GAME NOTES: The South Alabama Jaguars will try to stay perfect in the Mitchell Center, as they host their former Sun Belt Conference rivals, the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders on Saturday afternoon.

The Blue Raiders are hoping to snap a three-game losing streak after dropping decisions to Cincinnati (69-51) and Creighton (57-47) in the Emerald Coast Classic and falling, 63-59, at Belmont on Tuesday. The lack of a true point guard to replace last season's graduated floor general Tweety Knight is a big reason why coach Kermit Davis' team is one game below the .500 mark after seven games. Middle Tennessee was outscored, 31-5, in points off turnovers.

None of the Blue Raiders are carrying a double-digit scoring average, as sophomore guard Reggie Upshaw, Jr. is leading the team with 9.4 ppg and 6.4 rpg. Seniors Marcus Tarrance (8.9 ppg, .421 3pt) and Jacquez Rozier (8.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg) have also played big roles for Middle Tennessee in the early going. Tarrance netted a team-best 14 points in 36 minutes off the bench in the loss to Belmont. Jaqawn Raymond added 12 points, while Upshaw and DaVante Jones chipped in 11 apiece. The Blue Raiders made only 32.3 percent of their shots from inside the arc, but stayed in the game thanks to a 10-of-23 effort from 3-point range.

Matthew Graves and his Jaguars are fresh off a 71-54 victory over Division II foe Spring Hill, which improved them to a 2-3 standing. South Alabama has yet to defeat a Division I opponent and suffered setbacks in its other three outings against Southern Miss (68-59), Detroit (66-53) and Miami-Florida (87-75), all on the road. The Jaguars are ranked seventh in the Sun Belt in both scoring offense (68.2 ppg) and scoring defense (67.8 ppg).

USA had a massive amount of production to replace this season thanks to the graduation of SBC superstar Augustine Rubit. Instead of revolving around a centerpiece, the Jaguars now have a one-two punch this season as sophomore guard Ken Williams (11.8 ppg) and freshman guard Taishaun Johnson (11 ppg, 4.5 rpg) have emerged as the team's new leaders. Both have held their own against top-notch competition as Williams tallied 16 points and four steals versus Miami, and Johnson recorded a double-double consisting of 15 points and 10 boards at Detroit. Junior guard Barrington Stevens III is adding 8.5 ppg. Senior forward Dionte Ferguson is also an impact player with averages of 8.3 ppg and 7.5 rpg. The 6-foot-6 senior's average of 4.4 offensive boards per tilt is the ninth-highest nationally.

USA's first three games versus Division I opponents were all on the road against better-than-average teams. This is a winnable game for the Jaguars, but they have struggled versus MT in the past. The Blue Raiders have won the last six matchups in the rivalry to take an 18-12 series advantage.

Middle Tennessee has run out five different starting lineups already this season. Expect the Blue Raiders to give a strong effort as they are going to be hungry for a win, but they will not steal any games on the road if their efficiency doesn't improve.