SEATTLE — Augustine Rubit scored a career-high 35 points Saturday, but Gonzaga built an early 19-point lead and held on for a 68-59 win over South Alabama in the Battle in Seattle.
The loss dropped the Jaguars to 5-5, while the Bulldogs improved to 10-1.
Rubit’s Career Night Against Gonzaga
Gonzaga jumped ahead 22-3 with 9:49 left in the first half before Rubit sparked a South Alabama response. He hit a 3-pointer with 9:39 remaining, answered a Gonzaga dunk with a dunk of his own and then made a second 3-pointer after a Gary Bell Jr. turnover. Rubit then came up with a steal that led to a 3-pointer by Antoine Allen, cutting the deficit to 24-14 with 8:28 left in the half.
Two Rubit free throws pulled the Jaguars within 30-23 with 3:45 remaining before halftime, but South Alabama scored only one more basket in the half and trailed 41-25 at the break.
The Jaguars opened the second half on a 10-3 run, including another Rubit 3-pointer, to get back within single digits. Gonzaga never let the margin shrink below eight points the rest of the way.
Rubit was the only South Alabama player in double figures. He made 11 of 16 shots from the field and all 10 of his free throws and grabbed seven rebounds. Aakim Saintil added eight points, and Allen finished with six points and six rebounds.
Bell led Gonzaga with 20 points and six rebounds. Sam Dower Jr. had 12 points and 11 rebounds, and Kevin Pangos scored 10. Gonzaga shot 41 percent from the field, and South Alabama shot 32 percent.
South Alabama returns to the Mitchell Center to host Dillard on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m.
Olivia Mohler Joins Women’s Basketball Team
Former South Alabama volleyball standout Olivia Mohler has joined the Lady Jaguars basketball team.
Mohler chose volleyball over basketball when she enrolled at South Alabama, and her volleyball eligibility ran out after the 2011-12 season. She was later offered a chance to play a season of basketball but instead pursued a professional volleyball career overseas. When her visa did not come through in time, she returned home and came back to South Alabama to finish her degree, and the basketball opportunity was still available.
Mohler, who is 6-foot-2, took part in her first basketball practice since high school on Friday. First-year head coach Terry Fowler saw her height, athleticism and competitiveness as a fit for the team.
“When the volleyball didn’t work out (overseas) and I came back, I talked to the coaches again and I decided to give it a shot,” Mohler told AL.com. “I’ve always loved the sport.”
Mohler said her father and brother both played college basketball at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. “I missed it a lot more than I thought I would, actually,” she told AL.com.
She said she is working to regain her basketball knowledge. “I’m going to give it everything I’ve got,” she said.
The Lady Jaguars, winners of two straight, host Ole Miss on Monday night at the Mitchell Center. Mohler could make her debut after just three practices.
Jerry Mack a Finalist at North Carolina Central
South Alabama wide receivers coach Jerry Mack is one of four candidates for the head coaching position at North Carolina Central. The other finalists are Winston-Salem State head coach Connell Maynor, Southern University head coach Dawson Odums and Nevada tight ends coach James Spady.
Mack, a Memphis native, began his college playing career at Jackson State before transferring to Arkansas State. He has coached as an assistant at Delta State, Jackson State, Central Arkansas, Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Memphis, and he completed NFL internships with the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills. He joined Joey Jones’ staff at South Alabama in 2012.
A decision on the North Carolina Central job could come by Thursday.
27 Jaguar Student-Athletes Graduate
Twenty-seven current and former South Alabama student-athletes received degrees Saturday at the university’s fall commencement at the Mitchell Center. The group included six All-Sun Belt Conference honorees and two Sun Belt Players of the Year.
Rubit, the 2012-13 Sun Belt Player of the Year, earned his degree but could not attend because of the game at Gonzaga. Brittany Fowler, the Sun Belt softball Player of the Year, also graduated.
Other student-athletes receiving degrees included Nolan Earley, Romelle Jones, Shelby Owen, Eddy Cabrera, Matt Calcagnini, Clifton Crews, Charles Harris, Bryson James, Kenneth Johnson, Alonzo Long, Byron Sneed, Montavious Williams, Drew Cofield, Jeff DeBlieux, Anthony Izzio, Brent Mitchell, Graham Odom, Ashton Krause, Jeff Long, Josh Nelson, Veronica Cherizol, Camille Reynolds, Chris Bockstael and Elina Strauniece.