Men?s Basketball Ready for ESPN BracketBuster Game
2/20/2009 5:03:00 AM | Men's Basketball
STATESBORO, Ga. ? For the third time in five years, Georgia Southern will participate in the ESPN BracketBuster event, this time playing host to Jacksonville State. The Eagles will face the Ohio Valley Conference Gamecocks Saturday night (Feb. 21) at 7:30 p.m. in Hanner Fieldhouse.
Chris Blair and Frank Kerns will call the action on Eagle 102.9 FM and via the internet at www.GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com with the pregame show starting 30 minutes prior to tip.
This also marks the first time Georgia Southern will be at home for the event. Next year the Eagles will make a return trip to Jacksonville State as part of the deal.
In 2005 Georgia Southern lost at Illinois-Chicago (92-83) as part of a brutal road trip in which the Eagles lost in overtime at Furman on Thursday, flew to Chicago for a Saturday game, flew back on Sunday and lost an overtime game at Wofford on Monday night. The following year GS hammered Illinois-Chicago at home 89-69. Last year the Eagles had a nine-hour bus ride to Clarksville (Tenn.) playing Austin Peay. Georgia Southern dropped an 80-72 decision there, but also lost at home on the return trip 77-66 back in November.
The Eagles (7-18 overall) are looking to snap an eight-game losing streak, most recently dropping an 81-68 decision to the College of Charleston. The Eagles have one common opponent with JSU ? Austin Peay. GS dropped its game in November against the Governors while the Gamecocks were swept by Peay.
Ben Drayton III (St. Marys/Camden County) continues to lead the Southern Conference shooting 48.5 percent from 3-point range. Continuing to make his case as the SoCon ?Freshman of the Year', Drayton scored in double-figures for the seventh straight game, netting 16 against Charleston. He's averaging 10.7 points overall, but a team-leading 13.2 ppg in league play.
Tyler Troupe (Gallatin, TN/Iowa Western CC) recorded his third double-double of the year, 17 points/11 rebounds against Charleston. He is averaging 9.7 points and leads the squad pulling down 6.5 rebounds with 14 blocked shots.
Junior guard Antonio Hanson (Fort Worth, TX/Independence CC) continues to pace the Eagles with his 12.3 points per game. He has made 72 3-pointers, more than double the next closest teammate. Hanson is 20 ?3s' away from Elton Nesbitt's junior class record set in 2005, and two shy of a tie for ninth place among the GS season ?Top 10'.
This marks the first meeting between Georgia Southern and Jacksonville State (11-15) since the 1999-2000 season. JSU is looking to end a four-game losing streak. Most recently the Gamecocks dropped a 72-60 decision at home to Austin Peay. Jonathan Toles and Jeremy Bynum each scored 13 points. APSU out-rebounded the Gamecocks 32-28, and JSU only made 5-of-11 free throws.
Bynum leads the team scoring 12.2 points per game with Toles (11.6) and Brandon Crawford (10.3 ppg) close behind. DeAndre Bray and Toles are 1-2 in assists. Bray has 125 assists to just 55 turnovers while Toles has recorded 112 assists and 62 turnovers.
