Men's Basketball Sets Sights on South Alabama

MOBILE, Ala. -- The Appalachian State men's basketball team will play its first of two road games in Alabama on Saturday, beginning play at South Alabama on Saturday afternoon. Tip is set for approximately 4:05 p.m.

THE SERIES

• These two teams have met five times, with South Alabama holding a 4-1 edge in the series.
• The Jaguars have won the last three meetings, including a 87-74 triumph in the only meeting in Mobile last season.

LAST TIME OUT

• The Mountaineers dropped a tough 60-59 contest to Georgia Southern inside the Holmes Center on Saturday.
• Ronshad Shabazz had a team-high 17 points and tied his season-best with five rebounds. Justin Forrest also reached double figures with 10 points.
• Isaac Johnson added nine points and 11 rebounds, with seven coming on the offensive glass.
• The Black and Gold held a 50-30 advantage in the rebounding battle, including 20 on offensive rebounds.
• App State opened up a 12-point second half lead, only to see Georgia Southern storm back and take a 60-59 lead. Shabazz had a three-point look to win it, but it was short. Forrest grabbed the rebound and his last second shot was off the mark.

SCOUTING THE MOUNTAINEERS

• The Mountaineers stand at 8-11 on the season and are 3-3 in Sun Belt play.
• App State ranks as the second best rebounding team in the conference (40.4 rpg) and the third best scoring team (77.4 ppg). The Mountaineers are also shooting 35.3 percent from deep, which ranks them fourth in the Sun Belt.
• After his 11 rebound performance against Georgia Southern, Isaac Johnson now has pulled down double digit rebounds in seven games this season, including his last two. Over his last five games, Isaac Johnson is averaging 7.6 points and 8.4 rebounds.
• Ronshad Shabazz leads the team in scoring at 19.7 ppg. Shabazz is just four points shy of passing Kemp Phillips for 21st of the all-time scoring list and 20 points shy of passing Sam Gibson for 20th on the scoring list.

SCOUTING THE JAGUARS

• South Alabama improved to 10-9 on the season and 3-3 in Sun Belt play with a 60-57 home win over Coastal Carolina on Thursday.
• Josh Ajayi led the Jaguars  with a double-double, posting 18 points and 12 rebounds. Rodrick Sikes added 15 points and five rebounds.
• The Jaguars rank as the second best defensive team in the Sun Belt, limiting their opponents to 39.6 percent shooting. South Alabama is also holding opponents to a league low 28.1 percent shooting on three-pointers.
• Sikes leads the team in scoring (17.9 ppg) and steals (21), while Ajayi is second on the team in scoring (12.1 ppg) and first in rebounding (6.5 rpg).

NEXT UP

• App State will close out its Alabama road swing on Monday at Troy at 8:15 p.m. EST. The game is a makeup from a postponement from Thursday.