Defense Helps Men's Basketball Rally Over Furman
11/23/2007 5:19:00 AM | Men's Basketball
GREENVILLE, S.C. --- Down by three with 6:22 remaining in the game, the Georgia Southern men's basketball team held Furman without a point for a 5:20 stretch to defeat Furman 68-63 Friday night at Timmons Arena.
The victory is the Eagles' fourth in a row after a season-opening defeat at Florida State and was also the Southern Conference opener for both teams. The Paladins drop to 0-4, 0-1.
“We got stops when we had to get them and we've been doing that so far this season,” said GSU head coach Jeff Price. “It was tied late in the game, we got some defensive stops and made some baskets and all of the sudden we're up by six or eight points.”
Senior Matt Fields (Jacksonville, Fla.), who scored 10 of his 12 points after halftime, sparked the rally with six straight markers to single-handedly bring the Eagles back. By the time Furman finally snapped its drought, GSU took a three-point deficit and turned it into a nine-point advantage.
The Eagles dominated the glass, outrebounding the Paladins 46-34 overall and 24-21 on GSU's offensive end.
“It was one of the biggest keys before the game,” said Price about the rebounding advantage. “We said we needed to crush them on the boards and our guys responded well to that. We had 24 offensive rebounds which is a lot of second shots. I thought we were really good on the glass.”
Junior Julian Allen (Waterbury, Conn.) led all scorers with 17 points and went six-for-six at the free throw line. He was a perfect four-for-four at the line in the final minute. Allen also pulled down eight rebounds.
“He's always active on the glass, but he made all of his free throws down the stretch,” said Price. “That was huge in the game.”
Senior Louis Graham (West Palm Beach, Fla.) notched his second double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Furman took its first lead of the game since the 16:41mark of the first half on a 3-pointer by George Brazos with 6:22 remaining in the contest. His bucket capped off a 6-0 rally after an old-fashioned three-point play by Alex Opacic.
Graham began the comeback with a free throw before a Fields lay-up began his scoring binge.
Bobby Austin tallied a team-high 15 points for Furman. He was joined in double-figures by Justin Dehm and Brozos.
GSU jumped out to a 24-13 lead at the 8:45 mark after a Fields bucket. But the Eagles went over three minutes without a point which allowed the Paladins to close to within 24-21. Six of those points came from Dehm who hit back-to-back 3-pointers.
The Eagles return to action Monday when they host Mercer in their home opener. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
The victory is the Eagles' fourth in a row after a season-opening defeat at Florida State and was also the Southern Conference opener for both teams. The Paladins drop to 0-4, 0-1.
“We got stops when we had to get them and we've been doing that so far this season,” said GSU head coach Jeff Price. “It was tied late in the game, we got some defensive stops and made some baskets and all of the sudden we're up by six or eight points.”
Senior Matt Fields (Jacksonville, Fla.), who scored 10 of his 12 points after halftime, sparked the rally with six straight markers to single-handedly bring the Eagles back. By the time Furman finally snapped its drought, GSU took a three-point deficit and turned it into a nine-point advantage.
The Eagles dominated the glass, outrebounding the Paladins 46-34 overall and 24-21 on GSU's offensive end.
“It was one of the biggest keys before the game,” said Price about the rebounding advantage. “We said we needed to crush them on the boards and our guys responded well to that. We had 24 offensive rebounds which is a lot of second shots. I thought we were really good on the glass.”
Junior Julian Allen (Waterbury, Conn.) led all scorers with 17 points and went six-for-six at the free throw line. He was a perfect four-for-four at the line in the final minute. Allen also pulled down eight rebounds.
“He's always active on the glass, but he made all of his free throws down the stretch,” said Price. “That was huge in the game.”
Senior Louis Graham (West Palm Beach, Fla.) notched his second double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Furman took its first lead of the game since the 16:41mark of the first half on a 3-pointer by George Brazos with 6:22 remaining in the contest. His bucket capped off a 6-0 rally after an old-fashioned three-point play by Alex Opacic.
Graham began the comeback with a free throw before a Fields lay-up began his scoring binge.
Bobby Austin tallied a team-high 15 points for Furman. He was joined in double-figures by Justin Dehm and Brozos.
GSU jumped out to a 24-13 lead at the 8:45 mark after a Fields bucket. But the Eagles went over three minutes without a point which allowed the Paladins to close to within 24-21. Six of those points came from Dehm who hit back-to-back 3-pointers.
The Eagles return to action Monday when they host Mercer in their home opener. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
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