(Interstat) — A key Sun Belt Conference men’s basketball matchup is set for Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, when the South Alabama Jaguars visit the Troy Trojans at Trojan Arena in Troy, Alabama.

South Alabama (11-4) enters with the stronger overall record, coming off a 63-58 road victory at Louisiana-Lafayette on Wednesday. The Jaguars have won two of their last three, though their four losses have come by an average of just 5.5 points. Troy (9-5) is riding a four-game winning streak, highlighted by a dominant 100-80 home win over Texas State on Wednesday.

The game features two of the league’s top performers. South Alabama guard Adam Olsen is averaging 17.8 points per game over his last five contests, including a 26-point effort in the win at Louisiana-Lafayette. For Troy, forward Thomas Dowd has been a force, averaging 14.5 points during the winning streak. He posted a standout line of 22 points, six rebounds, three assists and three blocks against Texas State.

The intrastate rivalry adds significance to the early conference showdown. South Alabama’s success this season has been built on defense, holding opponents to an average of 66.2 points per game. Troy boasts a potent offense, having scored 86 or more points in three of its last four victories, and will have the advantage of playing at home where it is 5-2 this season.

Historically, the series has been closely contested. This game will serve as an important early barometer for the Sun Belt standings. Following this contest, South Alabama returns home to host Georgia Southern on Jan. 10. Troy hits the road for its next two games, starting at Arkansas State on Jan. 7.

Tipoff is scheduled for Saturday at Trojan Arena. The game will be a test of South Alabama’s defensive resilience against Troy’s high-scoring attack in a pivotal rivalry game.