STATESBORO, Ga. - For the Georgia Southern men's basketball team, Tuesday night's home game is merely a stopover as the Eagles are almost midway through playing seven of eight on the road. GSU has posted a 3-1 record at home so far this year, but the 7 p.m. contest against Coastal Carolina on December 15th is the only chance to see the Eagles in historic Hanner Fieldhouse this month. Three more road games in December and one to start 2010 remain before Georgia Southern opens conference play at home on January 6 vs. Chattanooga.
Partnering with the U.S. Marine Corps "Toys for Tots" program for the holiday campaign, Eagle fans can bring a new, unwrapped toy to Hanner Fieldhouse and purchase a game ticket at half price. This offer is good for Tuesday's men's game vs. Coastal Carolina as well as for the women's games vs. Western Carolina (Dec. 19) and Kennesaw State (Dec. 21).
Coastal Carolina is led by Head Coach Cliff Ellis, a 35-year veteran of the collegiate coaching ranks, who helped Georgia Southern's Charlton "C.Y." Young begin his coaching career . Ellis was the head coach at Auburn where Young worked after earning his degree (1995-97) and hired him again for Young's second stint with the Tigers (2000-2004).
The Chanticleers sport an 8-2 record so far this year, with wins over Southern Conference opponents College of Charleston (70-59) in their season opener and Elon (69-46). Currently riding a four-game win streak, the Chanticleers suffered their two losses against Duke (49-74) and Cal State Northridge (69-76). Coastal Carolina defeated Bridgewater (Va.) last Saturday (December 12) 91-42. Senior forward Joseph Harris is the leading scorer and rebounder for the Chants, averaging 18.7 points and 11.0 rebounds per game. Harris had 24 points against Bridgewater following two double-double performances to start the month in wins over VMI and Liberty.
"I'm really happy for my mentor Cliff Ellis and the tremendous job he has done rebuilding that program in three years," said Charlton "C.Y." Young. "They (Coastal Carolina) are very organized and play extremely hard and smart. What Coach Ellis is doing in rebuilding that program just proves why he is one of the best coaches in college basketball."
While the Eagles won't play at home again until the new year following Tuesday's game with the Chanticleers, they will see this team again on the road. Returning this game sooner rather than later, Georgia Southern will play Coastal Carolina at Kimbel Arena in Conway, S.C. on Tuesday, December 29, in its last game of 2009.
Georgia Southern battled N.C. State at Reynolds Coliseum last Saturday (December 12), but the Wolfpack's hot second-half shooting paced it to a 75-57 win. N.C. State shot 73 percent with Tracy Smith scoring 13 of his game-high 21 points in the second stanza. GSU caused 15 N.C. State turnovers and had 11 steals, while committing only eight turnovers themselves, a season low.
For the Eagles, Powers had 14 points for his seventh-straight double-figure scoring game and Rory Spencer (Atlanta, Ga.) and Johntavious Rucker (Decatur, Ga.) contributed 12 each. Tyler Troupe (Gallatin, Tenn), Spencer and Rucker, each had five rebounds. Rucker had six steals vs. N.C. State for a total of 27, almost double the number of any other Eagle. Senior guard Antonio Hanson (Fort Worth, Texas) took over the 10th spot on the Eagles' career three-point field goals made list with two against the Wolfpack for a career total of 115.
Single-game tickets for the Coastal Carolina game are $8 each for adults and $4 for children (ages 3-12). Tickets may be purchased at the Athletics Ticket Office on Lanier Drive Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. or at the Hanner FIeldhouse ticket windows one hour prior to tipoff. Flex plans are also available for $25 for five general admission tickets which may be used to bring five Eagle fans to one game or for an individual to attend five different men's games. For more information, call 1-800-GSU-WINS (478-9467) or locally at 912-GSU-WINS (912-478-9467).
