobile L 58-54
Feb. 2, 2006 Little Rock W 68-58
Mar. 5, 2007 Murfreesboro W 78-53
Jan. 13, 2007 Mobile W 68-54
Arrow Against the Trojans
Head Coach Ronnie Arrow stands 3-3 all-time against UALR with all six matchups taking place during his first stint as head coach at South Alabama.
Arrow is 1-2 against the Trojans in Little Rock.
Against the Sun Belt
South Alabama, the lone remaining charter member of the Sun Belt Conference, stands 257-198 all-time in 31 years of league play. That equates to a .565 winning percentage.
The Jaguars are 30-8 the last two-plus seasons, including 13-5 in 2006-07.
On the Road
South Alabama stands 2-2 in true road games this year, but has won back-to-back games in the category.
The Jaguars posted a 66-55 win at Florida Atlantic on Jan. 2 and a 97-88 win at New Orleans last Saturday.
The two losses came at Southeastern Conference members -- 81-78 at Ole Miss and 91-88 in double overtime at Vanderbilt.
The term "away from home" means something different for the Jaguars, though. They are 4-3 including a 2-1 finish in the Anaheim Classic.
Home Streak Extended Wednesday
Wednesday night’s win over Florida International was the Jaguars’ 10th in as many outings this year in the Mitchell Center.
The current streak is tied for eighth among South Alabama’s longest home winning streaks.
A listing of the double-digit success runs in Mobile:
Wins Dates
19 Dec. 13, 1973 - Feb. 19, 1974
16 Dec. 21, 1999 - Dec. 23, 2000
14 Feb. 18, 1988 - March 1, 1989
12 Dec. 12, 1997 - Nov. 14, 1998
12 Dec. 22, 1990 - March 4, 1991
12 Dec. 14, 1978 - Feb. 8, 1979
11 Feb. 10, 1982 - Dec. 28, 1982
10 Dec. 2, 2007 - present
10 Jan. 26, 1984 - Dec. 8, 1984
Win Streak Reaches Double Figures
South Alabama’s winning streak reached 10 games Wednesday with a 85-73 victory over Florida International.
This marks the eighth time in school history that the Jaguars have put together a string of victories at least that length and the third straight year with at least eight wins in a row.
Three previous streaks ended at 10, while the school record for consecutive wins in a single season is 14.
The longest winning streaks in USA history:
Wins Year Ended by
14 1980-81 Va. Commonwealth
13 2006-07 Florida International
12 1983-84 Old Dominion
11 1988-89 Michigan
11 1978-79 Illinois State
10 2007-08 -----------------------
10 1973-74 Tulane
10 1973-74 Jacksonville
9 1979-80 Va. Commonwealth
8 2005-06 Florida
8 1999-00 Louisiana-Lafayette
8 1997-98 Illinois
8 1979-80 Alcorn State
Among the National Lead, Too
South Alabama’s winning streak is tied for the fifth-longest among active streaks in the country. Four other schools also have won nine in a row -- Arizona State, Tennessee, UCLA and Texas A&M.
A listing of the teams on a current winning streak of nine or more:
Rank Team Wins Next
1. North Carolina 18 Sat.
2. Kansas 17 Sat.
3. Memphis 16 Sat.
4. Drake 14 Sat.
5. Indiana 11 Sun.
6. Arizona State 10 Sat.
South Alabama 10 Sat.
Tennessee 10 Sat.
9. Illinois State 9 Sat.
UCLA 9 Sat.
Holiday Highlights
The 2007-08 South Alabama team became the first in school history to win 10 games before New Year’s Day and equalled the 1983-84 squad for most wins before Christmas with nine.
Bennett Makes a Grand
With 30 points against Florida International Wednesday, Demetric Bennett climbed within striking distance of 10th place on South Alabama’s all-time scoring list. He has 1,108 points, 18 shy of Virgil Stanescu, who tallied 1,126 points from 1998-2001.
Earlier this season, on Dec. 22 against Middle Tennessee Bennett became the 13th player in school history to reach the 1,000-point plateau.
The complete listing of 1,000-point career scorers at South Alabama:
No. Name Points Years
1. Jeff Hodge 2221 1985-89
2. Terry Catledge 1866 1982-85
3. Ed Rains 1801 1977-81
4. Rory White 1726 1978-82
5. Junie Lewis 1726 1986-89
6. Andy Denny 1352 1969-72
7. Demetrice Williams 1350 1999-2003
8. Roger Webb 1309 1968-71
9. Derek Turner 1238 1988-92
10. Virgil Stanescu 1126 1998-2001
11. Demetric Bennett 1108 2005-
12. Henry Williams 1074 2000-04
13. Michael Gerren 1028 1982-84
Rebounding Runs
South Alabama suffered its first rebounding deficit in seven games on Wednesday, losing the battle of the boards 44-35. The Golden Panthers total was a season high for the opponents, topping 42-rebound efforts by Southern Miss and Mississippi State.
The Jaguars entered the contest with three of its best rebounding games during the run, including 58 caroms -- their most since Dec. 2, 1994 -- against Troy.
The Jaguars are now 4-2 when being outrebounded, with the losses vs. Miami (Ohio) and at Ole Miss.
The Jaguars rank third in the league with a +4.8 rebounding margin.
Daon Dishes
Senior Daon Merritt leads the Sun Belt Conference in both overall assists (88) and per-game average (5.18).
With six helpers against Florida International, the Jamaica, N.Y., native has now led the team (or shared the lead) in 14 of the 17 games this season.
He has had at least five assists in 10 contests and is averaging 5.6 over the last nine games.
Turnover Trouble?
South Alabama had just 10 turnovers against FIU on Wednesday, its third-lowest total of the year. Only games against Troy (eight) and New Orleans (nine) featured a single digit number.
Over the last four second halves, the Jaguars have just 13 total turnovers, including three vs. the Golden Panthers.
Combined with FIU’s 20 miscues, South has now forced more turnovers than its opponent in three straight games after three straight negative margins.
Ironically, the Jaguars are now 7-3 when having fewer turnovers, but have won all seven games when they have the same number or more.
Hayles Comes to Play
Junior Daniel Hayles, who missed the first 11 games of the season after dropping below full-time status during the fall semester, picked up his game on Wednesday.
The Mobile native tallied season highs in points (11) and steals (five), while sparking the Jaguars during a deciding first-half stretch.
Hayles hit five of six from the field, including his first three-pointer of the year. He also dished out a pair of assists.
The Defense is There
South Alabama is limiting its opponents to just 41.2 percent shooting this season, right at the goal of 41 percent set by Coach Arrow.
Florida International connected on 43.5 percent from the field Wednesday, the second straight perforance over 40 percent after three in a row in the 30s. New Orleans shot 53.1 percent from the field, the best mark by an opponent all year.
Eight of the 17 opponents this year have now shot less than 40 percent from the field.
Bennett For Three
Senior Demetric Bennett leads the Jaguars in three-pointers this season with 49, 13 more than Domonic Tilford.
Bennett started the season ranked seventh all-time in number of threes made, but has moved three notches into a third at 167. Against Western Kentucky, he passed Richard Law, who had 161 from 2002-06.
The complete listing of career three-pointers at South Alabama:
No. Name 3FGs Years
1. Derek Turner 249 1988-92
2. Chris Young 188 2002-04
3. Demetric Bennett 167 2005-
4. Richard Law 161 2002-06
5. Carlos Smith 153 2003-07
6. Mario Jointer 150 2004-06
7. Jeff Hodge 145 1985-89
8. Demetrice Williams 117 1999-2003
9. Ravonte Dantzler 116 1999-2001
10. Toby Madison 105 1996-98
Tilford Toes the Line
Domonic Tilford continues to knock down his free throws lately. The junior was perfect on all three attempts Wednesday and has now made 30 straight dating back to the Troy game.
For the season, Tilford leads the league at 88.9 percent.
For the record, Tilford has been most clutch when it matters -- he has made 24 of 25 (96.0 percent) in the last five minutes of games.
Arrow Among the Elite
Head Coach Ronnie Arrow is in elite company when it comes to Sun Belt Conference coaches and should move into a more exclusive club as the season progresses.
When Arrow left the league in 1995, he ranked second on the coaches win list with 69, but has since been passed by two others. He will climb back into third place on the list if the Jaguars can finish at least .500 during the conference season.
The top five winningest coaches in Sun Belt Conference history:
1. Gene Bartow, UAB 111
2. Dickey Nutt, ASU 98
3. Jessie Evans, ULL 77
4. Ronnie Arrow, USA 75
5. Marty Fletcher, ULL/DU 66
S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y Night
South Alabama is 7-0 (3-0 Sun Belt) this season when playing on Saturday night. The victories have come against West Florida, Grambling, Mississippi State, Middle Tennessee, Jacksonville, Western Kentucky and New Orleans.
Overall at the Line
South Alabama’s 57.1 percent shooting effort (16 of 28) against Florida International was its lowest mark in six games and the fourth-worst of the entire season.
Ironically, the Jaguars were on a roll recently, topping 70 percent four times in six games and eight times in 12 games before the contest.
One of the factors when analyzing the current winning streak is free throws -- the Jaguars have shot 69.0 percent and been to the line 116 more times than their opponents over the last 10 games.
Hitting His Stride
DeAndre Coleman ranks second in the Sun Belt Conference with 8.4 rebounds per game and has led the Jaguars in 12 of the 17 contests, including five of the last seven.
Since grabbing just two boards vs. Southern Miss, the junior has averaged 10.7 over the last eight games. He reached double figures five times during that span, including a career-high 18 vs. Troy.
However, his six rebounds vs. Florida International were his lowest total in eight games.
16 Times 10
South Alabama has strung together 16 double-digit scoring runs in 16 games this season. However, a 10-0 run against New Orleans is the only one in the last six games.
The longest of the year was a 15-0 streak against West Florida.
Three-Point Bombers
South Alabama has now hit a three-pointer in 258 straight contests, dating back to the 1998-99 season.
The last opponent to hold the Jaguars without a make from behind the arc was UALR on Feb. 6, 1999.
Slow Starts
South Alabama has made a habit of slow starts this season, trailing or being tied after the first media timeout 11 times in 18 games (including the exhibition).
Against Florida International, the Jaguars led 9-4 when the teams went to their benches at 14:42.
The scores this season at the first media timeout:
Game Clock Score
Spring Hill (ex). 15:33 0-4
W. Florida 15:47 5-4
Ole Miss 15:17 0-11
Grambling 15:36 8-11
Miami 15:47 4-6*
San Diego 15:58 4-6
Chattanooga 15:57 12-6
Vanderbilt 15:59 8-8
Houston Baptist 15:58 9-10
Southern Miss 14:12 7-4
Mississippi State 15:46 5-6
Troy 15:56 13-9
Mid. Tennessee 15:03 4-4
Jacksonville 15:06 8-9
Florida Atlantic 14:04 8-6
W. Kentucky 15:54 2-4
New Orleans 14:33 13-7
Fla. International 14:42 9-4
*teams went into the break before free throws that broke a 4-4 tie
