South Alabama basketball throttles Arkansas State, 63-45

South Alabama began its four-game homestand with certainly one of its greatest defensive efforts in current reminiscence.

The Jaguars routed Arkansas State 63-45 on the Mitchell Middle, holding the Purple Wolves to simply 16 made baskets and 27.6% taking pictures. The victory was the primary of the season in Solar Belt Convention play for South Alabama, who snapped a two-game shedding streak and turned the ball over solely six occasions all night time.

“Defensively, it was nearly as good as we’ve performed right here,” South Alabama coach Richie Riley stated. “They made 16 photographs, and doubtless half of these have been contested and hard. What that tells me about our group is that they weren’t solely listening to what we have been telling them, however they made it their mission to return out and play with that aggressive combat, with that vitality and a spotlight to element.

“I’m actually pleased with our guys. They competed at a fierce degree. However I instructed them after the sport ‘one factor that this does is, it raises expectations. I want you to protect equally each single night time.’”

South Alabama middle Kevin Samuel turned in one other stellar rim-protecting effort, totaling 12 factors, 11 rebounds and 6 blocks. Owen White had certainly one of his higher video games as a Jaguar, scoring 15 factors and snagging 4 steals.

However most of all, South Alabama (7-8, 1-2 Solar Belt) bought a lift from the return of main scorer Isaiah Moore. After lacking final Saturday’s loss at Georgia State with a decrease again harm, Moore performed half-hour and scored a game-high 20 factors.

“I really feel nice,” Moore stated. “The day off gave me time to get well, so I might get again on the market and provides it my all. … My teammates opened it up, shifting with out the ball, simply giving me confidence, simply to be there for them. I used to be simply doing the whole lot in my energy to get the win for my staff.”

South Alabama jumped on prime 8-0 within the early going, earlier than Arkansas State (9-7, 1-2) rallied to take its first lead of the sport at 15-12 following an Avery Felts 3-pointer on the 9:15 mark. The rating was tied 16-16 with 7:50 left within the half, however the Jaguars scored the subsequent 9 factors — together with 5 by White — to take the lead for good.

The Jaguars have been up 29-18 at halftime, having held the Purple Wolves to 3 factors within the last eight minutes of the half. South Alabama by no means led by fewer than 10 within the second half, and by as many as 23 within the latter phases of the sport.

“In case you guard like that and also you worth the ball like we did, it makes you arduous to beat,” Riley stated. “We didn’t even shoot that nice. … Having Zay (Moore) again was crucial. He’s our game-manager, he’s like a quarterback. You’re taking away Bryce Younger from Alabama, it doesn’t fairly look the identical. He has the ball in his palms rather a lot, he’s a extremely good decision-maker and an excellent scorer.”

Omar El-Sheikh had a double-double to steer Arkansas State, scoring 18 factors and grabbing 13 rebounds. Felts added 14, together with two of the Purple Wolves’ three 3-pointers.

Arkansas State’s 45 factors have been the second-fewest by a Solar Belt opponent vs. South Alabama in Riley’s five-plus seasons in Cellular. Solely a 52-43 victory at Little Rock in 2020 was extra stifling from a defensive standpoint.

“We did an incredible job on protection,” Samuel stated. “That’s one thing we’ve been preaching on and harping on since we got here again from the street journey. It was an enormous emphasis in apply. We transferred it proper over to the sport, so we’re joyful about that. We need to go into each recreation with that very same depth, from the bounce to the end.”

South Alabama continues its four-game homestand on Saturday, dealing with Texas State at 2 p.m. The Bobcats are 8-8, 1-2 within the Solar Belt, after profitable 63-62 at James Madison on Thursday.