Jaguar Basketball Downs FIU 79-68
The South Alabama men’s basketball team was in action on Saturday evening in their second game of a two-game conference swing through Florida. The Jags came out with a win against Florida International 79-68.
The Jags improved to 4-3 on the season and 2-0 in conference play while FIU falls to 2-3 on the season and 1-1 so far in the conference. The win also made coach Ronnie Arrow the Sun Belt Conference’s all-time leader in conference wins by breaking his tie with Gene Bartow.
“I thought we had a very solid game and I thought the guys did, in certain situations, what we had to do to win,” coach Arrow said. “We’re still fouling too much at the end when we shouldn’t be trying to block 3-point shots, and hopefully we’ll get better at that, but the bottom line is, we’re 2-0 in the conference and we’re 2-0 on the road in the conference. That’s what it’s all about, conference play getting you ready for the postseason.”
“Coach Bartow was not only a great coach, but a great person, and to be even mentioned in the same breath with him is great,” Arrow continued. “I’m really happy, but I’m happy to be 2-0 in the conference.”
The Jags shot a season best 53.3% from the floor and 54.2% from three-point range. The 13 three’s they made was a new season high as well. Eight of the 13 three pointers came in the first half and at one point has six consecutive field goals came from behind the three point line. Three of those in a row came from Mychal Ammons.
The Jags used that three point attack to turn a four point deficit into a 10 point lead with 7:16 left left before halftime.
South Alabama would stretch its lead to 20 points in the first 11 minutes of the second half.
Mychal Ammons scored a game-high 21 points while adding five rebounds and two assists. Augustine Rubit chipped in 19 points and came one short of a double-double with nine. Antoine Allen added 13 points, Freddie Goldstein chipped in 11 points and five rebounds as well. Two other Jaguars scored in single digits.
South Alabama will return home to host New Mexico State with tip-off scheduled for 7:05 pm.