Eagles Return Home to Face Rival Charleston
2/18/2009 5:19:00 AM | Men's Basketball
STATESBORO, Ga. ? The Georgia Southern Men's Basketball returns to Hanner Fieldhouse on Thursday night (Feb. 19), playing host to Southern Conference rival College of Charleston. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Chris Blair and Frank Kerns will call the game on Eagle 102.9 FM and via the internet at www.GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com. The broadcast will begin 30 minutes before tipoff.
The Eagles (7-17 overall, 5-11 SoCon) begin a two-game home looking to snap a seven-game losing streak. Three of their last five games will be at Hanner Fieldhouse, starting against the Cougars ? a team the Eagles has defeated five straight at home.
Last Saturday Georgia Southern made 11 3-pointers in the second half but could not complete the comeback losing 82-75 at Wofford. Due to injuries the Eagles were down to eight players in uniform. Tyler Troupe (Gallatin, TN/Iowa Western CC) nearly missed on a double-double, 20 points and nine rebounds.
Ben Drayton III (St. Marys/Camden County) added 17 points and a career-high eight assists. Colby Wohlleb (Boca Raton, FL/Boca Raton) and Antonio Hanson (Fort Worth, TX/Independence CC) each made four 3-pointers for 12 points apiece.
Drayton entered the weekend leading the Southern Conference shooting 48.4 percent from 3-point range (31-of-64). He also ranks 14th overall shooting 49.4 percent from the field, the top percentage of all SoCon freshmen. Drayton, who has scored in double-figures six straight games, moved into a tie for 14th place averaging 2.5 assists per game.
Entering the weekend Hanson stands 17th among the SoCon scoring leaders (12.3 ppg). Among the SoCon leaders Hanson is fourth in 3s made (2.9) and tied for 14th in assists (2.5).
Troupe boosted his team-leading average to 6.3 rebounds per game (9.4 ppg), good for 12th in the SoCon.
According to head coach Jeff Price, junior guard Blake Thompson (Cartersville/Woodland) suffered a knee injury last week in practice and will miss 4-6 weeks. Price also said senior Anthony Marshall (Lake Worth, FL/Lake Worth) could make a return this week. Marshall suffered an ankle injury against UNC Greensboro and has missed the last two games.
Hanson scored a team-high 25 points in last month's loss at Charleston (100-87), hitting five 3-pointers. Drayton scored 13 points and Troupe added 12. Six Cougars scored in double-figures during the first meeting. Georgia Southern made nine 3-pointers but Charleston shot 56.7 percent from the field.
Charleston (19-7, 11-5) is coming off a 91-87 road win over Appalachian State on Monday night. The Cougars shot 50.7 percent for the game, hitting 9-of-19 from 3-point range. Seven of the eight Cougars that played scored in double-figures, led by Andrew Goudelock's 17 points. Jeremy Simmons finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Charleston ranks second in the league scoring 78 points per game. The Cougars also lead the SoCon shooting 48 percent from the field and is second hitting 37.4 percent from beyond the 3-point arc. Charleston also paces the league blocking 4.3 shots per game. Goudelock is third in the league scoring 16.8 points per game. Tony White Jr. is 23rd at 11.0 ppg while Jermaine Johnson and Dustin Scott are right behind at 10.3 and 10.2 points per game, respectively. Johnson is sixth averaging 7.9 rebounds per game. Three Cougars rank among the ?Top 15' in field goal percentage and ?Top 10' in blocked shots.
