Eagles Upset Virginia Tech, 78-73
12/15/2012 10:29:05 PM | Men's Basketball
GAME REPLAY: Georgia Southern 78, Virginia Tech 73 -- ESPN Exclusive -- 12-15-2012
AUDIO REPLAY: Georgia Southern Radio Network -- 12-15-2012
WATCH: Game Highlights (Courtesy of ACC Digital Network)
PHOTO GALLERY: Georgia Southern at Virginia Tech -- 12-15-2012
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BLACKSBURG, VA. – Georgia Southern Men’s Basketball posted a 78-73 upset over Virginia Tech on Saturday afternoon in the opening round of the 2012 Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic. The win is GSU’s first win over a power conference team since victory over South Carolina in 1992. GSU led by as many as 16 in the final eight minutes of the game and never trailed in the victory.
“We had a great night shooting the ball from the perimeter tonight, especially when we made out inside-outside threes,” said Head Coach Charlton “C.Y.” Young. “We caught Virginia Tech on the right night, they didn’t make the right shots tonight, but they are a very good basketball team. Our guys have really come together as a team over the last few weeks and it helped us get the win today.”
C.J. Reed led Georgia Southern with 22 points, his largest total since transferring to Statesboro. He was 5-of-9 from downtown, leading Georgia Southern to its best night from downtown this year, making 11 from outside the arc.
Freshman sensation Cleon Roberts set a career high with 20 points, making four baskets from outside. Senior Cameron Baskerville was huge for the Eagles scoring 12 points for the Eagles including a perfect 6-for-6 mark from the free throw line. His final for shots from the stripe in the last 20 seconds secured the Eagle victory.
Junior Eric Ferguson scored 14 points with 10 rebounds for his 10th career double-double. Tre Bussey added eight points on the afternoon with four assists in 38 minutes of play.
Virginia Tech was led by 28 points from the nation’s leading scorer, Erick Green. Jarrell Eddie scored 21, but the biggest stat of the night was rebounding. Georgia Southern out-rebounded the Hokies 41-38 including 16 rebounds on the offensive glass.
GSU was the aggressor in the early minutes, taking a quick 8-0 lead in the first half. Southern wouldn’t surrender the lead in the first half and took a 35-27 lead into the halftime break. GSU held the Hokies offense to 0-for-9 shooting from downtown in the first half while making 7-of-14 from the bonusphere.
Out of the interval, GSU scored the first seven points of the second period, taking the lead out to 15 points just 70 seconds into the half. Georgia Southern held serve throughout the second half, keeping the lead at or above 10 points for much of the period. The Eagles led by as many as 16 with 7:55 remaining in the game.
“We preached at halftime that we needed to come out and throw a punch early,” added Young. “We wanted to do something in the first five minutes and we did a great job of getting after them early in the second half.”
A 12-3 Virginia Tech run cut the GSU advantage to seven points with just less than three minutes remaining as the Hokies began press the Eagles. A three-pointer with 54 seconds remaining by Jarrell Eddie cut the lead to three points in the final minute.
Baskerville was fouled with 19 seconds remaining, sending the senior to the line with a three-point lead. He made both chances, but the Hokies added a layup on the other end with 14 seconds left to cut the lead back to three. Baskerville earned another trip to the line where he remained perfect with two more points and a five-point GSU lead.
Virginia Tech was unable to score on the ensuing possession as Georgia Southern earned the 79-73 victory.
GSU shot 69% from the free throw line in the second half and improved from the field to with 14 baskets from the field. The Eagles finished the night shooting 43.9% from the field. The Eagles held one of the nation’s best shooting teams to 39.7% shooting from the field while making just 6-of-27 from downtown.
The Eagles are back in action on Monday night against Bradley in Peoria, Ill. The Eagles’ second game in the Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic starts at 8 p.m. (ET) / 7 p.m. (CT) and can be heard on the Georgia Southern Radio Network.
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