Men's Basketball | 10/26/2016 9:07:00 PM

STATESBORO, Ga. – Eagle Nation had the opportunity to interact with student-athletes from the men's and women's basketball teams at Hoops Fan Fest Wednesday evening in Hanner Fieldhouse.

The women's team met fans and signed autographs while the men's team scrimmaged to start the event. Both teams were introduced, both coaches spoke and after a 3-point shooting contest and a skills competition, the women's' team scrimmaged while the men's team signed autographs. 

Fans were able to pick up schedule posters, schedule cards, player cards and coaches cards for autographs, as well as purchase season tickets. Nakol Franks represented the women's team in the 3-point shootout after topping Alexis Foulks and Alexis Brown in the semifinals. Aubrey McRae won a shootout over Jake Allsmiller and Mike Hughes to represent the men's team and then defeated Franks in the finals. Alexis Sams and Tookie Brown competed in the skills competition.

The women return all five starters from last season. Angel McGowan was named Preseason First-Team All-Sun Belt, and Patrice Butler earned third-team honors.

After finishing fifth in the Sun Belt Conference last season, the Georgia Southern men return all five starters and 11 lettermen to the 2016-17 squad, including 94 percent of its scoring and rebounding. The Eagles were picked fourth in the Preseason Poll, Brown was named Preseason first-team all-league and Hughes was chosen second-team all-conference.

Season tickets, which are good for both men's and women's home games, start as low as $90, and fans can save over $200 by purchasing season tickets.

The Georgia Southern women tip off the season with a home exhibition game against Coastal Georgia Nov. 1. The Eagles' regular-season will then officially begin with a pair of home games on Friday, Nov. 11, against North Carolina A&T and Sunday, Nov. 13, against Thomas University.

The Eagle men host Lees-McRae in an exhibition game in Hanner Fieldhouse Nov. 3, before opening the season at NC State Nov. 11.

Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics, twitter.com/GSAthletics, iOS app Georgia Southern Eagles and Android app Eagles GATA. For tickets to Georgia Southern athletics events, visit GSEagles.com/tickets.