Men's Basketball Prepares for Showdown with Furman
1/23/2009 5:27:00 AM | Men's Basketball
STATESBORO, Ga. ? The Georgia Southern Men's Basketball team concludes a two-game stretch at Hanner Fieldhouse, playing host to Furman on Saturday night (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.
Julian Allen (Waterbury, CT/Garden City CC) recorded his fifth career double-double, 14 points/10 rebounds in Thursday night's 74-53 win over Wofford. The Eagles (6-10 overall, 4-4 SoCon) allowed just 26 rebounds and 53 points, both season-lows by an opponent. Allen is now averaging 12.1 points and team-leading 7.3 rebounds per game.
Junior Antoine Johnson (Atlanta/Westlake) made his first start of the year ? and fourth of his career ? against Wofford and responded with 10 points. He scored five of the team's first seven points. Three of his four games scoring in double-figures this season have come since the season-ending injury to Willie Powers.
True-freshman Ben Drayton III (St. Mary's/Camden County) saw his three-game streak of scoring in double-figures come to an end against Wofford but still managed to chip in eight points. He is now averaging 8.2 points per game and has more assists (30) than turnovers (25).
Senior Anthony Marshall (Lake Worth, FL/Lake Worth) played in his 100th career game Thursday, and contributed five points and four rebounds to the win. Antonio Hanson (Ft. Worth, TX/Independence CC) is now averaging 11.6 points per game and took over the team assist lead with 46.
Furman (2-14, 0-7) enters Saturday's game on a six game losing streak, all in Southern Conference play. Furman's two wins came in the opener against Emory (67-51) and against Berry (68-64). Jordan Miller (13.8 ppg) and Justin Dehm (10.4) lead the scoring attack, however, the Paladins rank last in the league averaging 60 points per game. Those two have combined for 56 of the team's 93 3-point field goals. Furman ranks last in field goal percentage defense (.489) and next to last grabbing 30 rebounds per game.
Dehm was the lone Paladin in double-figures, scoring 12 points in the 83-43 loss Wednesday at Davidson. The Paladins shot 31.9 percent from the field compared to Davidson's 55.6 percent. Furman actually out-rebounded Davidson 30-29, including a 12-6 edge on the offensive glass, but committed 22 turnovers to the Wildcats seven.
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.
