Men’s Basketball Bests Webber International 87-64 in Home Opener

VIDEO: Post-game interview with Junior Eric Ferguson
VIDEO: Post-game interview with Senior C.J. Reed
VIDEO: Post-game interview with Freshman Cleon Roberts
VIDEO: Post-game interview with Coach Charlton "C.Y." Young

// FINAL STATS (PDF) // UPDATED STATS (PDF) //

STATESBORO, GA. – Georgia Southern Men’s Basketball got its first win of the season on Friday night with a 87-64 victory over Webber International inside Hanner Fieldhouse in the 2012-13 home opener. The Eagles shot over 60% from the field en route to the victory in convincing fashion.

“It’s a good feeling to get that first win of the year,” said Head Coach Charlton “C.Y.” Young. “We didn’t play our best basketball in the first half. I know games like this are difficult, they were difficult for me as a player, but we should be a mature enough team to put together 40 minutes.”

Georgia Southern improved to 1-2 on the year behind 17 points and eight rebounds from Eric Ferguson. The junior forward with 6-for-10 from the field to post his biggest night of the season.

Freshman sensation Cleon Roberts scored in double-figures for the third time in as many games to open his career with the Eagles. He went 3-for-7 from downtown, his best mark from the perimeter this year.

Webber International was paced by 16 points from Brian Pace while Michael Bonilla scored 13 for the NAIA Division II Warriors.

Redshirt-senior C.J. Reed scored in double digits for his first time at Georgia Southern with 10 points and three assists assists on the night. Junior Marvin Baynham came one short of a career high with 12 points. Tre Bussey led the Eagles with five assists while scoring 12 points with seven rebounds.

The Eagles led by as many as eight in the first half, but saw the Warriors turn the margin around behind six three-pointers in the first half to lead by six points with seven minutes left in the opening period. Southern, however out-scored WIU 17-8 in the final minutes of the early minutes to take a 45-42 lead to the intermission.

In the first half the Eagles were 19-for-26 from the field, posting a .731 shooting mark to Webber International’s stout .519 mark from the field.

GSU came out strong in the second half, going on a 10-2 run to start the second half and taking a 55-44 lead, forcing Webber to take a timeout just 2:24 into the second period.

Entering the final 10 minutes of the contest the Eagles led 69-54 as their team shooting percentage slowed to .700. GSU ran the lead out to 80-58 inside of six minutes to play as Bussey made a layup giving the Eagles five starters in double figures for the first time in two years.

Sophomore Tracy Ham, Jr. played a career-high seven minutes while freshmen Cole Rives and Brian Holmes each scored a deuce to open their career scoring accounts. GSU finished the night with 11-of-12 players scoring points. The Eagles finished the evening shooting 33-of-54 from the field, posting a .611 mark from the field. Southern held Weber International to a .250 field goal percentage in the second half, cruising to the 87-64 win.

The Eagles are back on the road for their next two contests, traveling to Kennesaw State and Maryland in the upcoming week. Georgia Southern visits the Owls on Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. before visiting the Terrapins in College Park on Saturday evening at 7 p.m.

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Category: Men's Basketball

Published on Friday, 16 November 2012 21:46