Eagles Prepare for Wofford, Furman in Men's Basketball Play
1/21/2009 5:17:00 AM | Men's Basketball
STATESBORO, Ga. ? The Georgia Southern Men’s Basketball team returns to Hanner Fieldhouse for two consecutive Southern Conference games this week. The Eagles play host to Wofford on Thursday night (Jan. 22) at 7:30 p.m. followed by a Saturday night game against Furman (Jan. 24) at 7 p.m.
Chris Blair and Frank Kerns will call the action in Eagle 102.9 FM and via the internet at www.GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com with the pregame show starting 30 minutes prior to tip.
Saturday’s game is in conjunction with the Athletic Department’s ?Pack the House in Pink’ promotion. Fans are encouraged to wear pink in support of breast cancer awareness. Earlier Saturday the annual ?Hanner Tailgate’ will take place from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., leading up to the tipoff of the women’s game. All Georgia Southern students and ticket holders are invited out for free food and drinks.
Before all the activities on Saturday, the Eagles will look to snap a two-game losing streak Thursday against the Terriers. Georgia Southern (5-10 overall, 3-4 SoCon) has won three of the last four meetings against Wofford, and will look to gain ground on the 3-2 Terriers (7-7 overall).
For the third straight game true-freshman Ben Drayton III (St. Mary’s/Camden County) has scored in double-figures, and led the team in scoring the past two. Drayton netted 15 points Monday night at Western Carolina. He has averaged 17 points per game over the past three contests to move his overall average to 8.2 ppg.
Junior Antoine Johnson (Atlanta/Westlake) scored a season-high 14 points at Western. Over the past three games he has made 13-of-18 from the field. Two of his three games scoring in double-figures this season have come since the season-ending injury to Willie Powers.
Julian Allen (Waterbury, CT/Garden City CC) ranks among the Southern Conference ?Top 20’ in scoring and ?Top 10’ rebounders, one of just four league-wide to accomplish that feat. Allen leads the way with 7.1 rebounds per game, and is tied with Antonio Hanson (Ft. Worth, TX/Independence CC) scoring 11.9 points.
Wofford has won three of its last four games, most recently a 66-63 win versus The Citadel. The Terriers lead the league allowing just 30.7 rebounds per game and rank second in the SoCon in scoring defense, allowing just 67 points per game. Wofford also ranks third in free throw percentage (.698), fourth in 3-point shooting (.363) and 3-point field goal defense (.341). Noah Dahlman ranks fourth in scoring (16.8 ppg) and eighth in rebounds (7.1 tied with Allen). Tim Johnson’s 9.6 rebounds per game lead the SoCon. Dahlman also ranks fifth in the league shooting 56.3 percent from the field.
