BOONE, N.C. – In search of its third-straight Sun Belt Conference victory, Appalachian State University men's basketball plays host to South Alabama on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. inside the Holmes Center.
The Mountaineers (6-10, 3-4 Sun Belt) are coming off a 69-64 win over Troy on Saturday while the Jaguars (6-12, 4-4) are also seeking their third win in a row after knocking off UALR, 66-64, on Saturday.
The first 1,000 App State students in attendance on Thursday will receive free glowsticks as part of the night's various promotions for Student Night and #TurnUpThursday. Also, members of the Student Yosef Club, will be given vouchers to use at concession stands as well as be given the chance to make an entrance tunnel for the team as they take the floor.
A complete schedule of this year's promotions can be found by clicking HERE. Tickets to Thursday's game and ALL remaining home games can be purchased by calling the Athletic Ticket Office at 828-262-2079 or online by clicking HERE.
SCOUTING THE JAGUARS
• South Alabama enters Thursday's tilt with two-straight wins over UALR and UL Lafayette. The Jaguars are 6-12 overall and 4-4 in Sun Belt play.
• USA has somewhat turned its season around since entering league play. The Jaguars dropped seven in a row from (Dec. 6 - Jan. 3), including its first two in league play.
• Since that stretch, South Alabama has gone 4-2 with wins over Appalachian, UALR (twice) and UL Lafayette.
• The Jaguars possess one of the most explosive offense in the Sun Belt. USA has scored at least 80 points four times this season and has failed to score more than 70 just 9 times in 18 games.
• Ken Williams leads a trio of double-digit scorers for the Jaguars at 15.0 points per game. Taishaun Johnson (12.9 ppg) and Dionte Ferguson (10.9) also average in double figures.
• Ferguson also leads the team in rebounding (6.9 rpg) and blocks (24) while ranking second in shooting percentage (54.0 percent).
• The Jaguars are particularly potent from long range, where they connect at a league-best 35.0 percent from beyond the arc.
• However, South Alabama ranks dead last in the Sun Belt in turnover margin (-2.44) and has committed 257 turnovers.
• Only UL Lafayette (273) has committed more turnovers, but the Ragin' Cajuns have dished out 256 assists to USA's 213.
• The Jaguars have committed at least 15 turnovers in 10 games this year, including a season-high 22 in losses at Detroit and IUPUI.
• South Alabama has had a positive assist-to-turnover ratio just six times in 18 games this year.
SERIES HISTORY
• Appalachian State is 0-1 all-time against South Alabama after losing a 104-95 shootout on Jan. 8 in Mobile.
• The Mountaineers are 35-26 all-time against current Sun Belt members, though 42 of those contests have come against former Southern Conference rival Georgia Southern.
• The Apps are 19-8 when facing current Sun Belt schools in Boone.
UP NEXT
• The Mountaineers will travel to Texas State for a 5:30 p.m. contest on Saturday.
• Appalachian faces former SoCon rival Georgia Southern next Thursday in Statesboro before enjoying a Saturday off.
• Following the bye, the Apps travel to UL Lafayette (Feb. 5) before hosting Troy (Feb. 7).
