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Game Notes
MOBILE, Ala. – South Alabama men's basketball will gear up for its second in-state showdown of the week as they travel to Birmingham to face the UAB Blazers on Friday, Nov. 21 at 6:30 p.m. CT on ESPN+.
Game Information
South Alabama (6–0) vs. UAB (3–2)
Date: Friday, November 21
Tipoff: 6:30 p.m. CT
Location: Birmingham, Ala. | Bartow Arena
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: Jags Radio Network
Stats: South Alabama StatBroadcast
Last Time Out
South Alabama stormed back from a 16-point deficit to defeat Jacksonville State, 71–65, Wednesday night at Pete Mathews Coliseum. The win moves the Jaguars to 6–0, marking the best start in the program's 57-year history.
USA surpassed the 1982–83 and 2016–17 squads that previously held the program's best start at 5–0.
Chaze Harris and Peyton Law powered the Jaguars' offense. Harris shook off a slow first half and took over late, scoring 15 of his 19 points after the break on 9-of-14 shooting, while adding six rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
Law dominated inside with 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting, six rebounds, and two assists. Jayden Cooper added 13 points on 5-of-10 shooting with three rebounds and a steal.
USA controlled the second half, outscoring the Gamecocks 46–34 and holding them under 39 percent from both the field and beyond the arc.
The Jaguars owned the paint once again, finishing with a 36–22 scoring advantage inside.
Jacksonville State attempted 38 threes, making 14. USA went 4-for-14 from deep.
Scouting the Blazers
UAB ranks first in the American Athletic Conference in seven statistical categories, including fast break points, fouls per game, rebounds per game, defensive rebounds per game, steals per game, and turnover margin.
Chance Westry sits inside the national Top 50 in scoring, averaging 21.0 points per game.
Head coach Andy Kennedy is in his sixth season leading the Blazers and enters the matchup just six wins shy of his 400th career victory.
Notes You Need to Know
With a perfect record, South Alabama remains the only unbeaten Division I team in the state of Alabama and one of just two men's teams nationally sitting at 6–0 (USA and Loyola Marymount).
South Alabama continues to rely heavily on its starting unit, with 79% of total scoring coming from Cooper, Harris, Olsen, Law, and Brady. All five starters rank as the team's leading scorers: Olsen (15.0 PPG), Law (14.3), Harris (13.8), Cooper (10.8), and Brady (6.3). Those five have combined for 350 of the USA's 460 points this season. The bench has contributed 98 total points—46 of which came in the win over Spring Hill.
USA leads the Sun Belt in scoring defense (64.2 PPG allowed) and ranks in the top three in opponent field goal percentage (38.5%). An astounding 63.2% of opponent shot attempts have come from three-point range, with teams averaging 37.4 threes per game against USA.
The Jaguars have been extremely efficient on both ends, generating high-percentage shots while limiting mistakes. USA ranks second in the nation in fouls per game (12.4) and 35th in turnovers per game (9.4). They also sit second in the Sun Belt in both turnover margin (+4.60) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.35; 65 assists to 48 turnovers).
USA has controlled the interior in every game this season (including the exhibition), outscoring opponents 332–168 in the paint. The Jags also rank top three in the league in both rebounding margin (+7.4) and fewest opponent rebounds allowed (32.4).
Junior guard Chaze Harris has flashed elite playmaking ability, posting 28 assists in six games. He ranks fourth in the Sun Belt in assists per game and first in total assists.
FOLLOW THE JAGS
For complete coverage of South Alabama men's basketball, follow the Jaguars on social media at @SouthAlabamaMBB (X/Instagram), /SouthAlabamaJaguars (Facebook), or visit the official home of South Alabama Athletics at USAJaguars.com.
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