Box Score STATESBORO, GA. – Jelani Hewitt scored 23 points, and Tre Bussey added 22 points as the Georgia Southern Eagles opened Southern Conference play with a 80-78 win over the Samford Bulldogs at Hanner Fieldhouse on Saturday.

"I thought we played very well tonight and we shot the ball well from the field and downtown," said Head Coach Mark Byington. "Samford pressured us a little bit late in the game and it didn't cause turnovers, but it did take us out of our rhythm a little bit. We've got a week before our next game so we are going to focus on a few things before facing Western Carolina next weekend."

Georgia Southern (8-8, 1-0) led by as many 12 points in the first half but found itself ahead by just one point after Samford (6-11, 0-2) opened the second half with an 11-5 run. The Eagles led by four points headed into the final minute of play and fought off an 8-5 Bulldog run to earn the two-point win.

GSU shot 48.9% from the floor and were 8 for 18 from behind the three point line. Hewitt made 15 of his 23 points from behind the arc and drained a season-high five three pointers. Kyle Doyle joined Hewitt and Bussey in double figures with a career best 12 points.

Samford was led by Tim Williams' 23 points and eight rebounds. The Bulldogs shot 49.1% from the floor and made 42.1% of their three pointers. Isaiah Williams and Connor Miller both scored 14 points and joined three other Bulldogs in double figures.

The Eagles were able to open up a big first half lead and shot 50% from the floor in the period. Hewitt led the team with 16 points in the first half as the Eagles shot 54.5% from behind the arc. Georgia Southern was also able to take advantage of 12 first half second chance points to give themselves a 40-33 lead at halftime.

Samford came out hot in the second half and was able to make it a close game for much of the period. Led by 18 points from Williams, the Bulldogs shot 51.6% from the floor in the half. Samford held the Eagles to just two second half three pointers and limited Hewitt to seven points. Bussey stepped up to score 17 of the team's 40 second half points.

Georgia Southern will have a week off before returning to the court at Hanner Fieldhouse to face Western Carolina in a battle of two teams undefeated in league play. Game time against the Catamounts is set for 2 p.m. and the broadcast can be heard on the Georgia Southern Radio Network and viewed online at GSEagles.com.

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