Jags Fall To Rival WKU In Final Seconds
In true rivalry fashion South Alabama and Western Kentucky was a hard fought game and was decided in the final seconds. After calling a time out with 29.2 seconds left in the game, Hilltopper Chris Harrison-Docks sunk a high floating shot from the lane with 4.3 seconds left to give WKU a 58-56 win in their final trip to the Mitchell Center as a member of the Sun Belt Conference.
On the other end of the floor, the Jags had a chance to tie the game and send it to overtime, but despite a good look at the basket, Augustine Rubit’s shot from about 14 feet came up short as time expired.
USA led by as many as eight points on three seperate occasions early in the second half, but the Hilltoppers increased the pressure and forced turnovers to open an 8-0 run to tie the game. After an Aaron Adeoye layup, the ‘toppers used turnovers by the Jags to convert back-to-back 3-pointers to open up a lead. But the Jags would battle back and from that point on the largest lead by either team would be four points.
Mychal Ammons posted a team-high 15 points with three assists while Augustine Rubit added 10 points and nine rebounds. Antoine Allen also added 10 points for the Jags.
WKU’s T.J. Price led all scorers with 19 points while Harrison-Docks came off the bend to add 11 points and four assists. George Fant earned a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Only the second loss of the season at home puts the Jags at 6-8 overall and 0-1 in Sun Belt play. WKU improves to 9-5 overall and 1-0 in Sun Belt play.
After being outrebounded 25-15 in the first half, they closed the gap to 40-36 for the game. Despite winning the last three meetings, the Hilltoppers trail 33-32 in their all-time record. The Jags are the only Sun Belt school who has a winning record all-time against WKU.
South Alabama will host Georgia State on Saturday for a 4:05pm tip at the Mitchell Center.