Sun Belt Men's Basketball Notebook [Jan. 28, 2023]

Sun Belt Weekly Release | Jan. 28 Statistical Matchups

NEW ORLEANS –

Louisiana and Southern Miss sit atop the Sun Belt Conference men’s basketball standings with 7-2 league marks entering Saturday’s slate of seven games. The 14 programs of the Sun Belt are entering the second half of the league’s 18-game schedule. The Ragin’ Cajuns are on a league-leading seven-game winning streak, while the Golden Eagles have won four in a row. Four Sun Belt Conference teams rank among the top-100 in the latest NCAA NET rankings – No. 66 Southern Miss, No. 76 Marshall, No. 87 James Madison and No. 88 Louisiana. In Thursday’s games, seven Sun Belt players scored 20 or more points, led by ULM’s Jamari Blackmon, who scored 35 in an upset of Marshall in Huntington, W.Va. Marshall’s Taevion Kinsey on Thursday became the only active player in the nation to have reached the combined milestones of 2,000 career points, 700 career rebounds and 500 career assists.  

Impact Players – Sun Belt Statistical Leaders (Conference Games Only)

Points Per Game: Taevion Kinsey, Marshall (22.0)Rebounds Per Game: Micah Handlogten, Marshall (11.0)Assists Per Game: Themus Fulks, Louisiana (7.2)Blocks Per Game: Kevin Samuel, South Alabama (3.3)Steals Per Game: Andrew Taylor, Marshall (2.3)

Rank & File

Three Sun Belt men’s basketball programs are ranked among the top-10 in the most recent CollegeInsider.com Men’s Basketball Mid-Major Top-25 – No. 5 Louisiana, No. 8 Marshall and No. 10 Southern Miss. James Madison is receiving votes. 

Dynamic Offenses

The Sun Belt Conference features a number of high-powered offenses. As a league, Sun Belt teams are averaging a collective 72.0 points per game. Sun Belt Conference teams have scored 22,001 points on the season, which ranks third-most of any conference this year, behind the ACC (22,344) and the Atlantic Sun (22,131). Three Sun Belt teams rank in the top-25 nationally in terms of scoring margin – No. 4 James Madison (+16.5), No. 19 Southern Miss (+12.2) and No. 23 Marshall (+11.7). 

Block Party

Four of the top-20 shot blockers in the nation reside in the Sun Belt Conference – Marshall’s Micah Handlogten (6th, 59), ULM’s Victor Bafutto (11th, 50), South Alabama’s Kevin Samuel (13th, 49) and App State’s Justin Abson (15th, 47). 

Ball Security

Sun Belt teams have been strong at taking care of the ball and forcing opponents into turnovers. Three Sun Belt teams rank in the top-30 nationally in terms of turnover margin – James Madison (10th, +4.9), Southern Miss (25th, +3.6) and Marshall (26th, +3.5).

Legendary Leader

Coastal Carolina head coach Cliff Ellis has 827 career Division I wins. He is 10th all-time amongst winningest coaches in NCAA history and needs three more to move into ninth-place all-time. 

Sun Belt Men’s Basketball Games – Saturday, January 28

Texas State at Southern MissHattiesburg, Miss. | Reed Green Coliseum2 p.m. CT [ESPN+]Series Record: First MeetingTexas State Leading Scorer: Mason Harrell (16.2)Texas State Leading Rebounder: Nighael Ceaser (6.9)Southern Miss Leading Scorer: Austin Crowley (17.3)Southern Miss Leading Rebounder: DeAndre Pinckney (7.1)• Southern Miss and Texas State meet for the first time in the history of the two programs. • In Sun Belt Conference games only, this contest matches the top teams in the league in offensive rebound percentage (Southern Miss, .354) and defensive rebound percentage (Texas State, .759). • Southern Miss is 11-0 at home this season. • In Sun Belt Conference games only, Southern Miss leads the league in free-throw shooting percentage (.764). • Southern Miss ranks 19th in the nation in scoring margin at +12.2. • Southern Miss is No. 29 nationally in steals per game with 8.9 swipes per contest. • Southern Miss ranks 30th nationally in rebound margin at +5.8. • Southern Miss leads the Sun Belt Conference (all games combined) and ranks 39th nationally in scoring defense, limiting its opposition to 63.6 points per game. • Southern Miss’ Austin Crowley ranks eighth in the nation in steals with 49. • Texas State head coach Terrence Johnson earned his 50th win at the helm of the Bobcats’ program on Thursday. • In Sun Belt Conference games only, Texas State leads the league in scoring defense, limiting conference opponents to 62.1 points per game. • In Sun Belt Conference games only, Texas State’s Jordan Mason leads the league in free-throw percentage with a .909 clip. 

Old Dominion at Coastal Carolina

Conway, S.C. | HTC Center3 p.m. CT [ESPN+]Series Record: Old Dominion leads 2-1Last Meeting: January 12, 2023 – Coastal Carolina 67, Old Dominion 66Old Dominion Leading Scorer: Tyreek Scott-Grayson (14.4)Old Dominion Leading Rebounder: Mekhi Long (7.7)Coastal Carolina Leading Scorer: Jomaru Brown (15.3)Coastal Carolina Leading Rebounder: Essam Mostafa (10.3) • Coastal Carolina and Old Dominion are meeting for the second time this season. The Chanticleers won a 67-66 decision on January 12 in Norfolk, Va.• Eleven of Coastal Carolina’s 21 games this season have been decided by six points or fewer. • In Sun Belt Conference games only, Coastal Carolina is tied for the league lead in three-pointers made with 8.2 per game. • Coastal Carolina is second in the Sun Belt (all games combined) in bench points per game with 25.95 points per contest coming from its reserves. • Coastal Carolina leads the Sun Belt (all games combined) and is 21st nationally in free-throw shooting percentage at 76.6.• Coastal Carolina’s Essam Mostafa is third in the country in double-doubles with 14. He is the only Sun Belt player with double-digit double-doubles on the year. • Coastal Carolina’s Essam Mostafa is ninth in the nation in rebounds with 216 boards on the season. His 10.3 rebounds per game average ranks 13th nationally. • Coastal Carolina’s Henry Abraham ranks 21st nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio at +2.76. • Old Dominion is in the midst of a stretch where six of its eight games are on the road. Harrisonburg, Va. | Atlantic Union Bank Center3 p.m. CT [ESPN+]Series Record: First meetingULM Leading Scorer: Tyreke Locure (13.9)ULM Leading Rebounder: Thomas Howell (7.5)James Madison Leading Scorer: Vado Morse (13.1)James Madison Leading Rebounder: Mezie Offurum (5.3)• James Madison and ULM are meeting for the first time in the history of the two programs. • James Madison has placed four players in double-figure scoring in 15 of its 22 contests this season. • James Madison has used 12 different starting lineups this season, which marks the third-most different starting fives in NCAA Division I men’s basketball. • James Madison ranks in the top-10 in a number of statistical categories, including: steals per game (4th, 10.5), turnovers forced per game (4th, 18.73), scoring margin (5th, +16.5), bench points per game (6th, 33.55), scoring offense (7th, 84.0) and turnover margin (10th, +4.9). • James Madison is the fastest team in the Sun Belt, ranking 17th nationally in fastbreak points per game at 14.91. • In Sun Belt Conference games only, ULM leads the league in three-point field-goal percentage at .394. The Warhawks are making 8.2 three-pointers per game in conference play, which is tied for the league lead. • ULM players turned in several career-highs in the Warhawks’ win at Marshall on Thursday. Jamari Blackmon charted a career-high 35 points, while Thomas Howell scored a career-high 21 with a career-high 15 rebounds. Both played a career-high 50 minutes. • In Sun Belt Conference games only, ULM’s Thomas Howell is averaging a league-best 38.7 minutes per game. • ULM’s Victor Bafutto ranks 11th in the nation in blocks with 50. He is one of two Sun Belt players to have recorded 50 or more rejections on the year. Bafutto’s 2.27 blocks per game rank 16th in the country. Mobile, Ala. | Mitchell Center3 p.m. CT [ESPN+]Series Record: South Alabama leads 28-12Last Meeting: January 29, 2022 – Troy 77, South Alabama 68Troy Leading Scorer: Duke Miles (14.0)Troy Leading Rebounder: Zay Williams (6.4)South Alabama Leading Scorer: Isaiah Moore (18.0)South Alabama Leading Rebounder: Kevin Samuel (9.3)• The in-state rivalry between South Alabama and Troy is renewed on Saturday in Mobile. This will mark the first of two meetings between the two squads in a two-week period. • In Sun Belt Conference games only, South Alabama is the league-leader in three-point field-goal percentage defense at .261. • In Sun Belt Conference games only, South Alabama’s Kevin Samuel leads the league in blocks per game with 3.3.• South Alabama’s Kevin Samuel is 10th in the country in field-goal percentage at 64.6 percent. • South Alabama’s Kevin Samuel ranks 13th in the nation in total blocks with 49. His 2.45 rejections per game rank 12th in the country. • South Alabama’s Isaiah Moore ranks 19th nationally in field-goals made with 151. • In Sun Belt Conference games only, Troy leads the league in field-goal percentage defense at .378. • Troy attempts more three-pointers than any team in the Sun Belt Conference (all games combined) with 24.5 attempts from beyond the arc per game. • Troy ranks 25th in the nation in turnovers forced per game with 16.59. • Troy’s Kieffer Punter leads the Sun Belt (all games combined) in free-throw shooting percentage at 85.7. Boone, N.C. | Holmes Convocation Center3:30 p.m. CT [ESPN+]Series Record: App State leads 8-7Last Meeting: February 25, 2022 – Arkansas State 62, App State 60Arkansas State Leading Scorer: Caleb Fields (11.5)Arkansas State Leading Rebounder: Omar El-Sheikh (9.6)App State Leading Scorer: Donovan Gregory (12.1)App State Leading Rebounder: CJ Huntley (6.5)• Five of the last eight games between App State and Arkansas State have been decided either on the last possession or in overtime. • App State leads the Sun Belt (all games combined) in field-goal percentage with a 40.1 percent clip, which ranks 34th nationally. • App State is second in the Sun Belt (all games combined) and top-60 nationally in blocks per game with 4.3. • App State’s Donovan Gregory is five rebounds away from 500 career rebounds and 34 points away from 1,000 career points. He would become the 35th member of the Mountaineers’ 1,000-point club. • App State’s Justin Abson is 15th in the country in blocks with 47 rejections on the season. • Arkansas State’s Terrance Ford, Jr., ranks third in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio at +3.37. • Arkansas State’s Omar El-Sheikh ranks 24th nationally in rebounds per game (9.6). • In Sun Belt Conference games only, Arkansas State’s Terrance Ford, Jr., leads the league in three-point field-goal percentage at .583. Huntington, W.Va. | Cam Henderson Center6 p.m. CT [ESPN+]Series Record: First meetingGeorgia State Leading Scorer: Dwon Odom (14.2)Georgia State Leading Rebounder: Ja’Heim Hudson (7.4)Marshall Leading Scorer: Taevion Kinsey (21.5)Marshall Leading Rebounder: Micah Handlogten (11.0)• Georgia State and Marshall meet for the first time in the history of the two programs. • Each of Marshall’s last two games have gone to overtime after having not played an overtime contest in nearly three years prior to that. • Marshall ranks fourth in the nation in assists per game (18.3) and is 10th nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio (+1.56). • Marshall ranks fifth in the nation in rebounds per game (40.86) and eighth nationally in offensive rebounds per game (13.77). • Marshall is 11th nationally in blocks per game with 5.6.  • Marshall ranks 17th in the nation in scoring offense at 81.9 points per game and is 23rd nationally in scoring margin at +11.7.• Marshall is 23rd in the country in steals per game with 9.1. • In Sun Belt Conference games only, Marshall leads the league in scoring offense (79.3), scoring margin (+8.1), blocks per game (5.2), assists per game (16.9), turnover margin (+3.8) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.5). • Marshall has two of the top-five players in the nation in field-goals made. Taevion Kinsey leads the country in FG made with 192, while Andrew Taylor is fifth with 170. • In Sun Belt Conference games only, Marshall’s Taevion Kinsey leads the league in scoring, averaging 22.0 points per game. In all games combined, he is 11th nationally in points per game (21.5). • Marshall’s Taevion Kinsey is 17th nationally in assists per game with 5.7. • In Sun Belt Conference games only, Marshall’s Micah Handlogten leads the league in rebounding (11.0/gm.), field-goal percentage (.709) and offensive rebounds (4.4/gm.). • Marshall’s Micah Handlogten ranks fourth nationally in rebounds with 242 and is sixth in the nation in blocks with 59. • Marshall’s Andrew Taylor is 13th nationally in steals with 47. • In Sun Belt Conference games only, Marshall’s Kamdyn Curfman leads the league in three-pointers made with 3.6 treys per game. • Georgia State is set to play its fourth consecutive road game. • Georgia State ranks second in the Sun Belt (all games combined) in scoring defense, limiting its opposition to 64.6 points per game. Lafayette, La. | Cajundome7 p.m. CT [ESPN+]Series Record: Georgia Southern leads 9-8Last Meeting: February 23, 2022 – Louisiana 82, Georgia Southern 69Georgia Southern Leading Scorer: Andrei Savrasov (13.2)Georgia Southern Leading Rebounder: Carlos Curry (7.0)Louisiana Leading Scorer: Jordan Brown (19.8)Louisiana Leading Rebounder: Terence Lewis II (8.1)• Louisiana enters Saturday’s game on a league-best seven-game winning streak. • Louisiana’s 72-57 win against Troy on Thursday was the Ragin’ Cajuns 300th Sun Belt Conference victory. • A win by Louisiana on Saturday would give the Ragin’ Cajuns their first perfect January (7-0) since the 2017-18 campaign. • In Sun Belt Conference games only, Louisiana leads the league in field-goal percentage (.484) and rebound margin (+6.3). • Louisiana is fifth in the country in three-point field-goal percentage (39.9). • Louisiana ranks ninth in the nation in field-goal percentage at 49.4. • Louisiana is 23rd nationally in rebound margin at +6.2. • Louisiana’s Themus Fulks ranks fifth in the nation in assists with 135 dishes on the year. His 6.4 assists per game ranks sixth nationally. • In Sun Belt Conference games only, Louisiana’s Themus Fulks leads the league in assists per game with 7.2. • Louisiana’s Terence Lewis II is 14th in the nation in field-goal percentage (63.1). • Louisiana’s Jordan Brown ranks 24th nationally in points per game with 19.8. • In Sun Belt Conference games only, Georgia Southern’s Jalen Finch leads the league in assist-to-turnover ratio at +3.3.