Men's Basketball Continues Homestand Against Elon
2/4/2009 5:26:00 AM | Men's Basketball
STATESBORO, Ga. ? Georgia Southern continues a three-game homestand on Thursday night (Feb. 5) as the men's basketball team plays host to Elon. Tipoff at Hanner Fieldhouse is scheduled for 7:30 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.
This is the first meeting between the Eagles and Elon as Georgia Southern holds a 7-3 edge in the all-time series. The two programs will meet again in three weeks at Elon. The game also continues the Eagles' stretch of five games in 10 days.
Georgia Southern (7-13 overall, 5-7 Southern Conference) is looking to snap a three-game losing streak, most recently a 95-82 loss Monday night to Appalachian State. Ben Drayton III (St. Marys/Camden County) scored a career-high 22 points and three steals in the loss. Julian Allen (Waterbury, Conn.) added 16 points while Antoine Johnson (Atlanta/Westlake) and Sandy Perry (Perth Amboy, N.J./Barton County CC) scored 10 points each.
Antonio Hanson (Fort Worth, TX/Independence CC) took over the team scoring lead at 12.1 points per game, dishing out a team-leading 51 assists. He is third in the league averaging 2.8 ?3s' per game.
Allen continues to rank among the team leaders in: scoring (11.9 ppg/second), rebounding (6.7 rpg/first) and steals (28/first). The senior guard is only player in the Southern Conference to rank among the ?Top 20' in scoring (19th) and ?Top 10' in both rebounds (9th) and steals (tied 9th).
Drayton averages 11.8 points in league play (9.3 overall) and ranks second in the SoCon hitting 45.5 percent from 3-point range. Johnson (6.3 ppg) scored in double-figures for the second straight game and now four of the last six.
Head coach Jeff Price remains two wins shy of 300 in his coaching career. The next opportunity is against a Phoenix team coming off a 59-53 win at the College of Charleston last Saturday.
Elon actually held a 28-4 lead late in the first half before the Cougars made a second half charge. Ola Atoyebi finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds off the bench. Brett James scored 15 points in the win.
Elon (6-13 overall, 3-8 North Division) is led by Atoyebi's 14.9 points per game, followed close behind with James at 14.6 ppg. The Phoenix ended a seven-game losing streak two weeks ago with a double-overtime win against Chattanooga.
