Men's Basketball to Face a Young Citadel Team Saturday
1/11/2008 5:10:00 AM | Men's Basketball
STATESBORO, Ga. --- A home game was definitely what the doctor ordered for Georgia Southern who snapped a three-game losing streak in overtime Thursday to the College of Charleston. But the Eagles now head back out on the road for a three-game road swing, beginning with The Citadel Saturday afternoon.
“We just need to try to keep the momentum going and understand that conference play is difficult no matter where you play,” said head coach Jeff Price. “We've struggled over here in the past and we need to be extremely focused and come over here and play well.”
The Eagles enjoyed their best offensive output of the season Thursday with 96 points and posted their second-highest shooting percentage (53.6%).
Leading the charge was freshman Willie Powers who recorded a team-high 23 points on 8-for-11 shooting. He ended a personal string of three straight games in single-digit scoring, the longest of his young career.
Senior Louis Graham, who is averaging 19 ppg in his last two outings, had little trouble scoring against The Citadel last season. In three games, he averaged 16.7 points, including 21 in Charleston.
The Bulldogs are one of the youngest teams in all of college basketball with one senior and a junior among 11 freshmen. They enter Saturday's game with a 5-9 overall record and 0-5 in the league while losing three straight.
“They're young, they can really shoot the basketball, they're very perimeter-oriented and we're going to have to get out and guard the (3-point) line and hopefully take advantage of some things inside,” said Price. “Even though they're young they've played some people well.”
Like Thursday's opponent the Eagles will be forced to defend the perimeter as The Citadel is second in the SoCon in both 3-point field goals per game (9.21) and 3-point percentage (37.5%), while ranking third in 3-point attempts (24.57 pg). Ten of their 18 field goals in the 84-54 loss to UNC Greensboro on Monday were from 3-point land.
“I just think you need to focus on getting out on the line,” said Price. “They're different than Charleston in that they don't have really big, banging guys down low that can hurt you so you can concentrate a little bit more on the 3-point line. I don't think there's any question that we're going to have to do that. They do a really good job with their motion offense.”
Fans can follow the action via livestats or listen to the radio broadcast at www.GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com.
