Eagles Face Wofford on 'White Out' Night
2/9/2012 8:10:00 AM | Men's Basketball
STATESBORO, Ga. - Georgia Southern Men's Basketball plays its biggest game of the season on Thursday night as Wofford comes to Hanner Fieldhouse. The Eagles, winners of their last three games, share the longest winning streak in the Southern Conference and play host to a Terrier squad which has lost two-straight games. The Eagles lead Wofford by one game in the race for second place in the SoCon South and a bye in the first round of the league Tournament which begins on March 2nd in Asheville, N.C.
The first 300 fans inside Hanner Fieldhouse will receive a free t-shirt from Georgia Southern Athletics and all fans are encouraged to wear white for the contest. At halftime the Georgia Southern baseball team will be introduced and Habitat for Humanity will host a student-faculty basketball game.
Sophomore Jelani Hewitt (Miramar, Fla.) is one of the hottest players in the league, scoring 18.25 points per game over the last four contests including 23 against Samford and 16 on Monday night in the win over Furman. Georgia Southern enters Thursday's game at 11-12 overall and 9-4 in the SoCon.
SoCon Player of the Year Candidate Eric Ferguson (Statesboro, Ga.) scored 26 points in the Eagles' January 14th contest against the Terriers. He has 15.4 points per game to lead the Eagles and rank fourth in the league. He has 7.2 rebounds per game and is shooting at a 56.8% clip from the field.
Senior Ben Drayton III (St. Marys, Ga.) posted 31 points last season against Wofford and is averaging 11.8 points per contest this year. Senior Willie Powers III (Gainesville, Fla.) scored 11 points with eight assists versus Furman on Monday night while freshman Jessie Pernell (North Augusta, S.C.) posted seven first half points.
Wofford took an 88-63 win over the Eagles earlier this year in Spartanburg as four terriers scored in double-figures, led by Kevin Giltner's 23 points. Wofford shot 61.5% from the field while holding GSU to 48.1% overall. Wofford enters Thursday's game at 15-10 overall and 8-5 in league play.
Following Thursday's game, Georgia Southern travels to The Citadel for a Saturday night contest against the Bulldogs and McAlister Fieldhouse. The Eagles took a narrow 78-72 win over The Citadel in double overtime on January 23rd at Hanner Fieldhouse.
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