MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama rallied from a 10-point first-half deficit to force overtime against former Sun Belt Conference rival Middle Tennessee on Saturday afternoon, but the Blue Raiders held on for a 68-67 victory at the Mitchell Center.
The loss dropped the Jaguars to 2-4 on the season under first-year head coach Matthew Graves.
Comeback Forces Overtime
Middle Tennessee led by as many as 10 points in the first half before South Alabama worked its way back and tied the game late in regulation. The Jaguars had a chance to win before overtime, but a long 3-point attempt hit the back of the rim and bounced away.
Blue Raiders Pull Ahead Late
With the game tied 64-64 in overtime, Jacquez Rozier scored on a layup with 42 seconds remaining to put Middle Tennessee ahead. Jaquan Raymond added two free throws with 13.2 seconds left to stretch the lead to four.
Taishuan Johnson answered with a long 3-pointer with seven seconds left and was fouled on the shot. A made free throw would have tied the game, but Johnson’s attempt missed, and Middle Tennessee escaped with the one-point win.
Lewis Posts Double-Double
Abdul Lewis led South Alabama with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Barrington Stevens III scored 14 points and grabbed five rebounds, and Ken Williams and Johnson each finished with 10 points.
Rozier led Middle Tennessee with 12 points.
Graves Sees Progress
Graves said the performance was the most complete of the season despite the result.
“I thought it was an outstanding game,” Graves said. “I wish more people could have had a chance to see it. We obviously came out on the wrong end of that, but I really felt like for a complete game that’s as well as we have played this year, and that’s a good sign. I didn’t feel like after Tuesday’s game with Spring Hill we were trending in the right direction.”
“I thought a few guys actually grew up a little bit,” he added. “I thought we were with them each and every possession and that’s something certainly that we can continue to build on. Our schedule doesn’t get any easier.”
The game was played on the same Saturday as college football’s conference championship games.
Up Next
South Alabama takes a break for final exams before returning to action at Pepperdine on Dec. 15.
