MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama basketball opened the Jeff Price era with a 15-point victory over Arkansas-Little Rock, improving to 3-0 in Sun Belt Conference play in the Jaguars’ first game since the sudden retirement of head coach Ronnie Arrow.
Price, who was named interim head coach following Arrow’s departure, guided the Jaguars past a UALR team that entered the game atop the Sun Belt’s Western Division. South Alabama had been 2-0 in league play before the win.
Familiar Opponent for Price
Price came into the matchup with detailed knowledge of the Trojans. Under the previous staff, he had been responsible for preparing the scouting report on UALR for Arrow.
“So I was pretty in tune, as was our staff, as to what they were doing,” Price told AL.com. “I thought we just did a really nice job taking them out of their game.”
Price said he hoped the result would give the team a boost heading into the rest of the conference schedule. “I think it can lift us,” he said. “We’re sitting here 3-0 in the league now with another home game coming up and hopefully we’ll have a good break and come back ready to go.”
Ties to Arrow and South Alabama
Price stepped in for a coach he had worked under twice as an assistant, with both of those stints coming at South Alabama. The coaching change came in the middle of the season, with the Jaguars already into their Sun Belt schedule.
Up Next
After a three-day holiday break, the Jaguars were expected to return to campus to prepare for Arkansas State. South Alabama hosts the Red Wolves on Saturday, Dec. 29, at the Mitchell Center. Arkansas State enters the game 6-5 overall and 0-2 in Sun Belt play.
South Alabama then faces Middle Tennessee, the preseason favorite to win the conference, on Jan. 5 at the Mitchell Center.
