Box Score MOBILE, Ala. - South Alabama shot 55.0 percent from the field on its way to a 92-79 win over the UALR men's basketball team (15-14, 7-7 SBC) on Thursday night at the Mitchell Center. Seven different players scored in double figures for the Jaguars (12-14, 6-9), led by 19 points from Martino Brock. Augustine Rubit added an 11-point, 11-rebound double-double to lead South Alabama to a +13 margin on the glass (45-to-32).
The Jaguars took a 41-29 lead into the break and shot 63.3 percent from the field over the final 20 minutes to dash any hopes of a Trojan comeback. UALR fell behind by as many as 26 points in the second half, 60-34, with 15:00 remaining, but was able to draw within eight, 75-67, with 5:15 to go.
With its lead cut to eight, South Alabama received a big three pointer from Antione Lundy, who followed up his trey with an offensive putback on a missed free throw moments later to extend USA's lead back to 14 points, 81-67. UALR never managed to pull within single digits again.
"I felt like we had a chance when we cut the lead to eight," said UALR head coach Steve Shields. "You have to give South Alabama credit. They were very good in transition, and our transition defense wasn't what it needed to be. We knew coming in that rebounding would be a key stat and it obviously played a big role tonight."
Senior Solomon Bozeman led all players with 20 points off 8-of-13 shooting, and added five assists, three rebounds and three steals for the Trojans. UALR shot 40.8 percent from the field in the loss, including a 9-of-28 effort from three-point range. Senior Alex Garcia-Mendoza added 14 points off 6-of-11 shooting, while senior Matt Mouzy and freshman Chuck Guy chipped in 15 and 10 points off the bench, respectively, but shot a combined 5-of-19 from three-point range.
The Trojans trailed 24-18 with 9:31 left in the first half, but South Alabama used an 8-1 run to build its lead to 13 points and take control of the game. UALR made just 11-of-33 field goal attempts in the first half, including a 1-for-7 effort from beyond the arc.
South Alabama scored 48 of its 92 points in the paint, and enjoyed a 26-to-6 scoring edge in fastbreak points. The Jaguars made 33-of-60 field goal attempts in the win and outscored the Trojans 20-to-8 at the foul line. All five starters scored in double figures for USA, with Tim Williams adding 15 points off the bench.
UALR returns to action Saturday afternoon when it takes on Arkansas State at 3 p.m. The game will be televised by CSS/CST.
