Mobile, AL -- (Sports Network) - Brandon Davis tallied a game-high 27 points and pulled down nine rebounds to lead the South Alabama Jaguars to an 81-77 win over the New Orleans Privateers in the quarterfinals of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament at the Mitchell Center.

Before fouling out Davis converted 15-of-20 shots at the free-throw line for top-seeded USA (26-5). Daon Merritt added 15 points and six assists, followed by Demetric Bennett and his 14 points. Playing just 20 minutes off the bench, DeAndre Coleman added nine points and nine boards as well.

The eighth-seeded Privateers (19-13) were paced by Bo McCalebb with 25 points and five assists, while James Parlow tacked on 13 points. Reserves T.J. Worley and Kyndall Dykes each contributed 12 points in the losing effort.

Shooting 50 percent from the field in the first half, USA led by as many as seven points in the frame, thanks to 16-of-21 at the free-throw line as well, yet found itself tied at the break, 39-39.

The Jaguars allowed UNO to move out to a six-point advantage early in the second half, but it was free-throw shooting down the stretch that provided South Alabama with the four-point triumph.

In addition to limiting the Privateers to just 6-of-18 shooting behind the three-point line, USA outscored New Orleans at the charity stripe, 37-23.

With the victory the Jags will now take on the fourth-seeded Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders in the semifinals on Monday.