Jags Split Two Games Last Week To End Four Game Losing Streak
The Jags split their two games last week to finally snap their four game losing streak.
The Jags traveled to play the University of New Orleans Privateers on Thursday in quite a sad environment. UNO announced that they are dropping from Division-I play to Division-III at the conclusion of this season. They had an estimated 150 in attendance with about 20 Jags fans in attendance. However, there were around 50 in attendance for the half time dance group.
It was a low scoring game with the Jags winning 59-51. South Alabama out rebounded UNO 40-23. The Jags took the game in hand late in the first half with a 17-4 run and went into the locker room with a 33-23 lead.
However, the second half opened with UNO going on a 14-2 run with four 3-pointers to regain the lead 37-35. Once again, the Jags took the game in hand with a 13-0 run. UNO would close to within six points twice, however the Jags would hold onto the victory.
Gary Redus and Tim Williams both scored 16 points against the Privateers with Williams getting his second straight double-double.
Coach Arrow had this to say after the game. “I’m just real happy for the guys. We’ve been working and we’ve had some situations that haven’t worked out for us. The things that we haven’t been doing late in games we did tonight. We didn’t turn the ball over late and made our free throws late. Those are the things we were doing earlier in the year when we were beating teams.”
On Saturday, the Jags had the lead by 16 points in the first half but allowed MTSU to tie the game up late in the first half. Actually, the Jags squandered two leads in the game to fall to 13-12 on the season and 5-8 in the Sun Belt Conference in the 80-68 loss.
Early in the game, the Jags built on the momentum of winning against UNO two nights earlier by starting off sizzling with a 14-2 lead. Shortly thereafter they had a 22-6 lead after a Martino Brock dunk.
However, the Jags would cool off and MTSU would warm up by answering with a 20-4 run to tie the game at 26. The Blue Raiders would take a 34-33 lead into half time.
The second half opened with the two teams trading the lead several times before the Jags opened up a seven point lead, 58-51 with 11:26 left in the second half. The lead came about as a result of five consecutive points from Brock.
However, the Jags would have another late half letdown. The blue raiders would score 20 of the next 25 points including 10 consecutive when they trailed the Jags 63-61.
MTSU would convert a turnover into a 3-pointer followed by a jumper from the field on their next possession and took the lead at 68-63 with 5:54 left in the game.
The Jags would commit three of their 15 turnovers in a span of four possessions and also missed four consecutive shots as the game slipped from their grasp.
Tim Williams scored a team high of 16 points in the game, with 11 of them after halftime. Bryan Sherrer had 14 and Gary Redus added 13.
After the game, Coach Arrow spoke about the loss. “This game was pretty much an exact replica, with the exception of New Orleans, of our last five or six games. We had at least a 10-point lead in the first half again and we haven’t been able to put the game away. They had kids that delivered and gave them big shots when they needed it.” Coach Arrow continued, “It’s frustrating for the players and it’s frustrating for us. It’s frustrating for our fans. We just have to find a way to come back.”
The Jags will continue their three game home stand against Florida International on Thursday with tip-off scheduled for 7:05pm at the Mitchell Center.
Go Jags!