Daon Merritt scored 22 points, and Ernest Little had 13 points and 12 rebounds to help South Alabama (13-7, 7-2 Sun Belt) overcome a slow start for a 70-64 win over Denver on Saturday night.
DaShawn Walker led Denver (3-16, 2-7) with 20 points, and Antonio Porch added 14 points, including four 3-pointers.
South Alabama scored the first basket of the game before Denver went on a 16-0 run, and the Pioneers led 35-32 at the half.
The Jaguars made adjustments in the second half and led 57-50 with 4:20 left.
Walker got Denver within 65-62 on a 3-pointer with 26 seconds to go.
Merritt made two free throws to extend South Alabama’s lead to 67-62 before DU’s Tyler Bullock scored to trim the margin to three.
Demetric Bennett made a free throw, then Walker missed a 3-pointer that would have tied the score.
“Our team played well, but sometimes you just have to tip your hat to the other team,” DU interim head coach Kevin Reynolds said. “We went on a great run to start the game, but South Alabama made some great adjustments that worked.”
SOUTH ALABAMA (13-7, 7-2 Sun Belt)
Buboltz 1-3 0-0 3, Little 6-13 1-3 13, Merritt 6-13 9-9 22, Bennett 5-11 4-6 16, Smith 3-8 0-0 7, Davis 0-2 0-0 0, Grigsby 0-2 0-0 0, Cowherd 3-4 0-0 7, Cloud 0-2 0-0 0, Hooks 0-1 0-0 0, P. Tabet 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 25-60 14-18 70.
DENVER (3-16, 2-7)
Walker 6-15 5-5 20, Porch 5-13 0-0 14, Tanner 2-3 2-2 7, Bullock 2-6 1-2 5, Cox 2-9 0-0 4, Timms 1-3 2-2 4, Jackson 3-9 1-1 7, Rohnert 1-1 1-3 3. Totals 22-59 12-15 64.
Halftime – DU 35-32. 3-point goals – SA 6-22 (Bennett 2-4, Cowherd 1-2, Buboltz 1-3, Smith 1-4, Merritt 1-5, Grigsby 0-2, Cloud 0-2), Denver 8-28 (Porch 4-8, Walker 3-9, Tanner 1-1, Bullock 0-2, Jackson 0-4, Cox 0-4). Fouled out – None. Rebounds – SA 44 (Little 12), DU 32 (Tanner 7). Assists – SA 11 (Merritt 7), DU 12 (Cox 8). Total fouls – SA 17, DU 22. A – 1,000.
