GAME NOTES: Looking to bounce back from consecutive losses, the South Alabama Jaguars hit the road to face the Richmond Spiders in a non-conference clash at Robins Center in the Gotham Classic on Thursday.

South Alabama has limped to a slow 2-5 start to the season, which includes losses in each of the program's last two games. The last win the Jaguars recorded was a 71-54 decision against Spring Hill at the start of this month.

Richmond hasn't exactly taken the NCAA by storm either, owning a 4-4 record coming into this contest. But the Spiders, who took down Howard in a 54-41 win Saturday, are 4-0 at home this season.

This meeting between South Alabama and Richmond represents the very first time these teams will meet on the hardwood.

South Alabama found itself down by just one point at the end of the first half against Pepperdine, but the Jaguars came out flat in the second half with a 37.9 shooting percentage that included a 1-of-8 mark from 3-point distance, allowing the Waves to take the big lead and the 78-68 win. Dionte Ferguson netted 16 points before fouling out, while Ken Williams chipped in with 13 and Taishaun Johnson scored 12. Abdul Lewis grabbed a team-best 10 rebounds in the defeat.

The Jaguars have struggled a bit offensively this season, but still own a 68.0 ppg mark on 43.1 percent shooting. It's been the defensive end that has killed the team, as the Jags enter this clash allowing 69.3 ppg to opponents. Williams leads the scoring charge by netting 11.7 ppg, followed up by Johnson's 11.0 ppg. Lewis (7.4 rpg) and Ferguson (7.1 rpg) are the team's best two rebounders, while Barrington Stevens tops the squad with 23 assists.

Richmond's offense wasn't very solid at all against Howard, but the Bison, fortunately for Richmond, were just awful shooting the ball. Howard connected on 29.5 percent of its shots from the floor, and went 0-of-6 from 3-point range in the second half en route to the Spiders' win. ShawnDre' Jones was the only Richmond player in double figures scoring, netting 11 points off the bench. Terry Allen netted nine, and both TJ Cline and Deion Taylor grabbed seven rebounds.

Kendall Anthony had eight points against Howard, but he still enters the game against South Alabama as the team's leading scorer with a 14.9 ppg mark on 48.9 percent shooting from the floor. Allen is the only other Spider to average a scoring total in double figures, contributing 10.3 ppg. The 61.4 ppg Richmond as a team is scoring is pretty dreadful, but fortunately for the Spiders, teams have only been able to manage 57.9 ppg against them so far.

Richmond is perfect at home this season, and with a struggling South Alabama squad coming to town, the Spiders should be thinking they can easily get over .500 again if they remain focused at playing strong defense, which is their signature.