Mobile Courant

 Kevin Samuel entered the top-10 in South Alabama history for blocks in a season and Tyrell Jones had a career-high in points, but the Jaguars were unable to complete the comeback against Coastal Carolina, falling 85-81 in overtime at the HTC Center Saturday afternoon. 

 
South Alabama now sits at 8-12, 2-6 in conference play. Coastal Carolina improved to 10-9 (4-4 SBC).
 
Kevin Samuel has now recorded 49 blocks this season, passing Jaguar greats Augustine Rubit (46) and Kelly Blaine (48) for ninth-most in a season in school history. He also recorded his seventh double-double of the season (12 points, 10 rebounds) and three steals.
 
Jones recorded a new career-high 25 points on 9-of-17 shooting. Coastal Carolina's Josh Uduje posted a career-high 33 points of his own to lead the Chanticleers.
 
GAME FACTS (HOW IT HAPPENED) 

• The Chanticleers started with a 12-4 lead at the 14:00 mark.
• After trailing 17-4, the Jaguars went on a 12-to-2 run to trail by only three with nine minutes left in the first half.
• The Jags trailed, 21-18, at the under-8:00 media timeout.
• Coastal followed that with a 16-to-7 run of their own, to lead 37-25 with 3:19 to go in the first half.
• The Jags shot 40% from the field in the first half, but the Chants shot 56% and had the 13-point lead at halftime.
• A three-pointer from Jones cut the Chants' lead to under 10, 45-38, with 16:20 to play.
• A block from Samuel led to a fast-break layup from Jones to force a CCU timeout at the 15:57 mark with the Jags trailing, 45-40.
• Coastal followed that up with a 13-to-4 run to extend their lead to double-digits again with 10:05 to play, 58-44.
• A 10-2 run from South Alabama cut their deficit to six, 60-54, with 6:54 to play.
• Franklin's 3-pointer with four minutes to go cut the Chants' lead to two, 64-62.
• Franklin blocked Henry Abraham's layup, and Jones made a three on the ensuing possession to tie the game at 68 with 48 seconds to go.
• Judah Brown missed a last-second three-point attempt, and the game went to overtime.
• The Chanticleers made six free throws in overtime to help seal the victory.

NOTES

• Jones set a new career-high in points and made 3-pointers in a game.
• Samuel's three steals is a season-high.
• Coastal Carolina's largest lead in the second half was 16.
• This was South Alabama's first overtime game since the final game of last season, also against Coastal Carolina.
• South's first lead in the game came on the first possession in overtime with a Jones' 3-pointer.
• Moore made three 3-pointers after making only two all season.
• The Jags made a season-high 16 3-pointers.
• Isaiah Moore contributed 19 points and nine assists.

 
QUOTABLE
Head Coach Richie Riley:
"We dug ourselves a hole in the first half with a terrible first half, but we fought back. We are in all of our games, but either you win or you lose, we make too many mistakes to win these games…When you look at this game, you look at the clean look we had to win it and if we make that we win, which is true. But, what led to that, was our play in the first 15 minutes. We gave up easy basket after easy basket. We had terrible turnovers, and we dug ourselves a hole. Obviously, if there's something to be proud of, is that we did fight back and had a chance to win it."

UP NEXT
The Jaguars return home to take on Old Dominion at the Mitchell Center Thursday evening. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
 
FOLLOW THE JAGS
For complete coverage of South Alabama men's basketball, follow the Jags on social media @SouthAlabamaMBB (Twitter), /SouthAlabamaMBB (Facebook), @southalabamambb (Instagram) or visit the official home of South Alabama athletics at usajaguars.com. 

Original source can be found here.