Team effort gives Jaguars win over A&M

Southern’s mens basketball team is (7-11, 5-2 Southwestern Athletic Conference) with its 65-49 defeat of Alabama A&M Saturday night at the F.G. Clark Activity Center.
The win came collectively as the Jaguars got double digit scoring performances from Chris Davis, Barry Honore’ and Joseph Jack. Davis, a reserve guard came off the bench to score 18 points on six-of-eight shooting from the field (including 2 of 2 from three point range) and four-of-four from the free throw line, two rebounds and one assist.
Jack had 13 points five rebounds and two blocks and Honore’ had 10 points, six rebounds and a steal.
The Jaguars also got 27 points off A&M turnovers and had its bench outscore the Bulldogs 34-17 as Davis and Jack combined for the bulk of the points.
“We played pretty well,” said SU coach Rob Spivery.
After shooting 57.1 percent in the first half and building a 40-29 halftime lead, Southern continued to hold on in the second half as both teams struggled shooting the ball. In the second half, A&M was 32 percent (8-of-25) from the field while Southern shot 27.3 percent, good for (6-of-22) from the field.
“We did a good job executing our offense,” Spivery said. “We gave up too many offensive rebounds but other than that we did the things we needed to do, and to score 40 points in the first half is an indication of that.”
Southern had 16 steals in the game while forcing 20 Bulldog turnovers, but turned the ball over 15 times as well.
“Southern only shot 27 percent in the second half but they had such great momentum and were able to get to the free throw line that we weren’t able to capitalize,” said A&M coach L. Vann Pettaway.
“Rob had his team ready to go. They played hard and they play better at home. We just have to wait until they come to Huntsville to get a chance to beat them.”
Plus, Spivery had a chance to get everyone some action as every Southern player played in the game.
For Alabama A&M (4-12, 1-5), Mickell Gladness had game highs of 19 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks. LaNorris Smith had eight points and a steal for the Bulldogs.
Despite the presence of the 6-11 Gladness, Southern edged A&M in points in the paint 24-26. A&M tied the score four times in the first half and their were four lead changes (two by each team).
“We couldn’t shoot the basketball well,” Pettaway said. “We only shot 32 percent in the second half and you’re not going to beat anybody doing that.”
The defeat of A&M is Southern’s first in a stretch of three consecutive home games (its longest of the season). Next up for the Jaguars is Alcorn State, February 2, 2008 at 4 p.m.