JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Dec. 4, 2025) –The ETSU men's basketball team returns home for a matchup with the surging South Alabama Jaguars on Friday night at Freedom Hall. Tipoff is set for 7:00pm.
MATCHUP: ETSU (6-2) vs. South Alabama (8-1)
DATE: December 4, 2025, 7:00pm
VENUE: Freedom Hall Civic Center (Johnson City, TN)
TV: ESPN+ (Keith Brake, Bruce Tranbarger)
RADIO: WXSM-AM 640 (Jay Sandos)
LIVE STATS: StatBroadcast
TICKETS: ETSUTickets.com
GAME SPONSOR: BrightRidge
ETSU aims for a rebound from an 88-71 loss to Dayton on Tuesday where turnovers and foul trouble sank the Bucs in the second half. Blake Barkley posted career-highs in points (21) and rebounds (6) and led ETSU in both categories against the Flyers. Brian Taylor II, the reigning SoCon Player of the Week, followed up his triple-double against Central Arkansas on Saturday with 16 points and a team-leading five assists on Tuesday. Cam Morris III scored 19 points in 24 minutes while navigating foul trouble.
The Bucs are the SoCon's top defensive team, leading the league in scoring defense (64.6), field goal percentage defense (39.0%), three-point percentage defense (28.8%), turnovers forced (16.13) and steals per game (10.9). All five marks are among the top 50 in the nation, with ETSU's steals rate ranking 12th in the country.
ETSU is 17-11 in the game following a loss under Brooks Savage and 8-2 in home games immediately after road losses. They have won nine straight home games dating back to February 2 against Furman.
The Jaguars come to Johnson City for their seventh straight game away from Mobile and fresh off a tense 77-75 win over New Mexico State on Tuesday on a neutral court in Katy, Texas. There were seven lead changes in the final 10 minutes of play, and South Alabama took the lead for good with just 20 seconds remaining. The Jags' offense has been extremely starter-heavy, averaging just 15 bench points per game with no substitute playing more than 13 minutes per game. Their offense is led by 6'8" forward Adam Olsen (16.6) and senior guard Chaze Harris (15.7). The Jaguars have played with great discipline, committing the second-fewest fouls and third-fewest turnovers per game in the country.
This is the first-ever meeting between ETSU and South Alabama in men's basketball, making the Jaguars the fifth and final first-time opponent on ETSU's schedule this season. The Bucs are 3-1 against first-time opponents this season.
For more information on ETSU men's basketball, go to ETSUBucs.com.
