Mobile, AL (Sports Network) - Augustine Rubit notched a double-double of 13
points and 12 rebounds as the South Alabama Jaguars held off the FIU Panthers
for a 60-58 decision in a Sun Belt Conference tilt at the Mitchell Center.
Antoine Allen added 11 points on just 3-of-12 shooting from the field for USA
(11-8, 8-3 Sun Belt), while Barrington Stevens chipped in 10 points. The
Jaguars managed to win their third in a row despite converting only 14-of-24
at the charity stripe.
Jerome Frink and Malik Smith tallied 12 points apiece for FIU (11-9, 6-5) as
it had its three-game winning streak snapped. Tymell Murphy contributed 11
points and March Porcher Jimenez scored 10 on 3-of-11 shooting off the bench.
USA closed out the first half on a 7-2 run to take a 31-22 lead into the
intermission. The Jaguars outscored the visitors, 19-2, in points off of
turnovers to seize control in the opening 20 minutes of action. FIU hit just
36.3 percent of its field goal attempts in the first period.
The Panthers improved to connect on 41.4 percent of their field goal tries
after the break, which helped them rally back and take a 49-44 lead at the
6:41 mark of the second half. USA scored the next six points to go back on
top, but FIU answered and the teams went back-and forth until Stevens put the
hosts up for good when he knocked down a 3-pointer with 3:29 left to play. The
Panthers had a chance in the closing seconds, but Dre Conner stole it from
Frink to clinch the win.
Both teams tallied 24 points in the paint, but USA held a 37-32 edge in the
rebounding battle.
GAME NOTES:
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